abnormal vision test

[sweetJudy]

I had a vision test where you look at a computer monitor and see a checker board, and you have to follow one dot. wires are attached to your head to detect vision problems related to the brain.

When my doctor got back the results he wanted to see me right away and he told me that the test came out extremely abnormal, but did not tell me what was abnormal about it. He just asked me to describe some vision problems that I have. I told him that I have a blind spot in my eyes, and some unusual vision problems like waking up and seeing thousands of black dots. when I get up and turn the light on the dots are not so noticeable but it is like looking through a thick fog, this can last from just a few minutes to hours.I also see objects much closer than they are, and can reach out and touch the image, put my hand through the image, and behind the image. then within minutes the object moves slowly back to the place where the object actually came from. it may be the sealing fan, a lamp, a picture on the wall or anything in the room.or only part of an object.
the doctor said I was not going crazy, which was helpful, but he did not tell me what exactly was wrong with my eyes. He was concerned that it could get worst. He said he wanted me to start injection treatments for MS to slow down the progression.Which I have done.
My question is do any of you have problems like any of these that I have described, and know what it is called? How are you being treated for it, and does it lead to blindness. I am very concerned about my eyesight. and the worsening of these strange things that happens.
I have so many MS problems that my doctor just quickly covers one thing and moves onto the next. without giving me enough information about what really concerns me.
thank you for your help with this.
Sweet Judy

[sweetJudy]

Thanks to all of you for your caring about my problem, and answering me the best that you could. I really appreciate all of you, and wish the best of health to you in your situation.
Thanks again
Sweet Judy

[Sailorsong]

I experience something similar to you when I wake up. The difference is my spots are white instead of black. Some days it will take a couple of hours before I can focus enough to function. This condition at least in my case does come and go.

I also just went through a VEP test but the report was kind of strange. During the test of my right right my vision went blank in that eye for a while. In the report they kept saying things like results not repeatable and but was abnormal. The report was so sketchy that I doubt my doctor knew what to make of it since they were also say things like the delay was "probably normal". My doctor also immediately started me on some medication (CellCept)  in order to try to get things under control.

I do have an appointment with my eye doctor later this month and am hoping that she may shed some light on this.

Dennis

[sllowe]

-Judy,
No offense taken - you did not speak to how this occurred, i.e, if it was sudden or not and you mentioned a blind spot - you also mentioned waking up and seeing "thousands" of dots. Just looking out for you :))

I'm clear - hope the Beta serves you well!
See you around,
~Shell

[sweetJudy]

Shell, you need to re read my first post, I think you are having a little brain fog. not meaning to sound sarcastic.MS is just that way.
I was talking about the moving dot on the checkered board for the vision test.
the other black dots that I see upon waking up do not move, and when I turn on the light they are less noticeable but it seems as though I am looking through a thick fog. it went away after about 2 hours, and happens only occasionally.

I have been on Rebif which I was extremely allergic to. I would have excruciating pain right after each injection that attacked all of my joints and lasted up to 24 hours. I surely did not look forward to injecting it again, but my doctor said I would get use to it. I did not get use to it, and after 10 months he took me off of the Rebif, saying I must be allergic to Rebif. UGH!
He then put me on copoxon not sure of the spelling of these drugs. that worked but I had to change doctors and that is when I went off of the MS meds for many years as the doctor did not think that I had MS. So I have not been on MS drugs for years only months.
I just started Bata Suran this past month when my doctor finally decided that he was 99% sure that I did have MS.
I have had vision problems, speech problems, muscle weakness, lame on the left leg, drop foot, and at times I walk with a cane, I have been in a wheel chair, and other times I can walk almost normal just with a limp. I have much pain. bladder and bowel problems, cognitive problems and difficulty swallowing.
My MRI shows many legions, and now I have them in my spinal cord as well. The doctor always thought the legions was from uncontrolled blood pressure, because I am on blood pressure medicine, but now with the vision test and the legions in the spinal cord he realizes I likely do have MS.
I hope this clears things up for you.
sweet Judy

[sweetJudy]

Bob I was talking about the dot on the checkered board! I guess I didn't make myself very clear.
Down the page I talk about seeing thousands of black dots. when I get up and turn the light on the dots are not so noticeable but it is like looking through a thick fog, this is not floaters.
I have floaters too, and they are noting like what I described.
I also have the blind spot like you have. it is like a cube that I can not see through. I can see all around it clearly but the cube distorts the vision in that area.
Thanks again for the response, just clearing up any misunderstanding.
Judy

[Sparkysarah]

I have just responded to this on an identical post as I had not seen that it was posted previously so am glad that you have had some helpful responses.

Sarah

[COBOB]

Optic Neuritis (ON) can come and go.  In fact, the VEP can return to normal in some cases.  I have a scotoma (dark spot) in the visual field of my right eye.  I thought you were talking about the dot in the middle of the checkerboard that you are supposed to look at.  I have had floaters (myodesopsia) for years, but these are not related to ON or my MS.

Bob

[sllowe]

Hi SweetJudy!

Welcome to our forum! What med are you on for your MS? And, the moving dots sound like floaters, BUT if this came on suddenly, and there are many of them, and there are flashes of light too, etc. it's important to see medical attention asap!

As far as the ON goes it can come, and it can go. How long have you had the blind spot?

I'm sorry your doc doesn't explain these things to you - they very well could be apart of your MS. But, where the eyes are concerned, you never can be too careful so always seek a second opinion from a neuro opthamologist if you can.

If you feel comfortable, would you tell us a little more? Is this the main problem you are having? You have been on disease modifying meds since 97, you feel it has served your MS well?

Looking forward to hearing back from you and helping where we can.
Thanks for joining us!
-Shell

[sweetJudy]

Thank you Bob for your answer. I do have Optic Neuritis as confirmed by my eye specialist.
you say you have had it twice, than it must come and go. Is that why I have the blind spot? and does it always go away? how long does it take to go away if it does?
What about the black dots that looks like fog when the light is on? is that part of Optic Neuritis, and the objects that are right in front of my face then go back to where they actually are? what would that be? I know your not a doctor but this really concerns me.
Thanks again for your answers.
Sweet Judy

[COBOB]

The test is a VEP (Visually Evoked Response.)  It takes about 100 milliseconds for the light hitting your retina to get to the optic cortex in the back of the brain.  The test looks for two thingsL 1. Waveform and 2. Latency (time).  If the waveform is well maintained and the time is greater than 120 miliseconds (for someone less than 60,) that is considered abnormal and usually indicates Optic Neuritis.  

It really depends what the doc is seeing in the test results.  Mine is Normal in my left eye and abnormal (high latency) in my right eye.  I have had optic neuritis in my right eye twice.

Bob