Vision problems

e-head · 10-30-2007, 12:27 PM

Last night I got home from work and jumped on the computer to check my e-mail. Over the course of just a couple of minutes the vision in my left eye started going completely haywire, until I couldn't view the monitor anymore at all. The best way to describe it is it was as if I was under water, looking out at the world. Everything was really wavy and a bit shiny. I tried to fight it for a little while, but the effect intensified until I just couldn't focus on anything at all. Along with the wavy/underwater effect I was seeing double. Oddly, all this seemed to be confined somewhat to the monitor... looking away, my vision was a tad funky, but not nearly as bad.

After lying down for about 30 or 45 minutes I hoped up, went to the computer again, and it was like nothing had been wrong at all. I could see perfectly fine. Weird.

I used to experience this every night, now that I think about it. After going to school and spending all day trying to pretend that everything was alright, I would go home and veg in front of the TV or computer. I would have to alternate between resting my eyes for 20 or 30 minutes on the couch, and watching TV.

Anyway, sorry for making so many posts, I'm just kind of down and feeling lonely, and posting on here seems to help. I'm just now starting to really understand how much my (original) concussion has effected my life and motivation. I read one posters quote about having had 10,000 dreams before, and now just having one. That is so very true. All my goals and dreams in life got reduced down to one... to never get hit in the head again. Sadly, I failed, ugh.

Anyway, I'm going to try and think about something else for a while now. Have a good day everyone.

e

Polly · 10-30-2007, 02:32 PM

I have had several eye problems starting at the time of the accident that caused my brain injury. The first eye problem at the scene was what I called "flicker vision". Everything seemed to flicker very fast like an old movie and I saw double. that was caused by pressure on a nerve where the[swelling] brain had been pressing on it. Next I could not tolerate bright light. Then when I returned to work I noticed that looking at my computer monitor nearly drove me crazy. My Dean [supervisor] made sure I received a flat panel monitor and that made a world of difference. I stilll cannot see well with my left eye, the peripheral vision is blurred like vaseline on a lens of a camera making an "artsy" film. My neuro Drs. think it will always be that way. You may be experiencing a severe eye strain especially since it goes away after you rest. I found soft lighting and the flat screen monitor very helpful.

I'm sorry you feel lonely I understand completely we are in a world other people can't really imagine. Your remark about the 10,000 dreams poster struck a nerve with me as I really had great "sleep time" dreams and after the accident I didn't dream for over year and missed it. Now I dream horrible dreams, thank God I only dream sporadically.

Sissy · 10-30-2007, 03:08 PM

Hi e-head, I also had problems with blurry vision early on after my accident and it got better with time. You probably need to give yourself more rest after work. You seemed to be so much better yesterday and hopefully it will all go away again. I often feel like I'm on a rollercoaster with some good days always followed by bad days. This is such a frustrating condition and nobody seems to be able to help, but I know I will get over this even if I will never be able to ride a real rollercoaster. The longer this drags on the less confident I am about riding my bike again, but maybe by next spring I will have forgotten about the concussion headaches.

Take care, hope tomorrow will be better!

Nancy F · 10-30-2007, 11:27 PM

I hope you all feel less lonely, now that you know you are not alone. You will get better e-head, your emotions are probably pretty complicated. You were likely in a state of denial alot and turfing all your feelings and now they are flooding in on you. Perhaps you were not mature or wise enough to deal with them and now you may be more aware of them. Who knows, but they are real and the depression or dissapointment you feel now will also get better in time. Perhaps walking around with a helmit on will make you feel better as you heal. My son also had a vision issue awhile ago with fatigue. Get a good night sleep and veg out a little, this will make you feel better. Take care!