Double vision connected to occipital nerve inflammation?

[Joe Meehan]

I was told today by one of my AN Angels that my double vision may be due to inflammation of my occipital nerve. I understand that a nerve block can correct the double vision in a mater of minutes. Anyone else hear this?

I had complete palsy after the operation. I'm about 75% back but still having annoying eye issues. Double vision, dry eye etc. They took the eye ingot out which I'm thinking may have been a bit too soon but what do I know. My vision on my AN side is terrible. I thought it was due to the dry eye and Celuvisc drops but its not.

Inflammation of my occipital nerve may explain my neck/head muscle spasms and muscle tension headaches also. Joe

[leapyrtwins]

I have never heard this, but that doesn't mean it can't be true.

I know that when double vision occurs post op it generally goes away.  But sometimes it takes months rather than days.

Mine was short-term, but Trish (Calimama) had double vision for months.  I can't recall what ultimately made hers go away.

You might want to search on "double vision" and read some of her posts - or you could PM her for details.

Jan

[Joe Meehan]

Hi Jan,

Thanks for the reply. I'm 8 months post op and my vision is horrible. I'm going to see my eye Dr in three weeks I'll get more info from him. I did a search and there was nothing related to occipital nerve inflammation. I got it from a very reliable source so I'm going to investigate it. I can't read a thing out of my right eye. Hey but that's what the other eye is for right? Joe

[mk]

As Jan mentioned, Trish had done tons of research on that. She had figured out that it was probably due to nerve 6, which is responsible for moving the eye muscles (I think?). She was told that it usually resolves by itself, otherwise it can be corrected with surgery. Sure enough, in her case it resolved in about 5 months or so. You should send her a PM, I am sure she will be able to answer your questions.

Marianna

[leapyrtwins]

I can't read a thing out of my right eye. Hey but that's what the other eye is for right? Joe

Sorry about the double vision, Joe.  But it certainly sounds like you have the right attitude 

Keep smiling - and let us know what the doctor suggests.

Good luck,

Jan

[Joe Meehan]

I just love this board. It cuts out all the wandering in the wilderness and cuts to the chase. I just emailed Trish. Maybe she has some info. I appreciate the help. The double vision is just an inconvenience but I'll figure it out & this board will shine light on my path through this maze in the darkness.......wow that was deep 

[MichaelUK]

In dec 07 i had a botox injection to close my eye lid after getting a cornia ulcer, it was closed for 3 months and when it opened i had double vision and still have now,my 2 year post op is this aug09 so if it dosnt go away by then im having squint surgery...the weird thing is i never had DB after the op or before the botox??

[Joe Meehan]

Hi Michael,

That is weird. It might be a weakening of your eye muscles. That is what they are telling me. My pain guy told me he would not suspect my occipital nerve causing my double vision. They told me to make an appointment with my eye doctor. I suffered from complete facial palsy but it has come back 75% but my vision is still horrible. I'll see my eye Dr in two weeks and see what he has to say. I'm leaning towards a weakened eye muscle due to my palsy. We shall see I'll let you know. I did hear that an occipital nerve block did clear up double vision at least temporarily. We shall see. I had Botox in my neck muscles to reduce the spasms I have and it worked great. They said it is pretty benign with few side effects. I don't think it caused your double vision it wears off in a matter of weeks. I would see your eye Dr and get an opinion from him. Good luck to you and thanks for posting. Joe

[TP]

I woke up from my 9 hour AN surgery with paralysis on my face and double vision. AN was on brain stem and my nerves were wrapped around it.

I wore black tape over my glasses for almost a year and then saw an eye surgeon specialist and she wanted to wait a few more months in case my double vision were to improve. She fit me with prisms and that allowed me to remove the ugly black tape over my glasses. I had the eye surgery to correct the double vision 15 months after my AN was removed. That was wonderful. My facial paralysis has improved some but still can't smile normal but I can close my eye (had an eye weight for about 18 months). I don't feel like I did before my surgery but thank goodness i see straight out of both my eyes. 

[Joe Meehan]

Looks like I have to be patient and wait it out a year. If it doesn't clear up I'll opt for the surgery. Thanks for the info everyone. I'll talk to my eye Dr and let you know what he thinks.

