optic nerve swelling

[anw6943]

I have been having problems with blurry and double vision.  I started seeing a new doctor (internal medicine) for problems with dizziness, headache sometimes, fatigue, general feeling of weakness, as well as some numbess and tingling.  I've fainted a couple of times.  Then of course the vision problems.  So i was referred to a neuro opthamologist, whom i saw last week.  I'm suppose to have surgery for 4th cranial nerve palsy in my right eye, doc said hopefully that will help with headache and maybe dizziness, as well as neck pain from apparently tilting my head.  She did mention that there is swelling of my optic nerve in my right eye and the optic nerve is misshapen.  She said we'll keep a watch on it since she has nothing for comparison since this is the first time i've saw her.  She did do an ultra sound of my eyes as well.  Anways i was just wondering what could cause the optic nerve to swell, is it cause for concern?  I just don't want to have anymore vision loss since i do have 5% loss from the problem with my eye believed to be cause by a car accident 10 years ago.  I will address some of these questions with doc next time a see her, i just wanted to ask here in the mean time.  BTW i am 20 years old.  Appreciate any comments!

[carla827]

I WENT TO EYE DR. FOR ROUTINE CHECKUP AND HE FOUND MY OPTIC NERVE TO BE SWOLLEN MORE SO IN THE LEFT EYE.  HE SENT ME TO NEUROLOGIST WHO SENT ME FOR CAT SCAN OF THE BRAIN, WHEN THAT CAME BACK NEGATIVE HE NEUROLOGIST SENT ME TO NERUOPTAMOLOGIST WHO SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME AND SENT ME FOR A FULL BODY SCAN AND MANY MANY BLOODTESTS.  ALL OF WHICH CAME BACK NORMAL.  I WENT TO A RETINA SPECIALIST WHO SENT ME FOR ONE LAST TEST FOR BIRD SHOT DISEASE. WHICH CAME BACK POSITIVE.  HE HAS TREATED ME WITH STEROID SHOT WHICH HAD NO EFFECT. NOW HE WANTS TO PUT ME ON METHOTREXATE WHICH I AM AFRAID WILL MAKE ME SICKER.  I HAVE BEEN USING ALOT OF SUPPLEMENTS THE IMFLAMATION AND JUICING WITH ALOT OF CARROTS AND MY EYESIGHT SEEM BETTER.  I WENT TO MY EYE DR. THE OTHER DAY TO GET A NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR GLASSES AND HE SAW NO SWELLING BUT THE START OF A CATERACT.  I GO BACK TO THE RETINA DOCTOR MAY 6 AND I AM HOPING HE SAYS THE SWELLING IS GONE WHICH MEANS ALL OF THESE SUPPLEMENTS I AM TAKING ARE WORKING.  I HAVE READ UP ON BIRD SHOT AND IT COULD GO INTO REMISSION.  I PRAY THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON.  HAS ANYONE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BIRD SHOT?  IIT IS A VERY RARE DISEASE AND IS GENETIC.  ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SPINAL WHICH WASN'T AS BAD AS I THOUGHT AND THAT ALSO CAME BACK NEGATIVE.

[carla827]

I WENT TO EYE DR. FOR ROUTINE CHECKUP AND HE FOUND MY OPTIC NERVE TO BE SWOLLEN MORE SO IN THE LEFT EYE.  HE SENT ME TO NEUROLOGIST WHO SENT ME FOR CAT SCAN OF THE BRAIN, WHEN THAT CAME BACK NEGATIVE HE NEUROLOGIST SENT ME TO NERUOPTAMOLOGIST WHO SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME AND SENT ME FOR A FULL BODY SCAN AND MANY MANY BLOODTESTS.  ALL OF WHICH CAME BACK NORMAL.  I WENT TO A RETINA SPECIALIST WHO SENT ME FOR ONE LAST TEST FOR BIRD SHOT DISEASE. WHICH CAME BACK POSITIVE.  HE HAS TREATED ME WITH STEROID SHOT WHICH HAD NO EFFECT. NOW HE WANTS TO PUT ME ON METHOTREXATE WHICH I AM AFRAID WILL MAKE ME SICKER.  I HAVE BEEN USING ALOT OF SUPPLEMENTS THE IMFLAMATION AND JUICING WITH ALOT OF CARROTS AND MY EYESIGHT SEEM BETTER.  I WENT TO MY EYE DR. THE OTHER DAY TO GET A NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR GLASSES AND HE SAW NO SWELLING BUT THE START OF A CATERACT.  I GO BACK TO THE RETINA DOCTOR MAY 6 AND I AM HOPING HE SAYS THE SWELLING IS GONE WHICH MEANS ALL OF THESE SUPPLEMENTS I AM TAKING ARE WORKING.  I HAVE READ UP ON BIRD SHOT AND IT COULD GO INTO REMISSION.  I PRAY THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON.  HAS ANYONE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BIRD SHOT?  IIT IS A VERY RARE DISEASE AND IS GENETIC.  ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. FYI I ALSO HAD A SPINAL TAP WHICH IS NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK BUT ALSO CAME BACK NEGATIVE.

[anw6943]

Thank you for the information.  She did mention the pressure was a little high in my right eye but she said not enough to warrant a spinal tap (thank goodness).  I go for surgery friday and will address the questions then.  Thanks again, appreciate it!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

There are many causes of an optic nerve swelling: inflammation, infection, high pressure in the head (papilledema), crystals buried in the optic nerve (optic nerve drusen), high hyperopia, low pressure inside the eye.

The neuro-ophthalmologist must have excluded the most serious causes by her examination since in apparently recommending on-going observation.

Your best bet would be to make a specific list of your questions and call the neuro-ophthalmologists office and ask the staff to get the answers and get back to you.  Every physician is use to follow up phone calls asking for clarification or restatement of the findings and recommendations of an examination.

JCH III MD