Eye closure

[tallyho]

I have Occular Myasthenia. If I cover one eye with my hand the other eye that is uncovered closes. My opthalmologist was quite alarmed at seeing this and I am to have some nerve conduction tests done. Does this eye closing happen to others? So that they cannot have one eye closed without the other then closing too.

[lighthousepoet]

Although this has not happened to me yet, it does appear that it happens quite a lot. When I first had ptosis ( drooping eyelid ) and double vision I spoke to an optomestrist of my concerns that it could be MG, he pooh poohed the idea saying that MG affects both eyes, ( all the research I have done suggests that it can affect one or both eyes as well as the muscles on just one side of the body in the same way that a stroke affects us).Therefore, because of the nature of MG and the way that the muscles get weaker the more thay are used, it would be expected that if both your eyes are affected then as you close one eye the other eye will close also. This must be very frustrating for you...the only suggestion I can offer to those in your position is to use or ask for a special tape to secure your eyelid. It has to be a special tape because of the adhesive that is used. Don 't use standard tapes as it can cause irritation and even infection.

[tallyho in reply to lighthousepoet]

The problem is I am only covering the eye not closing it. He saw it today and does not know what is causeing it at all. He thinks I have OMG and another condition too. I am to have EMG, re do blood test and to up mestinon to greatest dose. He has agreed steroids are not a good choice for me.

[lighthousepoet in reply to tallyho]

Sorry tallyho I did not mean to imply that you had to close the eye for the other eye to be affected, just covering they eye would force you to use the occular muscles to begin the process. If there is any chance at all of you having Lyme disease as an underlying cause then steroids would not be the answer as they can do more harm than good, making you more vulnerable to other infections.

[tallyho in reply to lighthousepoet]

No chance of Lyme disease.

[lighthousepoet in reply to tallyho]

Why is that?

[tallyho in reply to lighthousepoet]

When I saw the neurologist he said this was actually a very unusual situation he said it may well be another condition causing spasms he has upped my mestinon to the max and I am to have an EMG as well as repeat bloods.

[Hidden]

Hi there

I got the same ,it’s very irritating,there are plasters on the market for covering your eye ,you can ask your GP about it.Ive been using the plaster about years ,I’m quite happy with them

[tallyho in reply to Hidden]

Not sure if it is the same if I put a plaster over either eye the open eye would be closed all the time and I would see nothing at all.