Are my vision and balance problems related to ears?

[Ollie001]

A year ago I had bad flu.  Thereafter I developed vision problems.  At first double in the distance to the side, then at direct gaze, and progressively the double vision has come into closer range.  I also experience a weighted feeling in my legs which is particuarly pronounced before mensturation.  I particularly get this sensation of movement in my legs when I get behind the steering wheel of a car.  I can be a little off balance but it is not pronounced and I am able to correct it when it happens.  At first I experienced nausea but I no longer have this.  I also get frustrated as I appear to be forgetful and have short term memory lapses.  I've had 2 MRI scans and been investigated for Myasthenia Gravis and Multiple Sclerosis - conclusion is negative.  I've seen Opthamologists and Eye Surgeons who have investigated the health of eyes - all fine - decided I dont have a squint they can operate on.  I have been given prisms to assist with my double vision but it is variable so I have to carry around 3 pairs of glasses.  I have noticed that when I wake in the morning, lie horizontal, I dont have double vision.  Double vision comes on when I move around and gets far worse if I do activities which require a lot of head movement, up down, to the side.  Double vision also gets worse if I go on long journeys by car, my eyes fatigue and are sore.  As well as double vision, my eyes seem to have trouble focusing or tracking moving objects.  I have been concerned that my eyes will get reliant on prisms so am undertaking vision therapy, it helps but still has not resolved this problem.

Could this be related to the ears?  I constantly have tinniutus which I never experienced before my vision problems.
If I need to go to an ENT, which I have not been referred to as yet, what specialism should I be looking for?
Your comments would be most appreciated.

[Ollie001]

Nancy
Thank you very much for your help.  I also put in a call to the neurologist I had seen in the UK and he has referred me to a Professor Bronstein in London http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/a.bronstein/
He appears to be a neuro-otologist.  I'm going to try to see this guy and I'll certainly let you know if I have success.

[Nancy T]

I have never heard of double vision being caused by ear problems, but certainly the balance system has some relationships to the eyes.

Especially since you have tinnitus, it sounds like you definitely should see an inner-ear specialist. The kind you want to see is a NEURO-OTOLOGIST (also spelled neurotologist). These are ENTs with extra training in the inner ear and its connections to the brain (and eyes).

Look for one at the Web sites of the American Neurotology Society or the Vestibular Disorders Association.

Another type of specialist who may be helpful is an OTO-NEUROLOGIST, who is a neurologist specializing in dizziness and balance problems. These people are really smart but may be hard to find. The following site has a list of otoneurologists (link on the left side of the page). Also you could ask at your nearest medical school or ask your neuro-otologist to refer you to one if he/she can't figure out what's wrong.

http://www.robbmd.com/