Double vision: Hi All,It's been a while... - Multiple System A...

Multiple System Atrophy Trust

1,774 members1,424 posts

Double vision

Lincsoldbird profile image
16 Replies

Hi All,It's been a while since I posted but I have been lurking in the background.

My husband was diagnosed with MSA around 2 years ago after being diagnosed with Parkinsons 2 years earlier.

He has no major symptoms, shuffling when we walks, he sleeps alot during the day and has a restless arm as soon as he gets into bed at night, this leads him to be awake until around 4am.

His other issue is intermittent double vision which neither the optometrists or ophthalmologists can get to the bottom of. It's not a symptom that I've read about people having but thought I'd ask.

Written by
Lincsoldbird profile image
Lincsoldbird
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
16 Replies
Yanno profile image
Yanno

Hello there. Double vision is a symptom of MSA. My Jackie used to suffer from blurred vision however the same issue may cause double vision. There's a very useful factsheet on eye health on the MSA Trust website which may be found here: msatrust.org.uk/wp-content/...

Take care, Ian

Lincsoldbird profile image
Lincsoldbird in reply toYanno

Thank you for this information, we have seen 4 or 5 eye specialist all saying no it's not MSA related but nothing ever is. Looks like we need to go back and try again.

Monkeyfeet1 profile image
Monkeyfeet1

firstly, sorry. I have double vision and was given prism lenses that really help. All the best xx

Lincsoldbird profile image
Lincsoldbird in reply toMonkeyfeet1

They tried those with him but when I was driving home from the appointment he took his glasses off, when I asked him why he had done it, he said it looked like the oncoming traffic was heading towards him and thought we were going to have a head on crash.🙄

Monkeyfeet1 profile image
Monkeyfeet1 in reply toLincsoldbird

They do take some getting used to. Xx

Gill-C profile image
Gill-C

Yep I have it! (Diagnosed with MSA 2 years ago, slow progression). The eye thing started about 6 months ago. Eyes not tracking seems to occur quite frequently according to the NNH (London). They have their own ophthalmology department though I have used my own optician so far. One of the main problems is that we don’t blink enough and our eyes get dry - hence the problems focussing.

Lincsoldbird profile image
Lincsoldbird in reply toGill-C

Thank you Gill, sadly we are in a part of the country where healthcare isn't as good as most of the others.

Gill-C profile image
Gill-C in reply toLincsoldbird

X

Try a really good optician?

chester2107 profile image
chester2107

my dad had double vision in one eye and they gave him some glasses to help , prism ones

SamanthaMSAT profile image
SamanthaMSATModeratorStaff

Good morning,

Loss of sight isn't an MSA symptom, but there can be blurred vision, often caused by low blood pressure. We also see slowness or jerkiness of eye movements, dry eyes- as people blink less often- and the inability to keep eyelids open for varying periods of time.

There are treatments for all of these issues. Do speak to the nurse specialist at the MSA Trust for your area for advice. An orthoptist is the person you need to see rather than an optician.

Kind regards,

Samantha MSAT nurse specialist.

Lincsoldbird profile image
Lincsoldbird in reply toSamanthaMSAT

Hi Samantha I believe that that would be you we need to speak to.

We are going to the Lincolnshire meeting on Wednesday, so we'll see you then, If we don't manage to catch you before then.

Photo1250 profile image
Photo1250

Yep, Adrienne MSA-P, blurred and double vision. Optician recommended Adrienne move from varifocal (we'd just bought those - expensive!) because of her antecollis and not being able to lift her head, to single vision and readers. Adrienne's readers were fitted with prisms allowing her to focus on a tablet on her lap to read (books, as well), and watch tv. So, a specific function, and not for distance viewing. It worked. Although she found the tablet too heavy, and has now moved onto audio books. She will lie in bed and watch tv alongside her (Olympics have been a boon!). The vision thing definitely an MSA thing. MSA Trust for all your info. I personally have printed many of the guides for GP, SALT, Carers, etc. and keep them in a small file I take to appointments, hospital admissions, etc. I also give file to carers to read when they first visit. More people around us are becoming more familiar with the disease as we come into contact with them. Another tip. Adrienne used to keep notebooks detailing her medications and what time she took them. When she couldn't manage this anymore I carried on in her tradition, filling books, dating them and keeping (a record of med changes and her illness). Lightbulb moment. This year, went to WH Smith and bought a sizeable desk diary (each double page 7 days and a spare section for notes). It records everything! Meds, visits by professionals, which carers come in, even toilet visits overnight (keeping tabs on frequency - UTI's, bowel movements, etc,). One book, one year! Another tip, recently found for myself. Because of Adrienne's antecollis, she tends to lean to left, and hangs over wheelchair. After trying various remedies, discovered this on Amazon. Sorry I went off piste, somewhat. Ian

Lateral support for wheelchair users
Lincsoldbird profile image
Lincsoldbird in reply toPhoto1250

Thank you Ian. Paul is quite new to this diagnosis 18 months but Parkinsons 3 ½ years ago and has had very slow progression so far.

He too had just bought a pair of varifocals (which is what they stuck the prisms to) when all this started to happen with his eyes. I think a trip to a decent opticians would definitely help and maybe two separate pairs of glasses.

I also think that an information folder for his healthcare professionals may also help as they either glaze over, look at you blankly or just seem to shrug it off.

Can I ask what SALT is please, that's a new one to me.

Photo1250 profile image
Photo1250 in reply toLincsoldbird

Speech and language therapist. They monitor and deal with all things connected to speech, throat, etc. They're the people to be referred to if you have swallowing, eating, or any other problems with mouth, airways, etc.

Photo1250 profile image
Photo1250

The MSA Trust have a range of informational documents for professionals and guidance refs for sufferers/carers

Lassie1331 profile image
Lassie1331

My husband who has MSA,diagnosed 4 yrs ago, also has blurry vision especially in one eye which he often forces closed. I think it may be a symptom

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Frequent falls when knee gives out

My husband was diagnosed with MSA-C about 2 years ago, although he had symptoms for a couple years...
Andrashko profile image

MSA progression

Hi All, I hope that you are managing to enjoy the sunshine as much as possible. I haven't been...
Hellebelle profile image

help please

hi there, I would be very grateful for any help on what to do next. My partner had been having...
Staffy19 profile image

In need of some support

I've been a browser for while bu now I'm in a position where I need some words of advice and...
IvyRose64 profile image

New to this Forum

My husband has just been diagnosed with MSA after over a year of uncertainty whether it was...
Cat-gal profile image

Moderation team

See all
MSATKirsten profile image
MSATKirstenAdministrator
JamesMSAT profile image
JamesMSATAdministrator
NicoleMSA profile image
NicoleMSAAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.