Vision problems

[Guest guest]

brings up a very interesting and neglected side of CFS.

Throughout my 12 years with the illness, I experienced various visual

symptoms, flashing lights, a maddening, shifting of focus, and perceptual

anomalies such as spatial and temporal distortions. Often, the world would

seem poorly spliced together. In film, when 2 pieces are spliced together

and the scene has not altered significantly, referred to as the 45 degree

rule, a skipping effect occurs. This is called a jump cut. My visual life

was plagued by these.

Of course, having developed a doctor phobia, I did not seek any counsel on

this and just chalked it up to CFS neurologically based symptoms. Last

year, however, I decided that I just might need reading glasses and sought

out a very decent, well recommended opthamologist.

He was very thorough but detected the beginnings of glaucoma, an eye

disease that usually runs in families. No one in my immediate or extended

family has it. And while my doctor, whom I respect, maintains that the

glaucoma is unrelated to CFS, I cannot believe that compromised circulation

also doesn't play a part.

Another interesting note was that on my last visit, he detected something

else, showing me white spots on the optic nerve of one eye. He said it

probably was evidence of a severe infection that might have compromised my

vision and that I was lucky no damage occurred.

The glaucoma is under control using drops and the shape of my optic nerve

has returned to normal. I urge everyone to get a comprehensive eye exam,

including measurement of the optic nerve and field of vision.

I have seen very little written on sight and CFS, apart from the odd

allusions to perceptual distortions and these are often treated with

levity. as if we were all Mr. Magoos(a confused, distracted, near-sighted

cartoon character of my childhood); he should probably be our poster boy.