Hi everyone: I've been diagnosed for 10 years now and am starting to see double mostly when I'm very tired. This is something I've never experienced before and don't know if I should be concerned. I have heard it can be a symptom of MS but I hope that has nothing to do with anything. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks!
I get blurred vision for extended periods but not double vision.
This is what finally got me diagnosed. My double vision started like you describe (worse when fatigued) and continued to worsen. Doctor concluded it was 6th Nerve Palsey due to inflammation. Now that Sjogrens has been diagnosed, we will see if the Prednisone and paquenil return my vision to normal. If the medicine isn't enough, I may be facing surgery to correct this.
In the meanwhile, I'm clumsier and have prism glasses.
I recommend finding a specialist in double vision. Mine is a surgeon, too.
Do you have any other symptoms such as droopy eyelids or sides of face??? I got double vision when I also got the other symptoms that were indicative of Myasthenia gravis which is another autoimmune neurological disease. I also had some trouble swallowing and my food would go up into my nose. For many, many years I also had a fatigue and weakness that would be improved by laying down and resting,. Finally got a doc who took one look at me and proclaimed that I had Myasthenia and did the testing and it turned out positive. Turned out I had the positive blood work for many years but no one paid any attention to me. With so many of us the docs proclaim "nerves" and need a psychiatrist. Hope you can find some help and get this figured out.
By the way, myasthenia goes along with Hashimotos and Sjogrens quite often and I have all three of these. Irish
I haven't had those symptoms yet.
I don't have any droopiness. But I do have trouble choking on liquids because I swallow wrong quite often. It just goes down the wrong pipe and it happens a few times weekly. That may not be enough to warrant any concern.
If you are choking frequently you may be suffering from a swallowing problem and this can go with some of the neurological effect Sjogrens also.
I had to go to rehab for swallowing training and it helped. When you swallow try to turn your head to the left or right and find that sweet spot where food and drink goes down better. When you turn your head like this it opens up the throat and makes it easier to swallow things. Almost have to look over the top of your arm. Good luck. Irish
Thank you Irish, I will try those tips. I hope I don't have to go to rehab for it because it's so hard for me to get out only because I don't feel that great most of the time.
Double vision also is common in those with autonomic dysfunction. And it sounds like you have some of that with your swallowing (also common).
Do you have any problems with trying to urinate (getting started or being able to completely empty)? What about getting dizzy standing up from sitting or having your BP or heart rate increase/decrease?
There are MANY signs /symptoms of autonomic dysfunction.
But the MOST important thing you need to do FIRST is to get to a eye doctor for a full evaluation. Also talk to your PCP and/or neuro of you have other autonomic problems or weakness like Irish described.
I had double vision problems several years ago, but it happened when, during the nights, my eyes were so dry that they stuck to my eyelids and I had those terrible aches because I think something broke in my cornea. Next day I had double vision: I see four lights in the cars instead of two (one over the other), double lines on the road, etc.
Now I have a little double vision every day, some days worse than others, and I don't know if it is related to corneal erosion. Eye dryness worsen this problem.
Hello,
I have had terrible double vision for at least 3 years. I have prisms in my glasses and have done vision therapy, but like you, when I am tired it is really bad. It has impacted my ability to drive and even walk.
Has anyone had any luck with reversing their double vision with a biologic drug? Steroids helped a bit, but the plaquenil has done nothing.
If they have ascertained that you have some nerve involvement I would ask about taking a medication that is stronger. I don't know what your diagnosis is but if you have ever been on prednisone and had an improvement in this problem it would probably indicate that the double vision is caused by nerve involvement that could be attributed to inflammatory disease such as sjogrens.
There are also stronger meds that can slow down the autoimmune disease and hopefully decrease the symptoms. This is something you need to discuss with your doctors. Your vision is being affected big time and this would indicate some more aggressive therapy is needed. If there is no autoimmune disease then maybe you need to get a second opinion from a different ophthalmologist. Good luck Irish
Hi Irish,
I have been diagnosed with primary sjogren's, ANA & SSA positive. I had the cranial nerve problems before my sjogren's diagnosis. I had a couple rounds of IV solumedrol where I saw some improvement in my double vision, but it did not last. I also have confirmed peripheral neuropathy.
I am asking about biologics since my rheumatologist is suggesting Rituxan for neuropathy. I don't tolerate steroids well, so long term use is probably out of the question. Placquenil has only reduced some of my joint pain and rashes.
I need to try something new. Any advice would be appreciated.
That is really interesting as the nuerological problems with Sjogrens often are seen before any of the other symptoms. I had neurological symptoms quite early also but also had the dry mouth. Dry eyes came about6 weeks after diagnosis which was close to 40 years after initial symptoms. Irish
I too had neuro symptoms before the baisc Sjogren's symtoms.
Again, double vision is common with autonomic neuropathy...a subset of peripheral neuropathy. So you may have some autonomic dysfunction as well.
Good Morning,
I have the dry mouth and eyes too. It got really bad last fall and my neuro-opthalmologist put in punctal plugs. At one point I had the droppy eyelids, to the extent that they were taping them open during my visual field eye tests. I was tested for MG, but it came back negative. I will ask my doctor about autonomic neuropathy, I have had issues with blood pressure.
I am 54 and have had symptoms for maybe 10 years. I sort of crashed in 2012. Early in my search for answers I had a neurologist suggest IVIG. Is it helping you and how often do you go?