Hi Everyone
Ok so I have had central vision loss in my right eye for about 4 months, good and bad days. The optician couldn’t find anything wrong so was referred by my GP to the ophthamologist. Although when testing my vision it was clear I’d lost a bit of clarity he could find no sign of optic neuritis at the moment. I also told him I’d developed swollen eyelids in the morning and he gave me steroid eye drops for allergies. These worked a treat and brought my vision back straight away. After the 2 week course though my vision has returned to normal and I’m worried it will get worse. They said they will see me again in 3 months.
My question is…Can they miss Optic Neuritis? And does anyone know if steroid eyedrops can treat optic neuritis?
I have many other symptoms that started back in July and they come and go but all my scans are coming back clear. Just waiting on my results from LP.
Thanks to anyone in advance that can perhaps shed some light on this for me.
Thanks
xx
I’m not an expert - but neither an optician or GP are particulary great people to see for Optic Neuritis?
I am currently in the middle of my first ever episode. The optician (who I went to with pain) sent me straight to an eye specialist as an urgent referral at the Hospital, as did the GP. I had to have detailed optic tests done on equipment you won’t find at any optician or GP. Retrobulbar Optic Neuritis doesn’t present any swelling of the optic nerve I think - only afterwards is it evident.
If you’re concerned, then I’d request a referral from the optician or GP to an opthamologist - ideally a neuro opthamologist, unless I’ve totally misunderstood you?
Mx
Sorry, scrap all of that - I’ve just re-read your post. Must do better before replying!!!
Bit out of my comfort zone with this so could be wrong. I would imagine that it’s possible for there to have been no sign if ON for three main reasons: that it had gone into remission, that the damage was too far back to detect or that it isn’t ON. I don’t think that low dose steroid eye drops would clear up ON; I think they would be more likely to work on local inflammation (ie in the eye). The fact that they worked for you temporarily only is probably useful info for an ophthalmologist, but I would just be guessing so won’t. So I reckon you need to see an ophthalmologist again, but as MGW says, ask your GP to refer you to a neuro-ophthalmologist. They will be better equipped to test all possibilities. Karen x
Wouldnt have thought that drops would have helped optic neuritis. I had it earlier this year and was told it was inflammation of the optic nerve and nothing really to do with actual eye. Perhaps you could could get referred to a neuro 0pthamologist.
When my vision went ( and I had it really badly) one of the tests was with colour, couldnt see red it just looked brown.
Things have improved ( with out IV steroids) but not a 100% but I beleive it can take up to 2 yrs to really get better.
Thank you for all your replies. I thought it might be an impossible question but worth a try! I’m seeing the GP this week so will ask to be referred to a neuro opthamologist…I didn’t realise that there are eye specialists in the neuro field!
I’m now struggling with ear pain, and think I’ve now lost a bit of central vision in my other eye…but still full colour vision. This thing just goes on and on!!
I appreciate all the advice. Hope you are all doing ok 
Nice to know that I’m not alone.
xx