Almost 80% of people with MS have some difficulty with their vision at

some time in the disease course. The ability to correctly image what one

sees or the function of the muscles around the eye can be affected. Patients may experience dimness or blurring of vision or double vision.

Several terms are often used when discussing the vision problems which

nay accompany MS:

• "Optic neuritis" refers to inflammation of the optic nerve and results in an acute overall loss of vision. This problem may be managed by waiting for spontaneous improvement if mild, or by using corticosteroids (IV or oral solumedrol) In some cases vision may remain impaired even after the inflammation has gone resolved.
• "Nystagmus" refers to repetitive to-and-fro eye movements. There are no medications for this condition. Nystagmus may not be noticed by the patient or patients may be aware of the surrounding appear to jerk and move around.
• "Diplopia" is double vision. Patients with double vision often feel nauseous unless the eye is closed. Although double vision often clears as the attack clears, like any MS symptom incomplete recovery is possible

Below are some things that should be considered by patients with vision problems

• Vision problems may be especially noticeable at night when lighting is dim. Leaving a light on at night may be helpful.
• In patients with incomplete recovery from an attack of double vision, prisms placed in eye glasses may be able to correct the double vision. problem. An alternative compensation strategy (most useful initially) is to patch an eye. Do NOT drive while you are using an eye-patch. Use of a patch decreases depth perception and peripheral vision.
• Vision problems may fluctuate with fatigue, infection, stress, etc. managing these other factors may help improve vision.

See also

MS Sourcebook: optic neuritis
MS Sourcebook: visual problems