Can an infected cause loss of vision?

[Yabba-Dabba-Doo]

I had an infected wisdom tooth, drained and repaired. At the time the tooth was being repaired, something the dentist was using to repair my tooth leaked behind the protective "sheet", my mouth was in instant agony with the taste of a bleach-type of fluid and my throat felt seared and it was hard to swallow because of the pain.

Later on that same day, I lost the vision in my left eye. One moment sight, the next blindness.

At no time, did my eye hurt upon movement. There was no light sensitivity. Just a sudden loss of vision, a grey screen covering everything. I did see an optometrist who felt the chances were quite high, the vision loss occured due to infection.

Is it possible the vision loss was from bleech poisoning?
Or could it have been from tooth infection?

Thank-you so much for any reply!
:)

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

I am not a toxicologist, and can not offer an expert opinion. Based on my understanding of bleach toxicity it is related to exposure to a tissue surface. Therefore if you swallowed an agent, I do not see how ot could cause the unilateral visual loss. Regarding the infection, it is possible to have infection spread, however to have direct spread to the orbit it would have to first involve the maxillary sinus, which you do not report.
To have this investigated further I would recommend a consultation with a neuro-ophthalmologist (as soon as possible), and have a MRI of the brain and eye completed. These should provide evidence for possible causes. Good luck.

[especially4her]

Yikes! According to the article I just found at:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002761.htm

I would have to say yes to bleach poisoning question. I can't believe they didn't do anything after you obviously swallowed "something" that caused a lot of pain to your throat! If you can get proof that the fluid the dentist used did have bleach in it, you may have a really great case, and may want to seek legal advice.

I am also legally blind in one eye (Optic Neuritis with MS) so I definately understand what it's like.

Bless your heart!

[nurse12hr]

I would say whoa up there for a minute before you file a lawsuit!

Two questions: how much did you swallow, and exactly what did your dentist say it was?  (if you don't know, call and ask).


I would hazard a guess that at most it was a very small amount. However, even a small amount of some caustic substance would really hurt your throat and burn, as you describe.  I just don't believe that a trickle of this in your throat that you swallowed would have been enough to cause you to lose sight in your eye.

Now, the vision loss:  This is a critical problem!  I am sure your optometrist has by now sent you to an opthamologist or an emergency room for diagnosis and treatment.  Optometrists are probably not the best qualified for a problem as severe as the total loss of vision in one eye.  Optometrists are usually only involved in the care of the normal eye, and in correcting imperfect vision.  

This could be a lot of things, from a detached retina or some other problem that needs to be addressed immediately or you may lose the sight permanently.  I do not know how the optometrist made the determination that an infected wisdom tooth caused your loss of vision.

If you haven't seen an opthamologist (an MD specializing in treatment and diagnosis of diseases of the eye) get yourself to one, pronto.

[lmroswell]

When did this happen and have you regained the vision in your eye?  What side of your mouth was being worked on?  I am almost in my 40's and still have my wisdom teeth, which do need to come out.  But, I am a big chicken.  Needless to say, that is why I still have them...

[lmroswell]

Another question...why was your wisdom tooth being repaired.  Usually, if there is a problem with them, they yank them out.

[Yabba-Dabba-Doo]

The amount of caustic liquid was approx. 3 decent-sized swallows worth which was still enough to burn my throat, gums and tongue. And left me with a nice headache, to boot.

The dr. I saw was an opthamologist. I mistakenly used the wrong term. He figured the vision loss is related to the wisdom tooth as I lost my vision approx. 1 hr. after the "wisdom tooth ordeal" was over.

The tooth which was being worked on had already been previously repaired. When the dentist Xrayed the tooth he discovered it was actually a small wisdom tooth (it only had 2 canals. Reg. wisdom teeth have 4 canals).

My vision has almost totally returned back to normal. The only reason I asked my question was due to the opthomologist's uncertainty in dx.

[Sandi01]

I agree with the doctor...you should seek an MRI...I also woke up one morning blind in my left eye..I have a cyst on my brain...I was very shocked since I have already had one tumor already removed...the eye doctor said I will never get my sight back again...so please seek help from a neurologist as soon as possible..