Does MS cause loss of vision in both eyes or just one? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Tiffyholman · 12-13-2005, 07:30 PM

let me start from the beginning my son's father the week before thanksgiving had double vision, so we thought it was vertigo. he had that about 10 years ago, he went to the dr and they said no it wasn't vertigo and sent him for and MRI immediately. He has had 3 mri's, cat scan, spinal tap, and xrays. We were seeing an ear nose and throat dr here in our city, the only thing they could see was an enlarged sphenicner bone and some lesions on the brain and wanted to do a biopsy immediately, he wanted a second opinion so we took him down to scripps hospital in la jolla, ca. to see a dr. she said the bone has probably been that way all his life, and the lesions have gotten better in since the last mri like 3 weeks ago. so she said it could just be an infection or worse case scenrio it could be early stages MS. We came home sunday, and only one eye was effected but starting today he's losing vision in both eyes. It started in his right eye, it just wouldn't move the nerves were effected. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP, when you have ms does it start in your eyes? and the loss of vision does it last? could this be something else. i'm scared

curious11 · 12-13-2005, 09:27 PM

Tiff... Ok let me start my saying that there is no real pattern to the way that MS presents itself. Everyone's symptoms vary to some degree. The loss of vision may be caused by optic neuritis. That is an inflammation that can sometimes be associated with MS. I'm not sure what you meant by: "it just wouldn't move the nerves were affected", but as far as vision loss goes... that again may be caused by an inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis). From what I know on bilateral optic neuritis, that is more often associated with Neuro Myelitis Optic, which presents itself like MS. I am not sure how often bilateral optic neuritis occurs in MS, but again, it may be possible. If this vision loss is caused by optic neuritis the swelling will more than likely subside on its own in a few weeks and vision will return to "normal". I have had optic neuritis 2 times in the past and although I can not notice any difference in my ability to see, when my neurologist looks in my eye he can see the residual effects. I would suggest your sons father go see a neuro-opthamologist. They specialize in this area and they would know best. Good luck

Tiffyholman · 12-13-2005, 10:06 PM

curious,
thanks he did go see a neuro-opthamologist at scripps hospital she's the one that said she thought it was a infection, but that it could be early stages MS. I just have never heard loss of vision from MS, and when you try to get him to follow your finger with his eye, it won't move that's what i meant. Sorry, thanks for the info

Natatude · 12-14-2005, 06:03 AM

i only have trouble with one eye,,, but it makes my left one work harder so some days i have trouble focusing in on anything and i know i gotta rest and shut my eyes,, MS does cause optic nerve damage, thats how mine started out in the early 90's and i kept passing it off cause it would come and go,, i should went to drs back then. i dunno if my eye moves or not when the dr does that,,, i went to see my neuro last week and he did all that and ordered an MRI i had it done last thursday still have not heard anything from him.

curious11 · 12-14-2005, 07:29 AM

Tiff... Well that is good that he saw that specialist. They know just what to look for. Vision loss is a very common symptom of MS. From what I know... getting optic neuritis means you have a greater chance of developing MS down the road. I am not trying to scare you, but when I went to the neuro opthamologist a few months back she couldn't see the inflammation because it was retro bulbar (behind the eye). It would have only shown up in an MRI. When she realized that it probably was optic neuritis though she asked if I was having any other problems. Which I then told her about my leg numbess and a bunch of other symptoms I was having... so of course the look on her face said it all. "Get to a neurologist". MS isn't a death sentence and most people live very normal lives. I wish you guys luck on getting some answers... take care