This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi all-

Lately, I've been feeling a little more "MSish". Some of the stuff is stuff I've had before. But, lately, I also have been feeling an odd sensation around my eyes. It is as if they are a little achy. My vision doesn't seem to get blurry, but I find myself having to make a little extra effort to focus (sorry if that doesn't make sense). FYI...I started a new job recently and my sleep is still readjusting, so I am a little more tired then usual as well and that could contribute to it.

Does this sound like optic neuritis? Also, my MS is fairly mild, but I've heard of some people who are pretty aggressive with the steroids. While I am open to using them for obvious attacks, are people also using it for those flair ups/attacks that aren't so obvious?

best,

TOL

whatever that is, tol, i think i have something pretty similar lately. like a little weird muscle-y twisty feeling in the back of your eyeball sometimes? and you look at stuff, but sometimes it doesn't quite register right away? not quite a focus issue, but a kind of strain to interpret info? i have not figured out yet what conditions bring it on for me.

Yep, got it too! Focus issues, sometimes double vision, feeling that eyes are working harder to focus. When I saw opthmologist he looked at the optic nerve and said it wasn't optic neuritis. I don't know what it is either. I feel it more when my eyes are tired or I'm hot (like from being outside or working out). You could be experiencing this because of your change in work. Once you become accustomed to your new work schedule you may find the eye issues subside. Hope they do!
Lori

Thanks you guys...in part, I think this question stems from "is this a time to start a steroid tx?"...i know there is variability on when people start something like that...and, it sounds relatively minor...but, i've heard from others who identify themselves as "aggressively" going after the MS symptoms and wonder if this is one of those situations that would be appropriate..

TOL

sorry can't help you with the treatment decision, i haven't gotten to the point where i'd consider steroids so i don't know. i kind of feel it sometimes and not others so i've been trying to figure out what, if anything, i'm doing that brings it on.

Have you seen an eye doctor yet? That might be the first thing to do in order to rule out other possible causes of your vision problems.

NHE

yea where is eyedoc anyway

I haven't seen an eye doctor...besides this sensation around my eyes, I've always had 20/20 vision...given the visual probs associated with MS, I'm thinking that it is more likely to it....though, that is just speculation

thanks again for all of the input!

TOL

I'm busy hiding from my MS and not checking the forums frequently!!

To the original poster: You are intersecting my "eye doctor" self with my "MS" self with this question. The eyedoc in me would say these symptoms don't scream optic neuritis to me, and that the achy eyes and focus problems you describe seem to fall outside of normal ON symptoms that patients have, BUT I experience the exact same symptoms you have! I can only account MS for these symptoms. Whether or not they are an offshoot of baseline-type ON symptoms, I truly do not know. As is my standard advice for many questions, get an eye exam to rule out any problems, but don't be surprised if everything checks out great.

Isn't MS great?

Thanks for the personal and professional response eye doc...from what i'm hearing, it is in that gray area...one question, though...if my vision still checks out 20/20, is there anything else they can look for?

TOL

Thanks for the personal and professional response eye doc...from what i'm hearing, it is in that gray area...one question, though...if my vision still checks out 20/20, is there anything else they can look for?

TOL

Thanks for the personal and professional response eye doc...from what i'm hearing, it is in that gray area...one question, though...if my vision still checks out 20/20, is there anything else they can look for?

TOL

Thanks for the personal and professional response eye doc...from what i'm hearing, it is in that gray area...one question, though...if my vision still checks out 20/20, is there anything else they can look for?

TOL

Have your sinuses checked. There is a thin plate between the sinuses and the optic nerve.

Once inflammation from optic neuritis sets in, a patient will have decreased vision, and in fact that is a hallmark of the disorder. They will have trouble reading the eye chart and difficulty with peripheral vision. However, when I had both of my bouts with ON, I had the pain with eye movement well before the vision problems set in.

If a patient has 20/20 vision but is complaining of eye pain, a doctor will check the pupil responses to light and look for a telltale sign of trouble. Also, they will dilate the pupils and check the nerve itself. Often, but not always, the doctor may see inflammation or elevation of the nerve. The doctor may also check your color vision because an inflamed nerve will generally cause a color vision defect.

Hope this helps ...