posted
A friend of a friend was recently diagnosed with MS. Could be lyme. One of his symptoms is rapid-onset near blindness in one eye. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing with Lyme or Co-infs? Thanks.
Posts: 386 | From Southeastern PA | Registered: Oct 2007
| IP: Logged |
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Yes, lyme can cause episodes of temporary blindness, near blindness, gaps in the visual field, blurry vision, you name it.
It gave me an episode of gaps in the visual field. It gave a friend of mine a temporary blindness while she sat in church.
A girl got on LymeNet and told us she was going blind late one night. In a few hours it passed.
So, I personally know a number of cases of it.
A Boston TV station did a show on lyme about 2 years ago. It includes a man who says he has gone blind hundreds of times due to lyme disease.
A girl on LYmeNet taped it so we could all watch it.
'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
From what I've read, the Lyme bacteria can get into the optical nerve [bundle] passageway to the brain, cause local swelling (an immune response)& so disrupt the passage of visual data impulses sent by the retina. When the swelling goes down the information again passes thru... & one "sees" again.
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Clinica de Oftalmologie, Spitalul Clinic de Urgenta, Militar Central, Bucurest
SUMMARY: Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a spirochete named "Borrelia Burgdorferi" transmitted to humans by a minuscule tick.
It is a multi-systemic illness with ocular involvement as well. The disease mimics other pathologic conditions and because of this goes frequently undiagnosed and consequently untreated.
Its ocular involvement may vary from a mild conjunctivitis to uveitis, optic neuritis and sometimes lead to blindness.
The disease is endemic in Romania. If it is correctly diagnosed it can be successfully treated with specific antibiotics administrated orally or i.v. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
| IP: Logged |
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Also, my next-door neighbor has had the pupil of one eye very dilated while the other is normal. I saw it and he has a picture of it.
He has all the symptoms of lyme disease. The eye doctor he just saw said this eye symptom is definitely lyme disease. He has seen it before.
My neighbor also talked to a guy with lyme that had the same symptom. That particular symptom drives the doctors (including neurologists) crazy thinking brain tumor, etc.
They hit the panic button, put the patient through a lot before they call off the dogs and say to get to an eye doctor--they can't find anything wrong.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
My vision did shut off and on two years ago. I was in a store and it was the same as if the lights in the store just went all off within a second. Since then I am on three fishoil and three times 400 mg dry vitamin E a day. I never forget to take it. My grandfather was blind at old age. It happened within a second, never was sick or diagnosed with lyme.
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
| IP: Logged |
Remember to Smile
Unregistered
posted
The need for frequent changes in prescription eyeglasses is a commonly accepted symptom of Fibromyalgia.
The harsher reality is that Fibromyalgia is acquired after the sleep disruption brought on by Lyme Bb infection.
IP: Logged |
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
You can also do a Eye Search in the search box for older posts to help.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
| IP: Logged |
kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
Oh, TF...that happened to me, too!!
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
Lyme and co have caused me a lot of visual symptoms too.
One day, strangely enough on the way to the LLMD, my left eye lost all color vision; I could only see in black & white for about a half hour.
Eye docs find nothing. I want to see a LL eye doc, but I have insurance issues right now and just can't afford it.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi, I went temporarily blind in one eye from lyme disease. I also lost color vision in that eye. The eye doctor did an MRI and diagnosed it as optic neuritis -- an inflammation of the optic nerve. It cleared up over a few months.
Most doctors I saw wanted to diagnose me with MS since my lyme symptoms were so similar to that disease. I think it's definately worth it for your friend to pursue second and third opinions.
Best wishes, Jennie
Posts: 45 | From New Jersey | Registered: Sep 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Sounds like optic neuritis, I've had it for 4 months in one eye. It's gotten somewhat better but if both eyes were like this I could not drive.
Posts: 252 | From NJ USA | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic