Eyes don't naturally look at / follow things anymore

[Shimmy81]

Hey FMA,

actually originally when the visual stuff started and symptoms like ghosting, shaking, shimmering and after images, It did seem to be worse in the day time and better at night. I couldnt quite work it out why but for some reason thats what would happen.

[Apocryphus]

[QUOTE=Shimmy81;1733154]

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.........

Hey Shimmy,

So, I don't have the shifting-eye thing. That sounds like a nystagmus to me, and you might also want to see an otologist, as I recommended to Platinum via PM. Some of your symptoms are a bit different, but the general sense of "persistent eye fatigue, where it always feels like the eye muscles are occupied" seems to be something that we share.

They're currently telling me that they think it's a vestibular migraine. I'm on Topamax right now, but they said it'll be about 3 more weeks before I know whether it works or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I'll be honest, though; that last paragraph makes it sound like you also have panic attack symptoms along with this. Have you recently been on on medications for anxiety or depression? Which ones did you try or stop near the time that this all began? Any additional info would be super helpful! Again, I would recommend seeing an otologist and having a VEMP test performed; that's the one that came back abnormal for me, and I'd be curious to see what your results are.

[Shimmy81]

Hi Apocryphus,

Thanks for the suggestion and yes i think i will look into getting that test done.

Nystagmus -well that was my biggest fear over the last two months or so, however all the opticians, and more so the opthalmologists and optho-neurologists i have seen, one just a few weeks ago, have all ruled that out.
Even i thought thats what it must be but then when reading about the different types of nystagmus, it doesnt fit my symptoms, as nystagmus will be more of a continous movement. This is what the above professionals told me too.
The optho-neuro did a variety of tests on me, one where he moved my head back and forth and up and down but told me to keep looking straight, which was fine.

I get just one jerk or dart away from fixation. It is intermittent and does not happen at every blink and sometimes not even everyday. Seems worse when watching TV. They couldnt tell me yet why it is happening.

I feel its something to do with my lower eye muscles as i can feel them getting tight sometimes. Its getting cold her in the UK so we have had the heating on in the house and i sometimes think that makes it worse too (could just be a coincidence of course!) I also am not sure as in august opthalmology said i have blocked oil glands ine my eye lidS AKA MGD, and if that playing a part too.

The only medicine i am on is propranolol for migraine proxylaxis, the first neuro i saw a few months back suggested that after a clear head mri scan.

Im very frustrated and trying to get to the bottom of this.

How are your symptoms have they improved and are you trying anything for them? Is the topamax working.

[fma11122345]

You guys ever get dizzy with this eye thing?

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[Shimmy81]

Yes from time to time it does make me dizzy and lightheaded, even have the feeling of nausea on occasion and need to look away from tv or playing video games. Seems worse if I’m focused or staring at something for a few mins.