Vision problems are pretty common for people with MS. The symptoms usually come and go on their own, but you can talk to your doctor about treatments to protect your eyesight and what you should do if you start to have trouble seeing.
Vision Loss
This happens when the optic nerve which connects the eye to the brain gets inflamed. It is called optic neuritis.
About half of people with MS will have the condition at least once. It’s often the first sign that someone has the disease. But other conditions can cause optic neuritis so it doesn’t always mean that a person has or will get MS.
Symptoms of optic neuritis usually come on suddenly. They include:
- Blurred vision
- Graying of vision
- Blindness in one eye for a short time, especially during an MS flare
It’s rare to get this condition in both eyes at once. Vision loss tends to get worse for a few days before it gets better. The inflammation could last anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks.
If you start to have any symptoms, let your doctor know. IV steroids are generally used to treat the first episode of optic neuritis, but studies suggest that the use of steroids may increase the chance of a recurrence. Although the symptoms can be disturbing, the best treatment may be no treatment at all.
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