Old cases of optic neuritis?

[ashleyPT]

Hey guys,

Can old incidences of optic neuritis be detected on exam if you are no longer feeling any symptoms?  I assume the damage can be seen even if there has been some improvement of symptoms, but I just wanted to see.

[jed9999]

Just as one example---I went totally blind in 1973 (for about 6 wks or more as I recall.) My vision was totally retuned over time with Deltasone. For many years they have said I had a pale optic nerve when they examined me--BUT they no longer say that~ They say it looks very healthy now.

Another curiosity---Twice in the past 10-15 years I have awakened and gone blind momentarily in one eye when I opened my eye initially for maybe one to two seconds. (The room had some light.)I had a carotid artery scan which was quite clear. No reason was ever detected. Anyone else have this? I've had MS over 36 years---weird stuff keeps happening! Jane

[PastorDan]

Quote from Quix, above: "See?  I said that without dissing the stupid doctors."

Reply: ROFLM*O! <~~ Rolling on floor laughing my asterisk off!  

Pat: No reason you should be sorry for not answering my question.  After all, I'm the one who saw a notice that yesterday was your birthday and neglected to wish you a happy one.  Just to compensate for that, I will pray that the rest of yours are happy!

[Quixotic1]

This would be a god question for the extert.  The answer is probably yes, if the episode caused very little damage and those tests were normal at the time of the attack, but really the answer from me is:

I don't know.  :((

Quix

[hbananas]

Here's the flip side of the question:  Can someone have had ON long ago, but now have normal-looking optic disc and retina, and have normal VEP and OCT tests?  I've had my little scotoma for about 10 years, but everything looks fine to the pros.  I wrote the long-ago doctor to see if they could send me records, and the answer is yes--but I don't have them yet.

[Quixotic1]

The stats are that from 64% to over 70% of all people with ON will have a NORMAL- appearing optic disc on exam.  Any doc that tells you that a normal physical eye exam means you don't have optic neuritis, doesn't know much about the disorder.  See?  I said that without dissing the stupid doctors.  

Quix

[Eyesnlegs]

To Pastor Dan - So sorry I hadn't noticed the questions been very busy today.

To Quix - Thanks so much for clearing this up. My first ON was 20 years ago and was very dramatic - total blindness in 1 eye and it never really healed completely. I have since had it again in the same eye although I have also had a slight occurrence in the other eye. Only the eye with the original ON has a pale lens not the other eye.  

I have had ophthalmologists, opticians and the neuro comment on the pale lens, so Quix info has been very enlightening. My colour vision is only slightly affected but the double, blurred vision and strange eye stuff carries on.

The web site is excellent - useful discussion  guys.

Pat