Eyes don't naturally look at / follow things anymore

[Apocryphus]

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to figure out whether this is anxiety or something else. For about a month, my eyes have...forgotten how to work, for lack of a better description. Specifically, these are my biggest issues:

• Eyes naturally just stare blankly into space unless I consciously move them; they don't naturally look at stimuli anymore
• Can't follow moving objects very well (TV shows and video games are confusing to look at)
• Eyes feel like they naturally want to close, and they constantly feel tired/strained/pressured
• Looking at something rotating or spinning makes my eyes instinctively try to look away, and I can't visualize anything rotating or spinning in my mind
• Sensitivity, not only to bright lights but also bright colors

These symptoms all appeared, along with a sore neck, when I woke up after going to bed when I was very anxious/stressed one night. The sore neck went away, but these symptoms didn't, and they're ruining my life. No one seems to know what's causing them. I can't drive, and I can't even enjoy TV / movies / video games because I get so exhausted trying to follow everything that's going on, both mentally and in my eyes specifically.

Any insight would be appreciated. I don't know whether this was caused by anxiety, withdrawal from a recent medication (Trintellix), or both, but it simply isn't going away or getting better on its own.

[StellaNova]

Hello! Sorry u aren't feeling well. I can't say I've had eye problems but when my anxiety is bad I get twitch in my eye and tingling in my cheek.. one could assume your symptoms could be caused by anxiety. Have you seen an eye doctor or family doctor? If not try not to be hyper aware of your eyes.. you could be straining them more too! Hope you feel better soon

[Apocryphus]

Thanks, I sure hope it's just anxiety.

My family doctor just says he thinks it's anxiety, but isn't sure. Haven't tried an eye doctor yet, so that might be worth a shot. I'm just totally confused and scared.

[Platinum]

I have been experiencing similar problems for the last couple of weeks. As you described, “my eyes stare blankly into space unless I consciously move them; they don't naturally look at stimuli anymore.” My eyes feel constantly strained and I feel lots of tension in my forehead. I went to an eye doctor who did not find any problems with my vision… TV shows are frustrating to watch as I know where to look when the shot is directed at one character but then if there are multiple or no people in a shot my eyes don’t know where to look. Have you found any solutions?

[Shimmy81]

IVe also been having similar issues? If the thread is still going, anyone found any solutions or answers? Has it got any better or worse for you guys?

It’s really stressing me out too.[COLOR="blue"]

[SIZE=1]---------- Post added at 11:44 ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 ----------

[Shimmy81]

[QUOTE=Apocryphus;1696709]Hey everyone,

I'm trying to figure out whether this is anxiety or something else. For about a month, my eyes have...forgotten how to work, for lack of a better description. Specifically, these are my biggest issues:

• Eyes naturally just stare blankly into space unless I consciously move them; they don't naturally look at stimuli anymore
• Can't follow moving objects very well (TV shows and video games are confusing to look at)
• Eyes feel like they naturally want to close, and they constantly feel tired/strained/pressured
• Looking at something rotating or spinning makes my eyes instinctively try to look away, and I can't visualize anything rotating or spinning in my mind
• Sensitivity, not only to bright lights but also bright colors

These symptoms all appeared, along with a sore neck, when I woke up after going to bed when I was very anxious/stressed one night. The sore neck went away, but these symptoms didn't, and they're ruining my life. No one seems to know what's causing them. I can't drive, and I can't even enjoy TV / movies / video games because I get so exhausted trying to follow everything that's going on, both mentally and in my eyes specifically.


Hi Apocryphus and Platinum,

My main symptoms are:
- this is the worst one, if im fixated/looking at something or trying to focus on something straight ahead, after i blink my eyes will slightly shift to one side then back to the fixation target. Its very annoying as i can feel it and have also recorded it on my phone.
- my eyes feel tired and sore, strained and sometimes i just want to close them and not look at anything.
-eyelids have been twitching ALOT in the last few months, and get twitching in random muscles in body too.
- i also get the sensitivity to bright lights and colours. Feels more so when watching TV or playing video games or using cell phone etc.
- now and again feels like the nerves and/or muscles in and around the eyes are "doing something"

Your symptom of :[*]Can't follow moving objects very well (TV shows and video games are confusing to look at)

I can relate to this as i feel this happens to me too. I feels hard to watch TV or play video games. The other day i was playing and at the start or after an hour it felt like i could not keep up. Like eyes where fatigued and more so the muscles around the eyes locked up and stiff. Made me vert anxious and felt hot afterwards (probably from the panic)

also;[*]Eyes naturally just stare blankly into space unless I consciously move them; they don't naturally look at stimuli anymore
- would you say that our eyes would naturally normally look towards a stimuli? I have been wondering this myself, if we have to actively or consciously look at a stimuli or does it just happen. Sorry if that sounds stupid lol.

with me it started around 3 months ago, first eyes felt sore, then started seeing afterimages esp on bright surfaces. Then vision would shimmer/shake/vibrate and then lastly the symptoms above. Also had palpitations, chest heaviness, shooting pains, muscle twitches (still have) numbness pins and needles in hands, shortness of breath, tremors on head and neck and some strange adrenaline sensation in my neck and head when trying to sleep which culminated in a pressure in my head, which would disappear as soon i moved my head and opened my eyes. Really strange.

In this time i have been to opticians, opthalmologists who have said eyes are 100% fine and have no pathology. Been to A and E numerous times esp with the cardio symptoms, blood tests and ECGs all clear. Told its anxiety by all doctors and consultants so far. Went to see neurologist last week who specialises in optho-neuro. Told him about the eye symptoms and even he wasnt sure about possible reason (hes going to get back to me) Physical neuro tests are fine. Had Eye and Brain MRI which is clear. i was worried i had MS.

So im stumped as to what/why this eye stuff could be. Do any of you get the moving/shifting eye esp after blinking. It does not happen all the time or after every blink. Just want this nighmare to end.........

[fma11122345]

I'm going threw the same thing. And a bit of a headache here and there and the back of my neck feels numb or hurts idk how to explain it. Blurry eyes, pressure under the eyes and on the side of the nose and forhead, a light head, sometimes dizzy, and everything you guys said in the top, really scaring me that its a brain toumr or something....going to a eye doctor soon

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[Shimmy81]

Fma do you get the slightly moving/shifting eyes when trying to focus? Don’t worry you do not have a brain tumour I can assure you man.

[fma11122345]

Fma do you get the slightly moving/shifting eyes when trying to focus? Don’t worry you do not have a brain tumour I can assure you man.

No, but when I trying to watch tv or anything like playing a game or even typeing or reading on my phone my vision will get shaky like it cant keep up. Scarry shit, plues I have like pressure in my face/head which worrys me a bit.

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[fma11122345]

Fma do you get the slightly moving/shifting eyes when trying to focus? Don’t worry you do not have a brain tumour I can assure you man.

Do your symptoms ever stop? Mine seem clam down at night and are woress in the day time. Like right now where I live its a little after ten and I brealy feel anything, its very strange.

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