LymeNet Flash: Do the eye issues clear up??

This is topic Do the eye issues clear up?? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Ruffy (Member # 7146) on :

It's been one VERY annoying constant in all of this. I know that Lyme likes to store itself in the eye when threatened, but this has gotten serious with me. I have TONS of floaters impeding my vision. I also have a flashing in the bottom corner of my right eye. VERY dry. Bloodshot. Sensitive to light.

My question is this. Is it worth going to an eye doctor? Would eye drop antibiotics help? Does Lyme cause the invetrous jelly to thicken? I know that flashes are some times associated with floaters in that it could be a thickening near the retina and tugging on the retina.

DOES THIS CLEAR UP??

Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :

Hmm. I'd like to know also. I had an "OptoScan" on my eye pre-diagnosis (when I was having migraines). Doctor found a large area of "unusual retinal degeneration."

LLMD believes it is Lyme and I should go to a real eye doctor (not a guy who just makes glasses).

However, I've been putting it off hoping that being on ABX would kill it, and what can an eye doctor do anyway?

So would be curious to hear of anyone else's experiences with Bb, especially retinal.

Thx,

Michelle M

[This message has been edited by Michelle M (edited 06 July 2005).]

Posted by digirl02 (Member # 7177) on :

i also had this problem and actually haven't been able to wear contacts for about 10 months.

i was given a eyedrop antibiotic called Cirpofloxacin Hydrochloride 5 ml and used it 3 times a day for about 1-2 months.

It definitely helped. I stilll have some blurred vision and definitely light sensitivity.

I was also advised to go to a real eye doctor and get some tinted eye glasses. (haven't yet so the eye migraine/headaches still occur but not as often)

hope this helps. not sure if it's the same problem. ask your llmd that's who gave me my prescription because it is lyme related.

Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :

My llmd says blurriness should get better but I'm slightly concerned, he is too. Most of my symptoms are a lot better, but my vision just gets worse.

I made the time this morning to roam around the net. Here is what I found. Yes, lyme can indeed go in your eyes and cause real problems. This is a small number of cases. More likely inflammation in the brain or stressed liver function is causing the problem. THe fat soluable vitamins the eyes need to heal are stored in the liver and can't be useful if the liver is struggling.

So what to do, gettting plenty of the right nutrients is important, plenty of anti-oxidents, mag, zinc, fish oils. Milk thistle is very important. I think I'm taking about a third of what I should be so I'm upping that. Also lots of water to flush the toxins out of the liver.

I didn't find anything about reducing inflammation yet. Some abx are supposed to help with that, but I think my long term use of abx is causing my liver to be stressed. So,I'll fax my llmd about that.

I did see a site about tension in the neck and shoulders being connected to floaters. THe tension was related to curvature of the spine. Reducing tension thru exercise was supposed to help. It was a site promoting a specific doctor and his therapies so details weren't at the site. I didn't bookmark it, but it was Dr. A in Wilmington, DE. He did promote eye health thru improving the general health of the patient.

I did go to an eye Dr. last year, but not ll, he said I just needed glasses and no disease was present.

Mel

Posted by deb obrien (Member # 5239) on :

michelle - there is a wonderful opthalmologist/neurologist (also lyme literate) in sf - after a multitude of tests (many done at uc school of optometry as i live in east bay) i was diagnosed with a retinopathy due to lack of oxygen - i was later diagnosed with babs so it all made sense...babs is gone (hopefully) and most of the eye problems have cleared....
deb

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Posted by bpeck (Member # 3235) on :

Yes, IMO you need to see an ohpthalmologist.

You could have Uveitis (inflammation within the eye) Dry eye, Red eye, sensitivity to light, cells in the vitreous humor.

You could have optic neuritis.(shimmering, flashing in the visual field)
Or also pain in the muscles (looking up, down, left & right.

High unchecked inflammation in the eye can lead to scaring, and damage.

Barb

Posted by duke77 (Member # 5051) on :

I have lots of vision problems I too haven't been able to wear contacts for almost a year. My left eye seems to be worse than my right maybe because it is the eye with the stigmatism. I have tons of floaters and disturbances especially in bright light or florescent light as well as being bloodshot often.

Yes, Lyme causes excess floaters among other eye problems. I went to the eye dr. had a battery of over 2 hours worth of tests run. He said my eyes are healthy. They don't feel healthy but according to his tests they are. Lyme is strange in that you can have symptoms but no apparent damage. I guess that is why many docs think lymies are nuts. I have heard that from other lymies who have gone to the eye dr with symptoms and they found nothing.

Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :

Hi Ruffy
I also had tons of floaters--
After being on doxi 2 years
almost all floaters Gone.--Jay--

Posted by Pocono Lyme (Member # 5939) on :

I would get checked especially for the flashing.

I have had continuous blurriness, dryness, irritation, lower half of eyes bloodshot, floaters etc..
Today is the first day my eyes feel somewhat better. Decreased blurriness, irritation, swelling of eyelids and floaters. My eye doc. couldn't find anything wrong.

??Bartonella? I just started Bart. treatment about two weeks ago. Cipro (noticed above poster used Cipro eye drops.)?Dizziness also subsiding today. Hope I didn't jinx myself.