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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Eye Pain-need your thoughts/suggestions/advice

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Author Topic: Eye Pain-need your thoughts/suggestions/advice
2bostons
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Hi everyone..I haven't been here for awhile because the good news is I think I am beating LD and I am now in the process of getting my life back together again..I just returned to work a few weeks ago..I hadn't worked in over a year..well, I really haven't done much because as you all know this disease really can kick your butt!!

I still receive weekly bicillin injections and have a few "off days" now and then..but I seem to be unable to rid myself of eye pain..this symptom has plagued me since last summer..it's intermittent..but i have it a lot..

Does anyone know what causes the eye pain?

Should I be concerned about permanent damage to my eyes?(my vision is okay..the sensitivity to light is finally gone)

Should I go to a regular eye doctor and talk to them about lyme or should I see a specialist?

Has anyone's eye pain completely gone away?

I would appreciate any help with this one..

thanks Cathy


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lla2
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whenever I get eye 'pain' or irritation I know my bartonella is back,..it loves the eye socket/area and hides out in there..

just my opinion..

lisa


Posts: 4713 | From saunderstown, ri Usa | Registered: Apr 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Beverly
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Hi Cathy,

My eyes have gotten better (after 4 years of abx)at least I am not bumping into walls anymore and the eye pain is less that it used to be.

Get your eyes checked out by a Lyme Literate eye doctor/specialist just to make sure everyhting is ok. I wish I would have went sooner.

Good luck to you and it's nice to hear you are beating LD.


Posts: 6641 | From Michigan | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
tabbytamer
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Cathy,

My doctor wants me evaluated for possible Lyme Uveitis. If you did a search on the Internet I'm sure you'd come up with lots of info on it.

Sometimes it feels like my eyeball has been scratched or has something on it--when there isn't.

Other times I get a lot of pain that seems to be "behind" my eyeball--90 percent of the time it involves my left eye.

My vision has gotten a lot worse--can't focus even with my glasses on some days. Other days glasses help.

I'm supposed to see an Opthamologist (Eye M.D.) that specializes in uveitis & similar eye problems.

What symptoms do you have?

------------------
Tabby


Posts: 2098 | From San Diego, CA, USA | Registered: Sep 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
bpeck
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There are different levels of severity of eye inflammation.

I had severe Uveitis (anterior and posterior) and optic nerve neuritis that was dx as autoimmune for years prior to finding out I had Lyme.

Symptoms are red eye, dry eye, pain using the muscles of the eye to look up down, left and right, immune cells in the vitreous humor, blurriness- or a foggy-iness, central vision problems, peripheral field problems, shimmering visual field, sensitivity to bright light, and halos around lights ar night.

It got to the serious level for me. I was off the inflammationscale. (Opthalmologist thought I may go blind if I kept refusing immunosuppressives).

But there's hope - If my eyes can get better, I figure anyones can.

But I had to start and stop my abx many times - as some made my eye symptoms worse - so had to pulse the abx.

But..
Since my lyme therapy, all symptoms are gone
and my Ohpthalmologist thought there would be lasting damage inside the eyes - but there's not (to his complete amazement).

Barb


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Michelle M
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Barb, that is really good news that you've recovered after such frightening eye problems.

I am seeing an opthamologist on August 2.

I have nearly same problems as you -- pain in eyes when looking up or down or sideways, feel heartbeat in eyes, constant headaches (neuro Lyme with multiple brain lesions) and eye twitching, shimmering, visual "trails" or what's actually called 'palinopsia.'

My GP sent me to get my interocular pressure checked a few months ago prior to putting me on Topamax for headaches. They took a picture of my retina and found a large area of "unusual retinal degeneration." It has me worried. I don't know that such things can be reversed.

The eye stuff is scary but your post is promising.

Also, I'm SKEERED of the eye doctor!!!!!!!!

:-(

Michelle M.


