Vision problems are pretty common for people with multiple sclerosis (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 Problems Linked to Multiple Sclerosis
Vision loss (optic neuritis)
When the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain gets inflamed, it’s called optic neuritis. It can lead to several vision issues.
About half of the people with MS will have the condition at least once. And for about 25% of people with MS, it’s often the first sign that someone has the disease. But other conditions can also 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
- Visual field loss, where a dim spot (scotoma) appears in the center or side of the field of vision
- Loss of color vision
- Blindness (almost total loss of vision) in one eye for a short time, especially during an MS flare
- Pain with eye movement
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. Usually, IV steroids are used to treat the first episode of optic neuritis, but studies suggest that the use of low-dose oral steroids may make it more likely to return. Although the symptoms can be disturbing, the best treatment may be no treatment at all, but do discuss this with your eye specialist.
Double vision (diplopia)
If the muscles that control eye movement don't work properly and are not well coordinated, you may see two images side by side or on top of one another. In MS, the problem occurs in the part of the brain that controls the nerves that go to these muscles.
Double vision may be worse when you’re tired or you strain your eyes, so try to rest them throughout the day. If it continues, you may talk to your doctor about options, such as patches, prism lenses for glasses, steroids, and even surgery.
Uncontrolled eye movements (nystagmus)
People with MS may develop small, rapid eye movements. They may lose control of how they move their eyes up and down or side to side (sometimes described as a quiver). This problem is called nystagmus. It may be mild or it may be severe enough to keep you from seeing well. Rarely, it may also affect your balance and coordination. Some meds and special eyeglass prisms may ease the condition and improve overall vision.
Takeaways
Nearly half of all people with MS will have vision problems at some point in their diagnosis. For many people, it’s one of the first signs of the disease. Common vision problems for people with MS include different types of vision loss due to optic neuritis, double vision, or uncontrolled eye movement. Usually, vision problems are not permanent, but treatments may include special eyewear, steroids, and, most importantly, resting the eyes.
Multiple Sclerosis Vision Problems FAQs
How long do MS vision problems last?
While common with MS, vision problems usually come and go, lasting anywhere from a few days to about 4-12 weeks. In some cases, they can last longer.
Can glasses help MS?
Special glasses with prism lenses, colored lenses, or a patch can help with MS vision problems, particularly double vision.
Can MS be seen in eye exams?
Inflammation in your optic nerve, coupled with MS vision symptoms, such as blurry sight or loss of color vision, can be a sign of MS. Your eye doctor can detect inflammation in a standard eye exam. Often, your eye specialist may order further tests like an MRI to look for lesions in the brain or eyes linked to MS.
Can MS cause blindness?
Although it is extremely uncommon for vision problems in MS to cause total blindness, repeated episodes of vision issues are common. These can lead to optic nerve damage, which may not completely improve over time.
