posted
The day I got sick with CFIDS my ears became full, I was dizzy, exhausted, spaced and my vision screwed. I cant focus or track moving objects. Small print is imposible to read where as before I got ill it was all fine, 20/20.
Is this the new me or will one day I awake from this and everything be all right? Has this happened to anyone else? I keep putting off going to see an eye Dr. because I feel it is just part of the illness that will pass if I do become better. Problem is that it seems to be getting worse and new symptoms have popped up like burning/cold feelings, especially in backbone. So I just wonder if I should see an eye doc.
Posts: 208 | From Greenville SC USA | Registered: May 2005
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
I have significant eye/ear issues compared to before I got sick. Ear stuff started right away. Eye stuff as well in terms of light sensitivity (mostly gone now), blurry vision, etc. and then after some time, significant floaters, squiggles, etc.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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The ability to see small print at near diminishes as an absolute function of the aging process. That is, a five-year old can do it easier than a ten-year old. At some point over or around age 40, we all need reading glasses or bifocals (unless we're nearsighted, in which case we remove our glasses to read). Few patients make it to 45 without needing reading glasses or bifocals.
Furthermore, if you're farsighted and haven't been wearing glasses to correct it, the problem worsens with age.
If your problem is described above, it will only get worse and only glasses will compensate for it. And LD has nothing to do with it. On the other hand, if you're twenty-five years old, aren't significantly farsighted, and you suddenly can't see to read, perhaps your problem stems from LD. It seems to potentially cause just about anything.
I hope the above helps. Good luck!
Posts: 75 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
I am sorry, I was babbling earlier and did not make myself clear.
I am a 36 year old man who got ill 2.5 years ago with CFIDS. The day I got sick it effected every part of me including my vision and It has been unchanged for the entire 2.5 years. My vision did not gradually change as does with age, it was a drastic change as was many other changes. If I get better will my vision return or should I see an eye doc. My LLMD seems to think that I have lyme and considers my visual problems lyme related, but he wont tell me if I will get better.
Posts: 208 | From Greenville SC USA | Registered: May 2005
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
My experience has been that my vision problems are likely Lyme-related. My LLMD thinks it is probable and my retinal specialist sees nothing wrong. So, an eye doctor did nothing for me personally....
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I had horrible vision problems for years, and was diagnosed with a million weird eye diseases by inexperienced eye docs. One told me I would need corneal transplants!!
After three months of rifing, eyes have improved dramatically. Haze is gone and I can see real colors for the first time in years, also can see TV without glasses and I am 62.
Lyme really affects eyes badly, so do not let a doc tell you you have some other strange thing but find a eye doc who knows about lyme.
Lymelady
Posts: 484 | From Fredericksburg, Va USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
So sorry you're having problems with your vision.
My 13 yr old grandson has had Lyme for over 6 yrs. Fairly early in the disease, his vision changed dramatically - very nearsighted. His eyes were worse than his mother's. His eye dr had never seen a child's eyes change so drastically in such a short time. He is being treated for Lyme & may have Bartonella(may cause eye problems, too).
After having Lyme for 5-10 yrs, my vision changed a lot about the time I turned 50. Another 5 yrs went by with no diagnosis. After some years of treatment for Lyme (& also Bartonella), the prescription for my glasses has not changed much in the last 4 yrs. I'm 67.
I've wondered - When vision changes, supposedly from age, could that person have an undiagnosed case of Lyme that is part of the problem?
Finding an eye dr who knows about Lyme - Your chances are slim to none in South Carolina.
I recommend that you have your eyes checked to see if glasses will help. Could eliminate some stress in your life.
Tell your eye dr you've been diagnosed with Lyme & you're being treated. If you think he'd be interested, have info for him to read about Lyme & how the eyes can be affected.
The following examples are all I can think of right now:
"Lyme Disease - Symptoms & Characteristics, a compilation of peer-reviewed literature reports." http://www.lymeinfo.net/medical/LDSymptoms.pdf May have to click "Symptoms" Lists Symptoms & Citations about them but no discussion. 45 pages of excellent info. Eyes: page 7
"When to Suspect Lyme" an essay by the late Dr Bleiweiss has 13 pages of excellent info. http://cassia.org/essay.htm Eye related problems: top of page 8
I don't recall any specific info about eyes in "Diagnostic Hints & Treatment Guidelines..." but it is 33 pages of excellent info on all aspects of Lyme & several other Tick-borne Diseases. www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html
Is your LLMD Dr J in North Carolina?
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Thanks a lot for all the info everyone. I will make an appt. today to see an eye Dr. I will just explain my situation, cant hurt!
Posts: 208 | From Greenville SC USA | Registered: May 2005
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Here's a bit of my eye experience. I, too, was diagnosed with CFS before the Lyme. My vision was very affected, blurry, pain shooting through my eyes, couldn't focus, and the change was very sudden. Went from 20/10 excellent vision to worse(can't remember) and I got glasses. Part of that was probably due to aging, I'm 49 now.
Its probably a good idea to get eyes checked although mine always checked fine. The worst part for me was that they kept shining lights in my eyes, and the assistant dropped medication in my eyes without telling me what it was. I almost had a cow!
The medication dilates the eye so they can be examined but it burned and the fact that my eyes now had more light coming in that I couldn't assimilate was horrible. I couldn't see a thing for a while.
So not to scare you from the exam, but this office was very routine, very robotic in their approach and explained nothing.
Make them talk to you and tell you what they are doing. Bring someone to drive you so you don't have to sit in the parking lot waiting for your eyes to adjust.
Best of luck.
Posts: 460 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2005
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