got into opthamologist! gonna try for abx!

[IndigoRiley]

I got into an appt for tomorrow ophthamologist! Thankyou for suggesting it! &i Btw u guys are GREAT! THIS COMMUNITY IS AMAZING! &sooo helpful! Will the opthamologist actually be able to tell if the Lyme has affected my eyes? I hope so bc it most definitely has! What should expect or be prepared for? Like how do i get him to give me antibiotics?

[Ricobord]

I found an article on PubMed that gave a case study of a patient who had optic neuritis as their only symptom.  Somehow, someone figured out this patient had Bartonella, and their vision problems were their only apparent symptom, at least at that point in time.  

This is the first I'd read that Bartonella can affect the eyes.  I had light sensitivity, worsened near vision, various floaters, and a blurry spot in my right eye, but I'd always attributed these symptoms to Lyme.  My ON testing by the MS specialist came back fine, so that's a relief.  They couldn't see anything in my eyes to explain my vision issues, which is consistent with Lyme affecting the nerves from the brain to the eyes.  My eyes looked fine. It was the signals from the eyes to the brain that were compromised.  

A good opthamologist should understand that the nerves could be affected if you're describing vision problems like this but s/he can't see anything wrong.  Let us know how the appointment goes.

[JackieCalifornia]

That's great news!  Almost like Santa coming early.

I don't know how they detect Lyme-related vision problems, but tell him/her all your symptoms -- not just eye-related, but those are first up in the conversation I'd think -- and when the appointment is over, ask if the doc can recommend a general Lyme specialist because you're coming up dry.  Don't want the doc to feel like you're just trying to score a referral.

This is indeed news.  Keep us posted--