Optic neuritis!
Optic neuritis!
I got it 4 weeks back. My vision started blurring in after a week, i couldn't see anything clearly. Then I was put on IV steroids, which brought about 80% recovery but after a week my vision has gone bad! I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Anybody else with this? How long did it take to get back total vision?
Re: Optic neuritis!
Hi Farr,
Welcome to ThisIsMS. I hope that you find a supportive community here.
NHE
Welcome to ThisIsMS. I hope that you find a supportive community here.
I'm sorry to hear about your worsening vision problems after your bout of IV steroids. I had optic neuritis along with neuropathic pain in my leg and foot when I was diagnosed. The steroids helped my vision recover, but I noticed some loss of color intensity and had continued sensitivity to heat for almost a year afterwards. For example, either a hot shower or being outside for too long during hot summer days would make my vision cloud over. However, as long as I stayed in a cool environment, then all I would notice was the color problem. Both of the problems have cleared up since then. By the way, some neurologists recommend an oral dose of steroids following the IV treatment in order to gradually taper down the dose. Were you prescribed this follow-up to the IV?farrr wrote:I got it 4 weeks back. My vision started blurring in after a week, i couldn't see anything clearly. Then I was put on IV steroids, which brought about 80% recovery but after a week my vision has gone bad! I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Anybody else with this? How long did it take to get back total vision?
NHE
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gainsbourg
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NHE, That's interesting about being outside on hot summer days affected your vision.
I also get bouts of optical neuritis but it is always temporary and oddly enough, it typically happens when doing something physically strenuous outdoors. My theory is that it is all linked to oxygen:
1. The optic nerve tends to use much more oxygen outdoors because there is usually more demand on the eye - much more light and activity.
2. Hot air is less dense and contains much less oxygen
3. Humid air is less dense and contains less oxygen
4. Aerobic activity creates a big demand for blood and oygen to be delivered to muscles and therefore there is less available for the brain and eyes.
In fact I believe that MS fatigue may be linked to lack of oxygen, as has been suggested by others recently. Obviously inflamed nerves are going to absorb even less blood and oxygen - this would explain why the anti-inflammatory effect of steroids helps the eye situation. Remember, the brain has a huge demand for blood and oxygen, and the optic nerve is the biggest, greediest in the body.
Part of the blood flow and oxygen perfusion problems may stem from venous problems, but I believe the main reason is simply because the nerves are inflamed and can absorb less oxygen.
Maybe this problem with oxygen is at the heart of MS symptoms - and similar neurogical illnesses. Perhaps there is a basic metabolic flaw going on at cellular level in MS, similar to when there is insufficient thyroid hormone, or too much iron in the body.
gainsbourg
I also get bouts of optical neuritis but it is always temporary and oddly enough, it typically happens when doing something physically strenuous outdoors. My theory is that it is all linked to oxygen:
1. The optic nerve tends to use much more oxygen outdoors because there is usually more demand on the eye - much more light and activity.
2. Hot air is less dense and contains much less oxygen
3. Humid air is less dense and contains less oxygen
4. Aerobic activity creates a big demand for blood and oygen to be delivered to muscles and therefore there is less available for the brain and eyes.
In fact I believe that MS fatigue may be linked to lack of oxygen, as has been suggested by others recently. Obviously inflamed nerves are going to absorb even less blood and oxygen - this would explain why the anti-inflammatory effect of steroids helps the eye situation. Remember, the brain has a huge demand for blood and oxygen, and the optic nerve is the biggest, greediest in the body.
Part of the blood flow and oxygen perfusion problems may stem from venous problems, but I believe the main reason is simply because the nerves are inflamed and can absorb less oxygen.
Maybe this problem with oxygen is at the heart of MS symptoms - and similar neurogical illnesses. Perhaps there is a basic metabolic flaw going on at cellular level in MS, similar to when there is insufficient thyroid hormone, or too much iron in the body.
gainsbourg
hey there, optic neuropathy can in some cases be related to zinc deficiency. ms patients tend to be low in zinc. protein deficiency can make it hard to correct zinc deficiency. there are a number of suboptimal nutrients in ms patients, and zinc is one of them. optimal zinc ie the average level seen in healthy controls is 18.2 - 18.4 umol/L. you may want to test your zinc level to see if this could be related to your optic issues.
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indigoinmotion
- Family Member
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- Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 2:00 pm
I experienced optic neuritis in April of this year. Took about 6-8 weeks to clear without the use of steroids. I took Bromelain after each meal. I had read about someone online who took it for optic neuritis to cut inflammation, so thought I'd give it a shot. Also, a lot of rest and relaxation techniques to reduce stress. Hang in there!
I had severe optic neuritis years ago (lose of sight for a few months, severe pain etc) but was not given steroids. Did eventually get better, but eyes always a problem.
When had an operation, reaction to anethetic caused a bad bout of optic neuitis once again--since i could see and count that they had 5 fingers up, they released me without attending to the eye problems! (which were only seeing in black and white, very foggy vision).
used Zinc, and b6 and B12 to recover the color and contrast.
Since then, know from experience, and from blood tests, that I need much more zinc than the RDA in order to maintain my eyes and mood.
(an interesting sidenote on the zince: had also lost my period for about 3 years--drs gave me steroids, hormones, nothing worked. Eventually got it back. But of course later found that severe lack of zinc can cause lose of menstruation!)
When had an operation, reaction to anethetic caused a bad bout of optic neuitis once again--since i could see and count that they had 5 fingers up, they released me without attending to the eye problems! (which were only seeing in black and white, very foggy vision).
used Zinc, and b6 and B12 to recover the color and contrast.
Since then, know from experience, and from blood tests, that I need much more zinc than the RDA in order to maintain my eyes and mood.
(an interesting sidenote on the zince: had also lost my period for about 3 years--drs gave me steroids, hormones, nothing worked. Eventually got it back. But of course later found that severe lack of zinc can cause lose of menstruation!)