Vision Problems- Need help... - Eye & Vision Message Board

Michelle96 · 12-18-2002, 03:15 PM

I have been suffering from vision problems off and on for the better part of a year. In June I woke up and noticed that my left eye was extremely blurry. I went to my ophthalmologist, and he didn’t find anything wrong, and suggested that I see a physician. I made an appointment with my physician, who put me on antibiotics for a UTI and possible sinus infection. When my problem persisted she suggested an MRI. I had an MRI done a week later, and the results were normal. After about a month of chasing down doctors my eye seemed to get better for the most part. It was still slightly blurry but I couldn’t find a doctor (or anyone) with an explanation. Then this month (December 4th) I caught a cold, which turned into a sinus infection. I went to a doctor and he put me on antibiotics, and said that the blurry vision was normal when having a sinus infection. Frustrated, the next day (December 5th), I went to my family physician who said to stay on the augmentin, and scheduled my for an MRI on the 16th. I had the MRI and it was normal except for slightly swollen muccoles on the left side. Yet this still didn’t concern anyone. I have an appointment with my opthalmologist (again) on the 20th and then on the 23rd I will go see my family physician again. But I am very worried. It's as though there is a heavy gray veil over my eye and I can only see a little light and some outlines of objects..Any ideas on what is causing my mysterious vision problem? Could it be sinus related?

StephieLurksALot · 12-18-2002, 04:07 PM

has your opthalmologist run a visual field test? what you describe kinda sounds like you have experienced something like optic neuritis possibly.

Michelle96 · 12-19-2002, 07:14 AM

Thank you for your response. I am not sure if he performed that particular test. I have had so many they all have blurred together (no pun...) What does the test entail?

StephieLurksALot · 12-20-2002, 04:12 PM

i think you can do a search on google for the goldman visual field testing, should turn up the information you seek. best of luck, S

purple2067 · 12-24-2002, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michelle96:
In June I woke up and noticed that my left eye was extremely blurry. I went to my ophthalmologist, and he didn’t find anything wrong, and suggested that I see a physician.

I'm a little confused...did you see an ophthalmologist or an optometrist? An Ophthalmologist IS a physician. Anyway, if you have not seen an ophthalmologist, you definitely should, just to make sure that you don't have any serious problems. Also, has anyone ever checked your intra-ocular pressure, just to make sure that you are not developing cataracts or glaucoma? I don't know how old you are, but sometimes that can happen at a young age.

You say that this happens when you get a sinus infection? When the sinus infection/cold goes away, do the vision problems also go away? I used to get such bad sinus infections that I would black out and not be able to see for a minute or two. Finally they did a CAT Scan, NOT an MRI. For sinus problems, a CAT Scan is much better. It showed that I had a polyp in my sinuses. Maybe you have something like that. Ask your dr to order a "water's view" CAT Scan of the sinuses" (at least, that's what my dr ordered for me). I had surgery to have the polyp removed, and after that I never blacked out again and I stopped getting such severe sinus infections. Maybe it is a sinus problem that is causing your vision problems.
Oh....and a visual field test is very very simple. You sit there and look into a machine with a picture that has two lines which come to a point. (that's what my dr has). Usually something like two sides of a road that come to a point in the far distance. And while you are looking at that picture, they perform the visual field test. I guess it tells them if you can see things on either side. I believe that is what you are talking about.

Good luck,
Elyse