Common visual symptoms:
Optic Neuritis:
Optic Neuritis (ON) happens when your optic nerve is inflamed. When inflamed it has difficulty sending messages from the eyes to your brain, therefore you get disturbed visual symptoms. Such as:
- Blurred vision (as if looking through a net curtain)
- Changes in colours, either dull or very bright
- Pain in the eye, especially when moving it
Optic Neuritis (ON) more commonly occurs in early disease, it is often someone’s first set of symptoms. Usually it happens in one eye, but it can affect both eyes at the same time. ON usually lasts between 4-6 weeks, but can be shorter or longer. Approximately 55% of pwMS will have an episode of ON.
Double Vision (Diplopia):
Double vision occurs when the nerves that control eye movements are inflamed. Our vision is binocular, which means the brain puts together the two lots of information it receives from your eyes and gives you one picture. However, if there is damage or inflammation on the nerve, this eye tends not to move smoothly with the other eye, this is when the brain gives you two pictures. This can sometimes be corrected by putting a prism into glasses lenses.
Nystagmus:
Nystagmus is an involuntary repetitive eye movements. These could be up and down, side to side or round and round. Often it not noticeable in your vision, but it can make object’s blurry or shaky. Usually people have problems with night time vision or a sensitivity to light. Occasionally it can affect your balance and create a dizziness.
If you have any concerns re your vision, please talk to your MS Team, or see below for further advice.
Hereford Ophthalmology Department
The County Hospital provides a range of ophthalmic services, covering all aspects of general ophthalmology including cataract surgery.
Specialist clinics:
- Glaucoma
- Retinal and Macular disorders
- Squint
- Thyroid eye disease
- Eyelid disorders
Eye Emergencies:
If you have an urgent problem with your eye, normal high street opticians usually have urgent appointments on the same day, between 9-5pm.
However, outside these times or if you feel that your eye condition cannot wait then please present yourself to the Emergency Department at Hereford Hospital.
Further Information
https://mstrust.org.uk/a-z/visual-problems
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/signs-and-symptoms/eyes-and-sight
https://www.msif.org/about-ms/symptoms-of-ms/vision-issues/
https://msfocusmagazine.org/Magazine/Magazine-Items/Focusing-on-Visual-Disturbances-of-MS.aspx