This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

I've had ongoing problems with my eyes (all indicate optic neuritis) and the neurologists have only recommended that I see a general eye Dr.

Does anyone know if a general eye doctor can even help? I've looked in my area and can't find anyone that specializes in this, and considering my job requires a lot of reading I'm just getting sick (after over 2 years) of my eyes hurting every single day, usually to the point that I'm nauseated by afternoon. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Oh - and while I'm asking an optic neuritis related question, does anyone have a good description for the eye pain associated? The Drs ask that, and I don't have a good answer I guess. They just feel strained, sensitive to light, it's painful when I move my eyes to look at things, etc. I wish there were some chart or something like the pain chart, because I just really can't describe it besides they "hurt" and that answer never seems to be sufficient.

Welcome to ThisIsMS Fenway,
When I had optic neuritis it felt like there was a slight pressure in my eye. However, the main effect was that my vision had clouded over and it was like trying to look through steamed over glasses that never cleared up. After the episode of optic neuritis passed, I would often noticed reduced color intensity in the effected eye. Even 14 years later, color intensity between my two eyes is still noticeably different.

NHE

If I were you, ask your doctor for minocycline. Let me explain. As is so often the case, this is one of the first symptoms but how do you know the difference between optic neuritis and neuroretinitis? You don't, but they are just about the same. Assuming you are from Boston or Mass with a name like Fenway are you familiar with Lyme disease and co-infections? specifically Bartonella? My cousin was misdiagnosed with MS for 12 years and on his deathbed when we discovered these infections. His eyes were the biggest issue as he described so many different, weird, uncomfortable and painful eye symptoms. He started taking minocycline and immediately he could tell something was going on, it didn't get better overnight, it took months but his eyes gradually got better and better. Minocycline is used to treat lyme, bartonella, babesia and many other infections as well as MS so you are covering a whole bunch of possibilities. If you can't handle the minocycline you may want to try doxycycline.

Remember these are cheap antibiotics and while they do have side effects and they shouldn't be abused, they are some of the safest most used meds ever invented! Beg your doctor for these antibiotics because they saved my cousins life and gave him his vision back. The steroids his MS doctor gave him for his so called Optic Neuritis almost killed him, and gave him severe mental issues. Furthermore, any disease that ends in itis is usually related to inflammation due to an infection..i.e bronchitis, laryngitis, cellulitis, meningitis, encephalitis, bursitis etc...

I hope this helps it's bartonella that is causing your eye issues, mention it to your doctor you will throw him off, you will not test positive for it so you have to sell him on the many uses of minocycline and the safety of it. Don't mention Lyme, MS doctor's get upset at this suggestion, it makes them defensive. I hope this helps. It takes awhile and you may get worse before you get better but it works.