[mlouise073]

I am two years out from surgery and my eye started giving me problems, double vision, hurting, along with other facial pre surgery symptoms...did mri and no regrowth...noe doc says I have a punched nerve in my neck creating the symptoms.  He started me on Lyrica, steroid pak and ordered physical therapy a few days ago.  I just thought I would throw out this info so you could look at the possibilities for you.
Mary in Nashville

[Joe Meehan]

Hi Mary,  Thanks for the input. My right eye is pretty useless w/constant blurred vision. The double vision comes and goes in severity. I'm going to see my eye Dr today for Botox in my neck. I'm going to ask him about it and I'll post his comments. I'm also on Lyrica for my headaches and neck aches. It seems to be kicking in but I had a couple of meltdowns last week so my pain guy upped my dosage to 225mg/day. We'll see how that goes. Let me know how the PT goes. Best of luck. Joe

[Joe Meehan]

My eye specialist tells me my eye isn't closing all the way. He's scheduled me for a procedure to stitch the corner of my eye shut. He said my cornea is irritated and has become mis-shapen which is causing the blurred and double vision. He claims it is from my eye not closing all the way. He said if I don't do something it could be come ulcerated which is something I definitely don't want to happen. I'm going to see my guy at Mass Eye and Ear and get a second opinion before doing this. I want to make sure this is going to get the problem under control. Maybe they took my eye weight out prematurely? He didn't seem to think so. I know I'm using less drops since the plug was put in but it hasn't helped my vision problems.

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

When I had double vision, just after surgery, postoperative swelling and perhaps hydrocephalus caused it.

Diamox (drug) was very successful in treating this and the double vision subsided immediately after it was prescribed to me in hospital. The optic nerve was compressed due to the brain swelling and excess Dura fluid building up.


It is a knock-you-out drug however and is the strongest of the diuretics. (Best to take before bedtime as it gives nausea but helps with brain swelling and hydrocephalus)

I suggest you see only a “NEURO ophthalmologist� if this problem persists.
(Remember the “e� in ENT does not stand for “eye�)

It is also important to keep exercising as always laying down, after surgery, can also cause Dura fluid to pool where the tumor was removed.

What is dura fluid?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebrospinal_fluid



It is NOT normal to have double vision after surgery. Be proactive with your surgeon – they may even need to do another MRI to make sure that there is not a drainage problem with the Dura fluid (cranial spinal fluid or CSF)

Know that I managed to go without the shunt- but others on our forum have had to get one put in.

This is the best video on hydrocephalus I have seen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=fm0CZh_X-vM

When I was having the double vision issues I was also having the shuffling gate… to make the balance issues worse.

Trust me you want to get this attended to.

I am hesitant that a surgeon wants to sew the eye shut before attempting the eye weight. (Seems rather "old school" to me  ) There is also a temporary eye weight you should be aware of the does not require surgery.

Here is the link
http://www.fci-ophthalmics.com/files/pdf/blinkeze.pdf
It has to be ordered by a physician.

I wore this for 6 month plus we taped the eye (not closed) at the side  to keep the eye drops in. Taping the eye shut is risky and many ophthalmologists do not recommend it anymore for fear of scratching the cornea. It is imperative that you keep the cornea well hydrated. Use "lacrilube" until you get better eye care.

Here is a link for that product (available over the counter)
http://www.dryeyezone.com/encyclopedia/lacrilube.html


There is a booklet available through our ANA – here on EYE CARE

Eye Care after Acoustic Neuroma Surgery (AN6) 
Details on caring for eye problems caused by facial weakness following acoustic neuroma treatment. Includes information on corrective procedures and patient-maintained eye care. Updated: July 2008

Price: $3.00

Found on this link
https://secure.baxinternet.com/~anausa/for_sale.html



Keep asking us questions… many of us patients have been through what you are going through and came out the wiser (perhaps even wiser than some of our physicians- when it came to "eye care" … I know from personal experience that “e� in ENT has nothing to do with the “eye� or knowledge and proper training there of…)

KEEP THE CORNEA HYDRATED!!!

DHM

Daisy Head Mazy

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Hey I just saw this post about a FREE eye weight.

I started with a 2.0 and went to a 1.2 in the end. Now I only use these on arid days (Ie I have hung on to mine) as a back up on weird eye days.

Here is the post for the eye weight. (Know that mine was $250 each)
http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=9578.0

DHM