Woke up and can't see

[GettingTooOldForThis]

A few days ago I woke up and have double vision and no depth perception.

I went to a and e and they didn't know what was wrong and said they were going to write to my GP and ask them to refer me for a MRI head scan.

Spoke to doctor and he didn't seem to know where to refer me to.

Still waiting and still can't see properly. Hospital said I can't drive until the double vision goes. Due to go abroad on holiday next week.

Anyone any idea what it could be and what I should do?

Can you get to an opticians tomorrow?

Yes I can try and get someone to take me would they be able to tell me what's wrong?

If you are near London, could you get to the Western Eye hospital? They will see you on a turn up and wait basis, and they are all eye experts, so you will get a far more expert opinion than from general A&E.

Unfortunately not near London but my nearest major town has an eye hospital I could go to.

Has anyone ever had anything like this? Any idea would it could be?

I going to call the doctors first thing tomorrow and if he has no updates will try the eye hospital just feeling a bit guilty that I'm tying up resources and being impatient not waiting for the doctors referral

You'd think they'd be worried about occipital stroke.

Are both your eyes affected?

It may seem like only one side, but if you cover each eye in turn, is the effect the same?

I'd go back to A&E, or to an eye hospital.

If this is a stroke, a further one could occur soon, damaging a different part of the brain.

They don't seem to think it's life threatening just said to go back if it gets worse. Didn't do any tests apart from eye exam. If I cover either eye I can see ok.

I am also exhausted and need to sleep every few hours.

I think I need to push a bit harder and but am too polite to make a fuss.

My first symptoms of multiple sclerosis were eye problems. Not double vision but foggy. I have has double vision though in the past which was probably related. Don't want to scare you but this is a possibility. The good news is if it is that it is likely to clear up but could take some time. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon whatever it is.

Thanks I've googled obviously ( I know ) and MS came up along with strokes so I'm aware it could be something serious. I think I've probably been a bit too trusting and should have pushed for tests but it's been over the weekend.

I'll have to put on my big girl pants on tomorrow I think.

Sorry for delay in replying but it's hard to type when the words keep moving about

If vision is OK when you isolate each eye then I doubt it is an eye problem so would be leaning more towards a neurological issue. If you had said it was only affecting one eye I'd have recommended eye a&e to check for retina tear or bleed.

Think you really need to push for that MRI whether it be with your GP or A&E, I would probably go back to A&E because while it may be something simple and easy to fix, it could also be a sign of something serious.

Ok thanks that's really helpful Katescurios.

Is the problem the same when you isolate each eye?

So you can't differentiate between the vision with both eyes open, and one or the other?

If you can't differentiate, I'd go back to A&E or an eye hospital.

I'm astonished that they didn't discount stroke in A&E.

They must actually check, it might appear to you that vision loss is one sided.

It's difficult to explain but when I have both eyes open and look at a fixed object like a light switch I see two light switches one on top of the other. When I close either eye the object goes back in focus and I just see one.

Looking at lines of text i.e. A book the letters are blurred and move around .

I can see things in the distance but a bit blurry.

I can't judge distance so when going through doors I misjudge and walk into the door frame.

My eyes hurt and I'm really tired , some tingling in feet and hands.

Cant remember all SATS but pulse was 56 I think.l, oxygen 96

I think they were going to admit me fir the tests but then the doctor spoke to the consultant and they decided to do referral through the doctor.

Gp needs to refer you to an eye casualty department. You should be seen the same day.
If you have double vision the Orthoptist should see you. They can help work out what muscle/nerve is causing the problem. It may be possible to put a Fresnel prism onto your glasses - or sunglasses if you don't normally wear glasses- to join the double vision.
The Ophthalmologist will check the back of your eyes and decide if any further investigation is needed.
Double vision is not uncommon but you do need to be checked asap.
Hope it improves soon.

Adding - if you wear glasses or have sunglasses for now put tape over one lens. This will stop you seeing one of the images and will help.
You can't drive at present as it is not allowed with double vision or with an eye covered until you have adapted. The hospital will advise you on this and will tell you when you need to inform the dvla.
There are many causes of double vision. The most common 2 are diabetes and high blood pressure but you do need to see an Ophthalmologist to rule out anything more serious. Hope all is ok.

Just a question - is the height difference in the images worse if you look to the right or left? If you look straight ahead and tilt your head down onto your right shoulder and then your left shoulder which is worse?
Is it worse for near or distance?
Are both the images straight or is one tilted?
They will most likely ask these questions when you are seen so have a look around and see what happens so you are prepared.

Ok tilting head to left is better than right images move closer together. I've naturally been tilting my head when I'm looking at something and didn't realise I was doing that

I wear glasses and am short sighted. I find I'm taking my glasses off which means things are blurry but not always doubled.

With my glasses on it's only items I fix on in the distance that are doubled but anything close like reading these posts is very blurry and the words move about.

If I'm watching something or trying to read I get headache and my eyes hurt

Oh and if I'm looking at say a house some of the horizontal lines are slanted i.e. The window frame is not straight

Sounds like possibly a fourth nerve palsy.
Tilting your head, turning your face slightly and dipping your chin may help.
Hopefully someone will see you tomorrow.

Thank you all I'll let you know how I get on

Have you read about optic neuritis and whether it matches your symptoms? The causes sound scary, and self-diagnosis is always a bit dangerous, but it mostly goes away on its own.

Also note that a lot of people have MS and there is a large range of severity, so it is not necessarily that bad. I was told that there was research that suggested a correlation between MS presenting as optic neuritis and the less severe cases of MS.

Finally there is idiopatic optic neuritis i.e. no one has any idea.

I'd be heading to A&E tomorrow if I were you. The double vision and tingling both point to something neurological going on. Best to get it checked out asap so they can get you started on meds to help. I agree with a PP in that if optic neuritis is the one of the first presenting symptoms of MS then the prognosis is much more likely to be a positive one.

Get checked out asap would be my advice.

Yes I've looked at optic neuritis as the symptoms are similar to what I've had. A sibling has had this but never got a MS diagnosis but I mentioned it to doctor.

I just want to know for sure as I can't work, not allowed to drive and need to know if I can fly as due to go on holiday next week.

I feel like the hospital should have done some tests rather than leave me all weekend.

I've just spoken to a friend of mine who (like me!) has MS. Her first presenting symptom was optic neuritis but she says she didn't have double vision with it. It was pain behind her eye, alongside rapidly deteriorating vision. She's had episodes of double vision too, but it's never been painful. She says it's the messages not getting to eye muscles properly which causes double vision and not inflammation of the optic nerve. This is good news for you but still needs sorted! She agrees with me that you need to get checked out asap, especially because you've got tingling too.

She was diagnosed two years before me and is doing so much better. I've never had any problems with vision (touch wood!) just difficulty walking and with balance. She's never had any of my symptoms. She has fatigue and problems with her eyesight every so often - sorted quickly by steroids.

I'm not sure there is a lot of testing that can be done. An MRI in due course and lots of monitoring until it clears up.