Ok, just wondering if chronic lyme can lead to eyes disorders. I went to an oththemic surgoen yesterday as I have had tons of increased floaters the last two weeks and they found I have early macular degeneration in one eye and have a tear in my retina in the other eye, which could detach and I could go blind in that eye!
I also had optic nuritis diognoised last year.
I am going to see a specialist tomorrow morning to have special pictures taken and then possible surgery!
I am really nervous!!
debs : )
Posted by bv (Member # 9578) on :
I had (still have) floaters, though not as frequent or intense as b/f abx. LLMD said floaters are a LD symptom of neurological lyme.
Been on doxy & alinia for 4 months, before that was on doxy & flagyl for 5 months.
Good Luck.
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Are you taking Doxy or other tetracyclines, steroids, nalidixic acid, or amiodarone?
Primary idiopathic intracranial hypertension occurs predominantly in obese women in their 30s and 40s. It has been referred to as benign intracranial hypertension.
The diagnostic criteria consist of symptoms and signs of raised intracranial pressure, no other neurological signs, measured increase in intracranial pressure, normal cerebrospinal fluid composition, and normal imaging studies.7
Typically, primary idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a chronic disease with a major long term risk to vision requiring regular monitoring.89
Treatment includes weight loss, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and occasionally surgery to lower the intracranial pressure and to protect the optic nerve.
Intracranial hypertension may also occur secondary to several drugs, including tetracyclines, steroids, nalidixic acid, and amiodarone.3
Several other drug associations have been reported. The mechanism of these reactions is unknown.5
Stopping the culprit drug leads to resolution of the intracranial hypertension usually over 2-4 weeks.
The disorder presents in a similar way in both the primary and the secondary cases, with symptoms and signs of increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure including headaches, visual obscurations, and occasional double vision due to paresis of the sixth nerve.
Although the patients described here were slightly overweight neither was morbidly obese, having a body mass index below 30 kg/m2.
In idiopathic intracranial hypertension associated with poor visual outcome, the body mass index is usually over 40 kg/m2.10 Investigation in both cases did not reveal an underlying disorder associated with the hypertension.
The symptoms of raised intracranial pressure began one and three months after starting doxycycline.
The cerebrospinal fluid pressure was substantially increased and with appropriate treatment and withdrawal of the drug fell to normal.
The evidence that doxycycline was responsible is therefore compelling.
The unusual feature in the first case was the extent of the increased intracranial pressure (52.5 cm H2O).
The mean intracranial pressure in acute idiopathic intracranial hyerptension is around 34 (SD 8) cm H2O.11 Severe acute papilloedema was present with signs of axonal compromise (haemorrhages and cotton wool spots) not typically seen in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
Overall vision was, however, maintained and the patient remained asymptomatic after stopping treatment at six months.
In the second case, the intracranial pressure was increased to the extent usually measured in idiopathic intracranial hypertension, but symptoms had been present for six weeks before the first lumbar puncture was undertaken and while doxycycline treatment continued.
When the patient was first examined at our institute her vision was severely reduced, with optic nerve signs indicative of major axonal compromise (see fig 1).
Intracranial pressure returned to normal within three weeks of starting treatment, but despite some improvement in vision, the optic discs became atrophic.
The resulting visual field defects make this patient eligible for partial sight registration and leave her outside the minimum driving requirement.
Intracranial hypertension as a side effect of doxycycline has not been previously reported.
As trends change in the prescribing of antimalarials, and doxycycline is more widely used, it is important that prescribers make patients aware of the symptoms associated with intracranial hypertension--headaches, visual obscurations, blurred vision, diplopia, back and neck pain, although occasionally these can be less specific, as in case 2.
If symptoms occur, medical advice should be sought. Visual acuities should be measured and the optic discs examined.
The successful management of this condition follows cessation of the drug.
Individuals who have had this idiosyncratic response to doxycycline should probably avoid all tetracyclines.
Doxycycline should be prescribed with caution to women of childbearing age who are overweight or have a history of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
Awareness of this side effect is essential among travellers.
Prompt cessation of the drug along with appropriate medical therapy can curtail an attack of secondary intracranial hypertension, hence any permanent threat to vision.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
deb, yes, lyme can cause serious eye problems!
in treepatrol's newbie links; look for TINCUP/LUCY BARNES' STORY of how is legally blind now due to lyme.
our own ICESKATER has lost a majority of her eyesight in the last year plus too; they can't come up with why!
this is very serious; take a close family member/friend with you to write down what eye specialist has to say. be very cautious! good luck; thoughts/prayers headed to you. Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
YES YES YES-
We had one guy in our group who was going blind with severe uveitis and something else and he is 100% now.
Also another woman in group with transient MS type blindness, came on suddenly for a few minutes and a few hours-
But hers is gone too thank goodness!*)*!)!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
up for debs
Posted by FightFireWithWater (Member # 5781) on :
A strong "yes" here, too. Eye symptoms are typically the last to get rid of and the first to come back if you stop treatment too soon. Make sure that you are getting the optimal treatment for your problems. Obviously, one doesn't fool around with eyes. There are LLMD opthomologists.
Posted by psano (Member # 7785) on :
I had a ton of opthalmologic problems w/LD...double vision, impaired judgement with respect to distance to objects (this might have been another type of problem) drooping eyes, conjunctivitis which made it impossible for me to wear contacts, pain in the eye...
Most of the problems have gone away w/long term abx, but my eyes still droop when I'm herxing badly, and I can wear my extended wear contacts, but not for the maximum period of time.
Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :
My dog went blind from TBD.
Posted by meg (Member # 22) on :
Debs-- Though lyme in general can cause eye problems, to be a bit specific....try a search in Medical for:: Bartonella eyes
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)