Visual Disturbances in
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
Visual issues in ME are frequently discussed and may have a significant impact on the quality of everyday life for the ME patient. Some people have to stop driving, or find reading or watching television to be a problem.
Symptoms/features as reported by People with ME
Staring
Inability to focus vision (mentioned pg 7, 9 International Consensus Primer)
Zigzag lines across vision
Out-of-focus vision
Eye floaters
Impaired depth perception
Tracking issues
Poor spatial recognition
Fuzzy/ blurred vision
Double vision
Tunnel vision
Poor spatial recognition
Fuzzy/ blurred vision
Double vision
Tunnel vision
Night blindness
Depth of field loss
Early cataracts
Eye pain
Dry eyes (do not hold tear film)
Itching eyes
Burning eyes
Flashing eyes (open or shut)
Seeing pinpoints of light in the dark
Aura-like blur around edge of vision
Light sensitivity (photophobia)
Eye pain
Dry eyes (do not hold tear film)
Itching eyes
Burning eyes
Flashing eyes (open or shut)
Seeing pinpoints of light in the dark
Aura-like blur around edge of vision
Light sensitivity (photophobia)
Reading fatigue
Eye movement fatigue
Vision related headaches following reading
The De Paul Symptom Questionnaire, the DSQ-2 which is based on research includes questions based on visual issues in ME, i.e., Eye pain, Sensitivity to bright lights, Unable to focus vision, Loss of depth perception, Blurred or or tunnel vision after standingtunnel vision after standing, Aching of the eyes or behind the eyes
The questions raised are below:
Q27. Eye pain
Q35. Sensitivity to bright lights
Q41. Unable to focus vision
Q43. Loss of depth perception
Q70. Blurred or tunnel vision after standing
Q81. Aching of the eyes or behind the eyes
and one number for severity
De Paul Symptom & Severity Questionnaire, DSQ-2
Blog Piece by Person with ME who Suffers Visual Disturbances
“In September 2010 it was my vision that ‘went funny’ first; my very first sign that something was off. It has been my most dominant and consistent symptom ever since.
It’s so hard to explain how it is, and the photos on this post are the closest I can get to showing what I see:Blurred visionZigzag lines across my visionOut-of-focus visionEye floatersWhite flashes behind closed eyesEyelids that flicker when closedA constant aura-like blur around the edge of my vision
I do also have a diagnosis of ‘migraine with aura’ and initially assumed I must be getting a migraine. But it is quite different, not least because I lose my vision completely when I get a migraine.
No tests have showed up anything untoward. I’ve need glasses since I was 7 and need a strong prescription. But with a correct prescription and regular checks all that’s been said is that if M.E. is affecting every muscle and every cell in the body, then the muscles and cells in my eyes must also be affected.
I often don’t notice it now, but since December it’s been harder to ignore. I’m begrudgingly going back to the optician next week* (my first port of call because a GP always sends me back there so I’m preempting it again).”
by Anna Redshaw writer of The Slow Lane dot Com
Depiction of constant aura-like blur around the edge of vision from The Slow Lane dot Com by Anna Redshaw |
What is happening to eyesight as a result of ME and is there any research in this area?
The Science Behind Visual Disturbances
People with ME often report problems with their eyes and vision but the mainstream scientific literature rarely mentions it. In order to redress the balance, the Vision and Language Research Group, University of Leicester with funding from ME Research UK and the Irish ME Trust tried to identify and quantify vision-related problems in ME.
A 2013 scientific paper presents the first of their findings, more here:
For more on visual issues in ME see 2018 paper from Frontiers: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01468/full
The results published in 2018 indicate that basic eye movements to simple static targets are less accurate in people with ME and that moving eyes for even short periods of time induces eye-movement fatigue. This type of ophthalmological testing has helped to confirm that people with ME have a range of problems related to visual attention that are consistent with their self-reported symptoms.
"Visual symptoms in ME represent a group of distinct, quantifiable, clinical features that could significantly improve diagnosis and provide insights into underlying pathology. The purpose of the present study was therefore to explore the effect of ME on spatial windows of visibility using the spatial contrast sensitivity function."
Disability Claim (US) Concerning Visual Disabilities
In 2018, Brian Vastag, a journalist, previously with the The Washington Post, advocate, and person living with ME, was able to prove with qEEG and cognitive tests he had "significant problems with visual perception and analysis, scanning speed, attention, visual motor coordination, motor and mental speed, memory, and verbal fluency" winning his long term disability (LTD) claim; more here:
https://www.meaction.net/2018/06/04/victory-for-me-disability-claim-court-upholds-plaintiffs-lawsuit-after-being-denied-disability/
Our advice would be to always get any new symptom/issue checked out by a medical expert/optician.
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I'm wondering if eye strain from too much screen time can cause eye floaters? Anyone have experience with this?
ReplyDeleteI think eye floaters are quite common in the healthy population, but would certainly be something I experience from screen time or eye fatigue from time to time. Eye floaters become more common with age and are caused by changes over time to the 'jelly' inside our eyes, which is attached to the retina. They don't normally go away, but they don't usually need treatment.
DeleteOur advice though would be to get anything new checked with your GP/optician especially if it is bothering you and/or impairing your vision.