What does Optic Neuritis Feel like?

I know this sounds like a silly question and was debating on whether or not to ask, but for the past few days I've been having horrible left eye pain.  It isn't a constant pain, but hurts when I blink or move it.  Sometimes it just hurts when I'm not moving it.  It also just feels different ... kinda swollen feeling, but it doesn't look swollen.  My vision seems fine... it's just painful.  

I haven't been dx'd with anything, I've been worked up for MS with normal MRI's and normal neuro exams. But this eye thing has me a bit concerned.  I'm currently being tested for Lyme through Igenex (don't have results yet).  I've had intermittent eye pain through this whole thing, but this is worse.

I've had two "flares" one now and one in 2007.  I remember then my eyes hurting as well.  Very strange.   All my tests have been normal besides a High EBV and also a two positive bands on Quest WB for lyme.  

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks so much,
  skarey

[scaredguy309]

It may cause pain on movement of your eye, pain without movement, blurry or double vision. Can't diagnosis on symptoms only though as many other conditions can cause such.

[Becky559]

Hi, I am in the middle of my opthalmalogist telling me that I have optic nerve inflammation and the MRI saying I dont, so I am going to a neuro-opth Monday. The symptoms I have experienced is blurred vision in one eye with some pressure behind my eye especially when I move it. Some people have problems with their color vision ,,,fading. I have had two bouts of this. I have not been dx with anything at this time, but these are my symptoms. My vision field test were abnormal also. Hope this helps, as I am looking for some answers also. And also, something I read about the strength of the MRI machine can certainly make a difference in what they see. Read in health pages at the top right corner.

[Sarahsmom46]

If you have been having this pain for 2 or more days, and it does sound very similar to optic neuritis, then you need to see a doctor.  A good ophthamologis mgiht know how to check this out, but if you have a neurologist, that might be the best doc to go to.

Don't let this go on much longer because if it is neuritis then you need to be on steroids, my dear.  Get in to see someone on Monday or Tues at the latest.  Take care.

Julie

[Erin0313]

  I have had Optic Neuritis twice this year and it was horrible. The eye pain was the worst part for me but I also had blurred and loss of vision as well as color blindness. I didn't notice it but when they told me to close one eye at a time and look at something (red is best) and then compare the 2 eyes sure enough the left was way lighter red than the right.

Even if you only have pain and no other symptoms I would advise seeing someone to have it checked out. You don't want to mess around with your eyesight. A neuro-opthamologist is the best but I was dx in the ER because I couldn't stand the pain and then confirmed by the neurologist and neuro-op after.

Hope it gets better and whichever doc can see you helps.

Erin :)

[PastorDan]

Now I am curious.  What else could have been causing the eye pain that I was having?  It felt like the back side of my eyeballs was bruised.  Blinking hurt, moving the eyes hurt, but usually doing nothing at all hurt.  I've also been having a hazy patch in the vision for months, and some double vision.  However, the optic disc is reported as looking fine all along, and my one MRI noted nothing about the visual systems at all.  The pain's now faded since I began Neurontin, but it was pretty intense for a while.  Still, I hear no explanation.  Is this how "retrobulbar" ON presents, or would there have to be other evidence, such as via imaging?

[novakf]

Yes, according to things I've read, the optic disc always looks fine in the case of retrobulbar optic neuritis, which is the most likely kind in MS. It looked fine on my examination. They really have to do an MRI to see the inflammation, and in some cases it doesn't even show up very brightly there. (Mine was visible, but only just) but was quite clear on the VEPs (Visual Evoked Potentials).

When I had optic neuritis it was very painful. Weirdly I've had that same headache/eye pain several times since, briefly (a day or two), often at the onset of other symptoms. But it has not affected my vision noticeably when it recurs. Oh but it's hard to tell because my vision is pretty **** ever since the first bout so it's difficult to measure if it's gotten worse or better. I mean I can still see but there's always that haze there, lack of contrast sensitivity so words don't stand out on the page and such.

Oh, and skarey, I had the pain for a few days before I noticed any changes in my vision, so it might take a while for the damage to show up. Also it's possible that the damage is so minor you can't see it, but it may show up on field tests/VEPs.

[PastorDan]

Hmmm.  My VEPs were described as normal.  I forget the exact numbers, but seem to recall them being well within the range of normal.

[skarey]

Thanks for your comments.  My eye is still hurting.  This has been going on now for 3-4 days.  It isn't a constant pain.  It feels normal at times and then occasionally gets the pain. It's not excrutiating pain, just a very bad ache and nuisance.  Feels like someone keeps poking me in the eye or something.

I'm still having no vision or color problems so that's good.  I'm going to try to get in to see my dr tomorrow or possibly the ER this afternoon.  We are stationed overseas in England and have to go through the base clinic.  We do not have a eye dr nor opthamologist there.  I would have to get a referral from my dr to see one off base which could take forever!  So I'm not sure what to do.  Would that be odd to go to the ER for the eye pain?

I've read that optic neuritis is made worse by heat or exercise.  Well yesterday I was out in the sun for awhile and noticed nothing different. Maybe I do just have something viral or bacterial that is causing all this havoc (such as lyme).  I can't wait to get those results back from Igenex.  I've read that many lyme patients also have eye problems.  

I do appreicate the feedback and suggestions.  I'll keep you posted.