Blurry vision/optic nerve inflammation

[PollyD123]

In the last month on about three occasions I have had blurry vision for no more than two minutes in one or the other eye, I’m currently 26 weeks and last week went into triage where they did all the normal tests, took bloods etc and everything was fine, been to the midwife this morning and everything is okay, I went to the opticians yesterday and he said my optical never looks ‘fluffy’ so he’s referring me to the hospital. Has anyone had any optical nerve issues that turned out to just be pregnancy related? I’m scaring myself silly reading on the internet. I asked the midwife this morning if eye changes can happen during pregnancy and she just shrugged her shoulders :s I’m also under ent and need to have an mri once I’ve had the baby due to me having tinnitus for about a year. All these symptoms combined I’m starting to worry it’s something more. Obviously I know only a specialist can confirm all this but just wanting some advice on wether anyone else has experienced this?

Your symptoms sound a lot like mine did, it was idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Treatment fixed the tinnitus and saved my vision

@PollyD123 to add, mine was not pregnancy related but it's interesting you've had tinnitus before being pregnant.

Can it cause you to lose your eyesight? I’m really worried. Waiting for a call from the hospital regarding the referral, nothing as of yet. From what I’ve been reading pregnancy doesn’t actually cause this. Did you have high blood pressure?

It can but only if left untreated. It's not linked to blood pressure, instead the pressure around your brain. I always had low blood pressure. Its good you're being referred to the hospital for the eye symptoms, do you have an eye emergency department? If you do and you get any other eye issues I'd suggest going there.

Just came to say it could be IIH - although I’d be surprised if you hadn’t had any of the other symptoms but it’s worth a read up on
I have been in remission from IIH for about 8 years but have permanent tinnitus which has gotten louder during this pregnancy even though the neurologist I used to be under said that she would be really surprised if my symptoms returned during pregnancy

It’s totally the right referral although I would’ve expected emergency eye clinic at the hospital with an ophthalmologist aswell

The usual diagnosis path is head scan and lumbar puncture which they may be reluctant to do as you’re pregnant so it’s best to talk to the neurologist

what area of the country are you in?

I’ve rang the opticians today and the receptionist said they would chase the appointment. I really thought I’d of heard something by now I’m really worried. I’m in Lincolnshire. I had the titinitus before I were pregnant it seemed to stem from a bad ear infection I had, got the infection cleared and was left with that. I will say that when I press my ear it’s almost likely clicky and I’ve developed a clicky jaw over the past year too. something is definitely going on

I’m in Lincolnshire too but was diagnosed in kings lynn hospital
I’d recommend Peterborough if you’re down in the south of the county - can’t say what Lincolnshire hospitals are like with regards to neurology as I’ve not used them for that

the tinnitus could be unrelated - have you looked at TMJ? If not there’s a consultant at addenbrookes a mr axon who apparently has amazing results with tinnitus. I’m tempted to go see him once I’ve had the baby to see whether he can help me as it’s miserable isnt it?

Ahh Peterborough is quite a way from me, hopefully I hear something in the next week I’m just getting myself in a state thinking it’s something more sinister although the optician did say I’d be having more and worse symptoms if that was the case. Did pregnancy bring on your titinitus or is it due to IHH? Completely miserable with it, it’s constant, as soon as it’s quiet it’s the worst. How far along are you?

No it’s not pregnancy related. Not sure why I’ve got tinnitus. The neurologist said it could be nerve damage from the IIH but there’s no way of proving it

there’s a good group on the book of face if you’re on there called Pulsatile tinnitus wooshers unite! They’re quite knowledgable on there so may help you?

I think it’s just gotten louder because of pregnancy but again it’s not provable I guess

I’m 12 weeks at the moment so for ages left 😩😂
Am hoping for a second trimester reprieve

Thanks I’ll have to check it out! I’ve been doing some reading and apparently pregnancy can make ihh worse so maybe that’s the case with me? I’ve had every other pregnancy symptoms in the book so wouldn’t be surprised 😂 some people are saying their only symptom was pulsatile tinnitus was their only symptom! Ahh how have you been finding it? I’m 27 weeks now and the first trimester was brutal, three months spent crying with my head in the toilet 😁

Also should add that I’ve put quite a bit of weight on in the past year and have read that that could be a cause! Who knows!

You will be told weight is what has caused it however, IIH stands for idiopathic intracranial hypertension - idiopathic means no known cause.

My advice is if you do have it, to accept when they tell
you to lose weight but ask them what they’re going to do to help you while you do that

Also look at what contraception you were using - my GP at the time strongly suspected mine was down to being on the pill - but again no known cause so it’s all guess work

Push for MRI because it’ll help them to rule out other things too - there’s nothing really to see on an mri with IIH but because it’s symptoms are similar to other things it’s a ruling out process

Nottingham may be a good hospital if you’re that end if you’re further up I have no idea 😂

As others have said, it sounds like it could be idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Mine was diagnosed through an eye test (and further tests at hospital). I didn’t have any symptoms except my eyesight got worse. The neurologist said that hormones and weight can also affect it (so could well be you’ve always had it but pregnancy has exacerbated it - assuming it is IIH that is!).

My eyesight was getting worse (but only like a 2.75 in prescription, if that makes sense? So not awful) and they did a lumbar puncture. Since then, my eyesight has stayed the same and optic nerve swelling/shape has improved. I have also lost about 5% of my body weight since then too and neurology said this has helped improve things.

I get reviewed every 6 months with neurology (previously seen at eye hospital) and all they do each time is an eye test/checks and a photo at the back of my eye. Nothing painful or invasive (even the lumbar puncture didn’t hurt) so if it is IIH please don’t stress. Good luck hope you get some answers soon :)

My weight hasn’t really affected it, I was probably 18st when I was diagnosed, I lost weight and went into remission but I’ve never been below 14st and have fluctuated between 14 and 16 for the last couple of years, I did hit 18 about three years ago but no return of the IIH so 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve never been on any contraception so I know it’s nothing to do with that! My thoughts exactly.. maybe always had it but pregnancy has hyped it up! Hopefully I get an appointment soon. Did you ever get any like top of the neck bottom of the head pain?

I have always had really bad eyes! They run in the family haha. My prescription has changed slightly but I haven’t had an eye test in four years so was kind of expected! I’ve always had bad eyesight I also have astigmatism in one eye too. I’m just hoping worst case is that pregnancy is doing these weird things although as said before I’ve had tinnitus for a year now so 🤷🏼‍♀️ who knows

It was like my head was in a vice permanently I can’t really explain it but I know the difference between pressure and normal headache

I wouldn’t necessarily worry about the tinnitus - I didn’t get tinnitus straight away

while you’re waiting is it worth seeing someone like an osteo/chiro/back person to see if your neck/jaw is affecting the tinnitus?
Sometimes it can help

obvs it won’t help with the eye thing but every little helps?