Weak eye muscle

[2plus2]

I've been diagnosed with a week eye muscle in one eye, I have double vision and dizziness. The eye specialist didn't think it was related to my RA but as I'm on MTX and have had one course of Rituximab I was wondering if I should let my RA team know.

Sometimes it's really hard to know if its just me or the RA, if you know what I mean!

[Ali_H]

Hi 2+2,

I have had a weak eye for most of my life and have not had it corrected as they say it should have been done as a child but now the shift in the eye (fixing the eye by shortening the muscle and turning the eye back out to central) would make me see double because my optic part of my brain has made adjustments to the eye and stops me seeing double so your double vision could be due to the eye shifting but this, in my opinion, does not explain the dizziness and I would see someone re the eye and dizziness -if the eye specialist is not concerned then try seeing your GP about the dizziness and tell him/her about the eye at the same time.

My eye is worse and turns in more when I am tired or ill and can often be a first indicator of becoming ill.

As for not knowing if it's you or the RA... I know exactly what you mean as I second guess every tweek and ache wandering what it is, where it came from and what is 'going wrong'? I could drive myself mad trying to figure it out except I think it's too late and I've already looped-the-loop!!!

All the best

Ali

[allanah]

Has this just started or have you always had a weak muscle.

If this is new then you need to see your gp and get some more checks gone. I would also mention it to your RA team, you can call the consultants secretary and tell her if u don't have an appointment soon.

But as you are dizzy too best to get checked further I feel x

[2plus2]

Thank you for your replies.

I went to my GP about the dizziness and double vision who sent me straight away to A&E at the eye hospital where the diagnosis of a weak muscle in my right eye was made. I've never had any trouble with my eyes not even as a child.

I go back there in a month, just wonderring if I should let rheumy people know or is it just something else not related to RA.

But thanks for your replies

[oldtimer]

I don't understand why you should suddenly develop a weak muscle in one eye. Have they explained why they think this? And although I can understand that it might make you feel off balance - is that the same as dizziness?

I think you should ask for more explanation. Perhaps the Rheumy specialist would be more interested?

if it has only just started, is it something to do with your medication? Or your disease?

Too many questions still un-answered.

[Hidden]

Strangely I read this and feel I might be in a similar boat although i've had my eyes checked recently and they were fine but very dry as usual. I'm all off balance a lot of the time - no double vision but find it hard to focus on things properly and feel I might fall over often. I'm away from home just now so reading the experiences of others but unable to do much about my own symptoms - unless they suddenly become

urgent which I doubt as they've been this way for a while.

I hope yours turns out to be easy to remedy.