Still no vision improvement!!!!

Its been a month since my vision went bad from Opitcal Neurtis.  I have had two rounds of 3 day IV Solu Medrol (awful) and my eye still has not improved one bit!  Is this normal?  I have read from people that their eye got better a week after their steroids.  Will it improve or am I at risk of having permanent damage?

Thanks for your help!

Jordan

[Deb61]

I wish I had answers for you, but I don't think anyone can answer this question.  I do think you can get support from others with their own experiences with optic neuritis.  My vision took probably a year to improve and it has been so gradual.  I no longer see double.  I do get blurry vision still when I'm overheated or tired.  I do have a permament black spot in my field of vision, but it's not big.  I will have washed-out color issues in my eye when I'm too warm.  It will even seem like I'm blind when I get too hot and come into an air conditioned place--it's so dark.  However, my vision is nothing like it was when it was at its worst and the symptoms I mentioned are minor--ones that I certainly can deal with.  I also have nearly perfect visual acuity in that eye..

From my experience, it took lots of time.  For most people with ON, there is a complete recovery (or with some very minor damage--like me).  For a small percentage, there's permament damage.  I think the odds are for you, that you'll have complete recovery with time.  Hang in there!

Deb  

[jrho100]

Thanks so much for the message and encouragement!  I will be positive. I am happy that your vision did improve!

Thanks again!

Jordan

[sdsam]

I was dx with bilateral internuclear opthalmoplegia in Dec, underwent a three bag course of solumedrol, and it took ten weeks for my near vision to improve, and twelve for the distance.  I still have some deficit with moving objects, but getting better.  I was told by one neurologist that IV steroids can help with vision issues, but then again may not.  Hope that helps!

[Quixotic1]

Vision can improvement over many months, though improvement becomes less likely (not impossible) beyond 6 months,

The steroids generally relieve more pain than vision.  If they are going to help, it will be in the first few weeks after infusion.

Optic Neuritis is one of the best symptoms at healing, especially in the female, young adult, so you have all the odds running in your favor.

The ultimate vision outcome will be what it will be.  Getting steroids or not getting steroids had not been shown to effect ultimate vision.

Quix

[coco31]

Hi Jordan,

I had optic neuritis in my right eye and 5-6 weeks later in my left eye. I feel that my right eye got a serious dose I was at a point whereby I was driving with one hand covering my right eye just to see clearly because I could see virtually nothing out of it.

Its been nine months and while I can see out of my right eye - its just not the same. Its as if when I cover my left eye I am looking through a keyhole. I presume at this point it will not get any better. My left eye is perfect agian.

I guess it really depends on the severity of the optic neurits inflamation (inflammation) and but it can take months. Stick with it, it will improve.