Severe vision problems

[ds2002]

I was put on Effexor, an anti-depressant. When I got up to taking 4 a day, my vision went haywire, like an LSD-trip - I began seeing trails, colors were rapidly changing colors, the stars on my computer screensaver were flying out of the monitor, people looked wierd, etc. I went to the hospital for this, and it got so bad that my vision was basically a wierd blur, but awoke the next day with everything back to normal.

Now, as time moves on, my vision is slowly turning to junk. The
symptoms are as follows:

When I look directly upon a person as they walk from left to right or right to left, the background seemingly "moves" along with them. The quicker that the person moves, the more that this tends to occur.

Over a period of time, the TV and computer monitor have slowly become extremely bright, and produce immediate and strong after-images.

Also: A single trail is present on moving things in my peripheral vision. Small lights now look like balls of fire from a distance; lit rooms look different, perhaps a bit darker, than before; the outside looks more 'luminous'; When looking at something that emits light, I see a streak of light "jump" to the source of that light for a fraction of a second; floaters are in my eyes constantly.

I know this is alot, and I've been to the regular eye doc and Ophtamologist, who both say my actual eyes are fine. I now have an appt. with a Neurologist, and hopefully soon a Neuro-Opthamologist.

Searching the Internet, I couldn't really find out who it is that may deal with all of these problems, am I doing correct?

[toro]

i completely symphathize with your problems.
i am currently going through the same problems which have been ongoing for the past year and a half and getting worse.
ive been to ophthalmologist,optometrist,neurologist,neuro-ophtha,and  to date no progress.
my problem is like similar to what 2kidsmom describes where i see white twinkles when i look at the sky or when i look at some thing bright like a whit t-shirt .
ive had just about every eye exam you can name conducted and everything has returned that its not my eyes causing the problem.
ive also had an mri ct scans,bloodwork.ect done and its all normal.
according to my dr.our next step is a spinal tap .
these dr's will push med's on you even though they will later contradice as to why you are taking them so the best advice i can give is question everything.

[lois jean]

I AM 46 AND HAD A MINI STROKE 2 YRS. AGO.  I WAS ON COUMIDUN FOR 6 MOS THE LEFT ARTERY IN MY NECK COLLAPSED FOR NO REASON.(THAT THEY COULD FIND.) DURING THIS NEXT 8-9 MOS AFTER THE STROKE I NEVER HAD A HEADACE OR VISION PROBLEMS.  MAY 8TH 2002 I WAS WITH MY DAUGHTER AND MY EYES STARTED TO MESS UP. STARTED WITH A SMALL CIRCLE THAT I COULD NOT SEE THROUGH AND COULD NOT SEE LEFT TO RIGHT. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN A HEATED HIGHWAY AND SEE THE HEAT WAVE. BECAUSE OF THE STROKE THEY ADMITTED ME. AFTER 2 HRS. MY VISION RETURNED AND NO HEADACE. I HAD A CAT SCAN DONE 2 TIMES THAT DAY A BRAIN SCAN AND DYE RUN THROUGH THE NECK ARTERIES 9 TUBES OF BLOOD TO CHECK A-Z AND THEY FOUND NOTHING AT ALL..I HAD SURGERY 1 MONTH LATER FOR A HYSTERECTOMY AND HAD THE SPELL HAPPEN AGAIN. FOR SHORT MINUTE.I KNOW WHEN IT IS COMMING BECAUSE IT STARTS OUT AS A SMALL CIRCLE THEN GETS LARGER AND THE CIRCLE BREAKS AT ONE POINT AND THE AFTER IT GET TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE EYE IT DISAPEARS. NOTHING TRIGGERS IT. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING SITTING WATCHING TV OR AT PEOPLES HOMES. EVERY DR. I GOT TO THINKS I AM NUTS AND WANTS TO SET ME UP WITH ANTI DEPRESSENTS. I CANT TAKE PAXIL,ZOLOFT,OR WELLBUTRINE,THEY GIVE ME SIDE EFFECTS WORSE THAT THE PROBLEM.  OUT OF THE 15 YEARS I HAVE HAD MIGRAINES I HAVE NEVER HAD THE EYE PROBLEM AND IT SCARES ME WHEN IT HAPPENS. THE NUROLIGEST SAYS THEY ARE CALLED SILENT MIGRAINES.  ALL TEST I HAVE DONE ARE GOOD. WILL NOW THAT THIS HAS STARTED WILL I HAVE IT FROM NOW ON. I DO HAVE THE FACE NUMBNESS JAW PAIN EAR PAIN SWEATING THE WHOLE WORKS WHEN IT HAPPENS. THEY ARE MORE FREQUENT NOW THAT BEFORE.  WHAT TO DO WITH IT??  HELP IS APPRECIATED.  RUNNING SCARED OF ALL THE SYMPTOMS..THANK YOU    lOIS

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

Effexor is well known to cause vision changes, but I'm not quite sure why you are continuing to have progressive visual changes after you intially got better off the meds. Theoretically, you should be getting better. It's possible there's something else going on. Glad the ophtho said everything is ok. It seems as if you are going through the appropriate channels for evaluation. Neurologist isn't a bad idea just to make sure everything is ok from a brain standpoint.   Depending on what they think from your exam, imaging studies such as an MRI of the brain and possibly a neuro-ophtho consult may also be helpful. Good luck.

[2kidsmom]

I just wanted to let you know that this too has happened to me and I sympathize.  It is a scary feeling.  Mine occured on the lowest dosage of Serzone. But within a few days did subside.  I too have floaters and when looking at the sky see "white twinkles".  I believe that antidep medications have an extraordinary amount of side effects and we are the type to be more sensitive to them.  I hope this puts your mind at ease.