Why did my daughter suddenly lose her vision?

[destinee_hope]

After an argument with my daughter I was talking to her when I noticed her pupils contracting and dilating repeatedly as I watched her. She then expressed to me that she couldn't see. Her pupils eventually stilled, but she still couldn't see. I didn't take her to the dr. immediately kind of assuming it would just go away. When 3 days had passed I took her to the ER. She was admitted to the hospital for 4 days and underwent many test from a lumbar puncture to MRIs to EEGs. All came back normal, yet she still couldn't see. We were referred to an ophthalmologist who prescribed her glasses, but basically told me it was " all in her head". I really want to help my daughter and have trouble believing that she would have had two spinal taps if it was "all in her head"

[JohnHaganMD]

If she really could not see you would have to be leading her around all the time.    There is a condition that used to be called “hysterical blindness”.  Now it has a softer name but in it the eyes are normal but the patient’s main problem is psychiatric. Before you walk down that road see a  neuroophthalmologist ASAp

[destinee_hope]

We are leading her around all the time. She can't do anything on her own and it is causing some anxiety issues for her. She is usually really independent, but is having to rely on someone for everything. She can only walk around alone at home because she is familiar with everything.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Okay so this should be treated as a urgent problem and you and her physicians arranging for her to see neuro-ophthalmologist on emergent basis. Only after neuro ophthalmologist agrees no pathology and that this is 'conversion reaction" should she be seen by psychiatrist.  If you live in small or medium town you may need to take her to large well known tertiary referral center (e.g. Mayo Clinic in USA).   Every state, country has referral centers for these unusual cases.

[destinee_hope]

I just wanted to add that her pupils are now only slightly reactive to light stimulation and any reaction is very slow to take place.

[JohnHaganMD]

She needs to see a Neuro-ophthalmologist. Ask the Eye MD you have seen or neurologist to refer her to one.