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 eyesightand what you should do if you start to havetrouble 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. In the past, steroids were used to treat optic neuritis, but studies suggest that the use of steroids increases the chance of a recurrence. Although the symptoms can be disturbing, the best treatment may be no treatment at all. This happens when the muscles that control an eye movement are not coordinated because one or more of them not working properly. In MS, the problem occurs in the part of the brain that controls the nerves that go to these muscles. It may be worse when you’re tired or you strain your eyes, so try to rest them throughout the day. Uncontrolled Eye Movements People with MS may may develop, small, rapid and repetitive eye movements. They may lose control of how they move their eyes up and down or side to side (sometimes described as a quiver).The problem is called nystagmus. It may be mild or it may be severe enough to keep someone from seeing well. Some meds and special eyeglass prisms may ease the condition and improve vision.