AIBU to think something is wrong?

[mmmgoats]

Short story:

Had fuzzy vision for a couple of weeks. Had eye test and been to the doctor but got perfect eye test and doctor didn't think it was anything to worry about, most likely eye fatigue and said it would probably be back to normal in a week or so.
It's now been five weeks, one eye is better than the other but I still don't have clear vision and it gets so much worse when I go out in the cold.

I have another appointment this week but the doctor really doesn't seem that bothered since I have had a clear eye exam and tend to get anxiety.

It's making my anxiety so much worse and I don't know if the anxiety is making it worse. I keep thinking I've got a brain tumour or MS or something and then make myself feel quite ill.

I guess I'm just asking whether I'm being unreasonable to push on this for an answer or whether I should feel reassured that the doctor has told me to relax and see how it goes.

A friend thinks it's a bug/sinuses but I don't have any pain around my sinuses. I've also been told it could be an eye infection or dry eyes but I've been using drops and nothing seems to make a huge amount of difference, is a bit better when I wake up in the morning. No other symptoms.

Health anxiety is awful so firstly I'm sorry you must be feeling so terrible about not having an answer.

I think you can take some comfort in the fact that you have a clear eye exam and that the dr hasn't immediately referred you for anything, I would imagine that there are other symptoms that would be present if it was anything sinister. However, that doesn't give you an answer as to what it wrong. I would certainly be asking to see another dr, they might be more familiar with your symptoms and be able to help.

You mention that you are using eye drops, just a thought but some eye drops (specifically for dry eyes) also have additives in them that some people can be sensitive to. I know this does sound odd because they are made for they eye, but maybe you could ask for eye drops that don't contain an additive to see if that helps you? It helped a friend of mine.

Also, do you suffer from migraines? A symptom of migraine is visual disturbance and although a migraine is usually considered to be painful it is not always the case. Have a google at migraine triggers, there are some surprising ones, and consider if you may have been exposed to them. It could be that it's a form of migraine as gritty/dry eyes are often a predecessor. In your case, migraine may not present with pain and so it could be difficult to diagnose.

Try not to think the worst, it could be many things which are all treatable and it's less likely to be one of the fewer things that aren't.

thanks so much for taking the time to reply @lotstothinkof and thanks for your kind words - I do think I am making it a little worse myself by automatically thinking it's something terrible.

I do suffer from migraines, they normally start with blurry vision in one eye and a kind of feeling like I have a dot of distorted vision in the same eye, which is similar to what I have now. The only thing is no migraine has actually come on?

I do have a little black mark in my other eyeline of vision sometimes, it moves with my eye so I think it's something on my eye and it did happen after i accidentally stabbed myself in the eye with a mascara brush so I wasn't overly worried about it until the blurriness started [but it's the other eye that's the worst]

Sorry, I just read that back I sound a bit deranged!

No you don't sound deranged at all, you just sound worried and trying to think of reasons which is perfectly understandable. I'd be thinking that it's something to do with migraines, since there's a similarity with the symptoms you usually get. I've suffered migraine for a few years now, this is the first year I've suffered from visual disturbance and with that I don't get the pain or sickness I usually have.

I'd go back the dr, request a different dr this time and see what they say. Sometimes we have to be insistent which isn't nice but hopefully will get you a bit closer to an answer.

I hope you get an answer soon and that you feel less anxious.

To reassure you about the black thing, that could just be a floater, very common as you get older (have a Google).

You don't sound deranged at all. I have migraines that sound like this, never any pain, I just can't see. I have been signed off work with them years ago as I couldn't drive for a month and I drove for a living. I also suffer from regular painful migraines.

Fingers crossed you get some answers, I would go back to your GP again.

Look up idiopathic intercranial hypertension.

I’m being tested for this as I have headaches and blurred vision amongst other symptoms.

Honestly I can’t thank you enough for your replies you have made me feel so much better and I’ve actually calmed down a little bit.

that’s really interesting about migraines, I automatically discounted it because no headache came and it’s been a few weeks but I will definitely look into intercranial.

I’m going to phone the doctor surgery tomorrow and get another appointment with a different doctor too. I’ve got one booked in already but it’s with the same doctor so I will switch it hopefully.

Thank you again, it’s so horrible and it’s one of those things that you’re constantly aware of, like toothache, so you can’t really put it out of your mind.