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2bostons
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Hi again everyone..thanks for all the replies..

LLA2: I didn't test positive for any co-infections..so I don't think I have Bartonella..I was tested twice for co-infections..but now you have me wondering...

Beverly: I think that I am going to see a LL eye doctor..I am going to post over in the seeking a doctor board..i live in new jersey..i would drive quite a distance if i knew that someone could help me with the pain...4 years of abx! wow, i have only been on abx for 14 months now..

tabbytamer: thanks for the info..but now I am kind of freakin out..my symptoms are different than yours..when I first started to get sick two years ago, I developed some "odd" symptoms..sensitivity to light, floaters(when light seemed really blurry) and killer eye pain..the floaters/light sensitivity went away, but the eye pain didn't..my eyes just seem to ache much of the time..like you, it feels like they ache from the back of the eye..

bpeck.thanks for your inspiring story..did you see a regular opthalmologist or one who was familiar with lyme? Also, can a doctor tell if my eyes are inflamed from a regular eye exam?

MichelleM..good luck at your doctors appt. in August..You , like all the others I know inflicted with LD, will be in my prayers and thoughts..

Okay..a couple of more questions:

Is it possible for yeast to cause eye pain?
Also, my LLMD has been great..but I mentioned the eye pain stuff and he said that this is sign of an active infection and to remain on abx...

is it possible that my LD can be in remission and the eye pain is something still lingering?

Thanks Again

Hugs to everyone on the boards tonight


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2bostons
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I am just bumping this back to the top..hoping for some answers..thanks cathy
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Pocono Lyme
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Like lla2, my eye symptoms appear to be related to Bartonella.

Despite my negative tests for coinfections, which I understand are not very accurate, I have responded to treatments for them.

My eye symptoms are clearing nicely with current treatment with Cipro. Blurriness, dryness, irritation, pain behind the eyes, haziness etc. all diminishing.


Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
2bostons
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Hey Pocono Lyme..thanks for your input...I see my doctor tomorrow..so I will mention the possibility of bartonella and what he thinks..I am also thinking about seeing a lyme literate eye doctor...anything for some relief..

thanks again..have a nice weekend..cathy


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deb obrien
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i couple of years ago i experienced some really weird focusing problems in my r eye - i hadn't been taking my b12 shots as i hadn't thought they they did anything - when i resumed the b12 shots the the focusing greatly improved...went to see a very well respected opthalmologist and he said the eye was fine - later saw a neuro-opthalmolgist and did several tests which showed the retina wasn't getting enough oxygen - once i got the babs diagnosis it was explained...still have a residual vision problem but not enough to be bothered by it...i now take the hydroxy religiously!
deb

------------------


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Ann in CA
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This sounded way too easy when the first opthamologist suggested it--but dry eyes, probably caused by the lyme, seems to have been the cause of the achey eyes I put up with for six years. It felt like a dull headache in my eyes.

Of couse the various treatments for lyme probably took care of the root cause, but when the second opthamalogist my LLMD recommended also said "try eye drops, and explained to me that due to the cumulative effect, by the time I felt the ache, it was too late to stop it immediately with eyedrops, I seriously started putting eyedrops in every two hours or so and the constant ache and feelilng of pressure mostly went away.

I still have ocassional eye ache--usually when I go all day without remembering the drops (just moisture not medicated drops), but the immediate improvement was dramatic. And I was very skeptical, as I had been previosly treated for lyme iritis and was sure it was related.

Since I have been on bicilllin shots about 8 months), my eyesight in my most affected eye has actually improved on the doctor's charts. I knew it was less blurry and no more halos at night while driving, but to have the doc comment was encouraging. (The opthamaolgist could find nothing wrong with the retina or nerve, and I see him every 6 months for 2 years now)

Sounds like you may have other things going on, but if you have not tried the eye drops, it might be worth a try.

Best wishes

Ann


Posts: 287 | From Northern California, USA | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

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