You only have two eyes. Don't play the odds!! GET TO A DOCTOR AT THE FIRST SIGN!!

This is what happened to me several years ago: I experienced terrible pain with sudden onset on one side of the head. It felt like there was a knife driving into the back of my skull into my eye from behind (really). Then for about a week after the pain stopped, I had a "cloud" partially obscuring the vision in the affected eye -- like a white haze at the outer perimeter. Then THAT stopped at about the time I was able to finally get into the opthamologist's office and my vision returned. That was the close call. The following year, the same thing occurred in the other eye. Only this time the "cloud" was in the center of my vision. And the pain didn't stop the entire week. I went to an opthalmologist that time, too. That time, there was significant damage being done and I was put on Prednizone for about three weeks to arrest the pain and dissolve the blockage. I nearly lost the vision in that eye completely -- it took about 8 years for the color vision to return (and the doctor says I am color blind in that eye -- but I'm NOT complaining!!).

I've had optic neuritis too. The first time was about 10 years ago... I lost the vision permanently in my right eye. 6 months later my other eye started to go... I was treated with IV Steroids to bring back my vision and this time it fully recovered. If they had treated my right eye as quickly and aggressively as my left eye, I would see out of both my eyes. I'm so unhappy about this, but there is nothing I can do. I just notice right away when the inflammation on my optic nerve starts to effect my sight and head straight for the NeuroOpthalmologist. This is awful.

For some folks this is one of the signs associated with MS. I have been cleared of that one but, I do have Lupus.

When I first started seeing my opthmologist for my problems (which started as migraine syptoms, blurriness in my right eye, floaters, and a white light in my peripheral vision) she thought without a doubt I had optic neuritis! SHe ruled it out though after a series of exams that showed no inflamation of the optic nerve. SHe diagnosed me with chronic dry eye and that's where I am today--luckily the migraines stopped and I'm sort of okay. I'm "blind" (no offense to anyone who actually is blind in any way http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif) in my right eye though due to this dryness problem, and I still can't find anyway to stop the nagging pain and scraping. But I have to say I'm glad it's not optic neuritis, and glad to hear your condition is "under control"

Good luck!

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I went to the eye doctor yesterday and he is concerned that there may be a high amount of pressure against my optic nerve...I hope I have said that correctly. He wants to do another test and if that test concludes that indeed the optic nerve is pressing in due to the pressure then I will have to go to the neurologist for a spinal tap to check the amount of pressure. Is this anything like what you guys are going through? I have the headaches, spots sometimes, and sometimes I lose my equilibrium. Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks

I'm not sure if it is or not, but it sounds like your doctor is trying to prevent a full-fledged problem... As I said, you don't want to wait too long when there is the potential of something with you eyes. A spinal tap seems extreme, but maybe it's the only thing to do? In my case, I was given steroids to reduce the inflammation of the nerve caused by an embulism (clot) in the blood supply and I had immediate pain and clouded vision that I tried to cope with for only a week before seeking help and I STILL experienced some damage and the cause of that clot was never determined. Maybe your doctor is trying to diagnose the cause while there's still time instead of implementing the intervention measures that need to be taken AFTER the problem has fully manifested?

Not to change the subject from neuritis', but if your doctor is speaking of spinal taps...he is concerned about a condition called papilledema, which is a swelling of BOTH optic nerves. This is usually from increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, which is why it always will effect both eyes (one worse than the other sometimes though). To rule this out, a MRI and spinal tap have to be done. MRI to rule out any tumours, which can put pressure on different areas of the brain causing pressures to increase and the spinal tap to measure the actual pressure of the CSF. DONT go worrying though, most papilledema's are caused by benign increases in CSF pressure. This is easily treatable w/ oral dieuritics.

I too had a caseof optic neuritis over the Memorial Day weekend. I have had the MRI done and the IV and oral steroids. The MRI did show some changes. I have been to a neurologist and I am about to see a optic neurologist. So far my vision is 99% back to normal.

After realizing that i couldnt see properly i was rushed thru the hospital system fast.Initially the drs thought i had optic neuritis,after an mri,ultrasound,flourescene angiogram,field vision tests,eeg and many more,i was given the all clear for optic neuritis and a brain tumor.I am now suspected of having papilledema and waiting for a lumbar puncture to confirm pseudotumor cerebi.My head is constantly pounding,i have tingling in my hand,i have no energy,my vision is still poor and i generally feel awful.Can anybody make me better?Is there hope?

PS: The spinal tap is also a way to rule out MS (Optic Neuritis is a harbinger of the condition).