How many of you with ME/CFS find that you have a lot of vision problems? I tend to have many episodes where my vision is very blurry. I also find that my eyes water really bad. My eyes will burn, itch and water profusely as if I am crying hard.
Last year I went for an eye exam but the eye doctor could not give me glasses because my vision was literally changing from second to second. She said that I had an astigmatism and that with my vision changing so quickly glasses wouldn’t do any good.
Not only do I have blurry vision and extremely watery eyes, I also see spots a lot of times, or what looks like little dots of light. The eye doctor told me that I should consider myself lucky to have really watery eyes because my eyes won’t dry out when I go through menopause. Apparently dry eyes is a common symptom among menopausal women according to her. If she saw just how watery they get I don’t think she would be telling me that.
I know that vision problems are a symptom of ME/CFS and I was reading on the Chronic Fatigue Treatments blog that “CFS may affect the occular system”.
Here is how the American Optometric Association defines astigmatism:
Astigmatism is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregular shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light sensitive surface at the back of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance.
Astigmatism is a very common vision condition. Most people have some degree of astigmatism. Slight amounts of astigmatism usually don’t affect vision and don’t require treatment. However, larger amounts cause distorted or blurred vision, eye discomfort and headaches.
Any other ME/CFS patients out there with vision problems and very watery eyes?
Since a hysterectomy in 1995, I walked around with red bloodshot eyes that would travel from one eye to the other. Only after extensive research I recently learned that I have Sjogrens Syndrome. It was so severe just walking outside into the air was a hindrance. After going from Dr to Dr, I finally had an Optician who offered to put plugs in my eyes. That along with running a humidifier 24-7 at least that part of my life is much better. Hope this helps
Exhausted in Cleveland
CFS/ME can cause _very_ severe vision problems. This is largely unknown for some reason, though there’s a good article about it in “The Clinical And Scientific Basis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis”.
A good friend of mine has been vision impaired due to CFS/ME for 15 years. She cannot read or watch TV, because her eyes don’t focus properly. If she tries too hard, she gets severe vertigo for days. You can actually tell that she has vision problems from the way her eyes move, a bit like a blind person (even though she’s not blind by any means).
It’s not astigmatism though, it is a neurological problem, as most vision problems caused by CFS/ME (if you don’t count Sicca, dry eyes which are very common).
My own experience is that I have mild vision disturbances. Sometimes my eyes feel “too tired” to focus properly and sometimes solid areas of colors look non-solid. The latter wouldn’t be a problem otherwise, but it often makes it really difficult to work with art, especially digital painting. I also get very watery eyes in the morning.
I have cfs and for the last few months have been having problems with very watery eyes. They can stream from the corners from the time i get up to the late at night. I thought it was hay fever but i don’t have any other symptoms of that. It’s quite annoying at times.
I too suffer from impaired vision due to CFS.
Its not bad enough for me to not drive or anything but its difficult to do many things as you would expect.
Also, of late ive had red itchy palms and arms coming up with hives im told that is another complication related in someway to cfs- which by the way is a combination of many problems in itself.
Good luck to you all on your journey.
I understand the eye problem as when mine relapse i struggle with tv and mobile phone mostly although driving is manageable
I’ve had ME/CFS for 9 months which started from contracting Parvovirus, and for the first few months I had blurred vision. Before I was diagnosed with CFS I had an eye test and the optician changed the prescription a couple of times and thought I might have diabetes. I’ve had all the diabetes blood tests and they’re all fine (not overweight either). However I get all the symptoms of being permanently hypoglycemic – crash if i don’t eat carbs regularly, constant internal vibration feeling (I’ve had this sensation 24/7 for 9mnths), tinnitus etc.
I also have very watery eyes to the point that they stream as if i’m crying but without any thought or emotion attached. This can go on for hours each day. It is very annoying and my face ends up really dry from the salt.
Another symptom I get is an electrical charge going through my body when I sneeze. Its painful. About 2 seconds after I sneeze my body will get goose bumps all over from the top of my head to my ankles and it hurts. It looks weird too.
I’ve even had an electric type feeling in my left hand when I was washing my hands. I couldn’t feel the water on my left hand it just felt like a mild electrical current going through me.
With CFS I feel like I’m a computer that needs rebooting, like my CPU needs resetting. Its so weired and exhausting. I never know whats going to happen to my body next.
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