need opinions

[Needhelp16]

Tell me if any of this makes sense, and it might be totally unrelated to ms.  I've been having problems with my eyes for a while now.  Sx : blurriness, floaters, and at times flashes of light but it was like I was on a psychodellic drug.

I've had a vision test, a periphal vision test, and a VEP test that all came back normal. What am I suppose to do now. The sx keep getting worse.

Thanks in advance for any responses,
Laura

[JulesCurd]

hi Laura,

I was diagnosed 19 years ago by my opthamologist with MS.  Optic Neuritous (SP?) is what they will tell you more than likely, I went 99% blind in left eye he sent me for MRI and diagnosed with my MS.  vision came back with haze and every now and then i have weird visions of color with that eye or blur or the physodellic stuff.  neon signs are wild for me to look at.  LOL

Julie

[Needhelp16]

Just a small update, I'll be seeing an opthamologist on Tuesday.  Will keep you posted on the results.

Laura

[Needhelp16]

Mine was done at a hospital. My neuro gave them orders to do it.  I had mine almost 3 mos ago and haven't received a bill yet.

[SarahL2491]

general question,
where can you have a VEP done?  does it require a referral from a lower doctor?  price?  
have never had one and just wondering

[Needhelp16]

Will do

[figuerpa]

I hope you find some answers. I am here in Southern Ohio so I know what you mean about the far and few between. We are kind of out in the middle of nowhere and docs just don't set up business here lol.

I hope you get some answers. I had this happen to me before all my other MS symptoms started and by the time I got to see the opthamologist the symptoms ceased so needless to say I never got an answer for what was going on with me.

Keep us informed,
Paula

[Needhelp16]

lol...I'm a bit out of it today.  No worries! :)

[SarahL2491]

nah, I apologize, I meant no disrespect..........
can I claim it on my cognitive disfunction of my MS........grin

good luck

[Needhelp16]

Sllowe - thanks for the link.  I have already read this info.  I called an opthamologist locally and he is going to talk to me directly before I make an appt.

Sarah- what I meant was that they were far and few to pick one.  As I already stated, my gp and neuro already know about this because they ordered the first 3 tests, and I can fully appreciate driving far.  I went almost 500 miles to go to the Cleveland Clinic.

Idk Sarah, I think you just rubbed me the wrong way.  It felt like you were basically calling me an idiot, when it was obvious you didn't read my whole post. Maybe I just took it the wrong way...idk

[SarahL2491]

far away?  come on, this is IMPORTANT..........I drive 465 miles just to see my neuro.

that said.......yes, floaters are normal for almost everyone.  Sometimes more than others, they come and go.

I get blurry vision, often in the center of my eye........the way it was described to me, retinal spots are darker than floaters and don't "float" by like floaters do.  You would get other s/s along with the dark spots.

Bright lights really bother me when I have ON or Iritis........opening my eyes in the morning is extreme pain..........which is usually my first indication we are in for an attack.  Because a pharmacy messed up my % on my prednisone for first attack, am now very light sensitive and wear sunglasses all the time.

I also get double vision with ON, I will see 2 traffic lights or the reds and oranges are subdued.  

Good luck but seriously, do either let your neuro know or check this out.

[sllowe]

Yes - if you can find one. Please read this:
While floaters can be harmless, worsening needs to be seen.......
http://www.advancedeyecaresc.com/flashes.html

[Needhelp16]

Really? A neuro-opthamologist? They are far and few where I live.  I was going to call a regular opthamologist today, but talk to someone and explain my situation before wasting the doctors time!

[sllowe]

Hi Needhelp,

Have you been to a neuro opthamologist? I would seek a good one, while the flashing you describe can be occular migraine (I get these), the blurry is concerning, and important you get a thorough check up.

It's strange they say the floaters are natural, and happen as we age, but coincidentally (or not) I had loads of them during my 1st attack. I'm sure there is not a definite connection, but it was definitely one I thought was related.

[Needhelp16]

Well both my gp and my neuro knows because they were the ones who ordered the tests.  The floaters definitely happen in the right eye. I'm not sure of the left.  The blurriness happens in both, and the lights I'll have to explain better.

One example was when I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.  When I went into the bathroom I turned on the dimmest light, and when I looked at my hands they were floating with lights trailing them.  Like I said it almost seemed as if I was on some psychodellic trip.

The experience with things floating with lights behind them only started after I took iv steroids back in the middle of February. Idk, very strange!

[supermum_ms]

Morning,

I concur with double vision but was wondering, when you say 'flashing lights' are you meaning, your full vision temperarily disapears with big bright flashes, like explosions going off or is it more like, little itty bitty bright stars twinkling every where but you still have vision.

If its the first type i'd say its possibly migraine related, if its the second then its possibly your blood pressure dropping so theres not enough oxygen getting up to your brain. Its called, oops sorry I lost it, medications could be the cause but due to my brain just whooshing out on me i'm drawing blanks now, sorry! Cna anyone chime in for me lol

Cheers..........JJ

PS probably a good idea to mention it to your dr  

[doublevision1]

Blurriness could be MS related; when I first had trouble with my vision I thought it was blurry but actually was the start of double vision.  Can you see more clearly when you cover one eye or the other?  

Blurriness can also be a symptom of ON but would typically only involve one eye.  

Floaters I don't believe are MS related, this can be benign or possibly retinal detachment though if you've been evaluated I would think that they would have picked up on this.  

Strange that these various symptoms would be all happening at once....is that correct?  

Do you have a history of migraines?  Sometimes these present as flashing of light.  Don't know if this includes floaters and blurriness.

Perhaps with all that testing that's been normal, you ought to have a MRI to check for inflammation/demyelination of the cranial and/or optic nerves.

Another possiblity is side effects of medications, has this been looked at?  eg: antihistamines, anticholinergics, some high blood pressure meds,  and probably many others.