Vision Issues

I have been steadier overall these last few days. It's a welcome break from the intense swaying and heaviness I normally feel. Every time these less intense days come around what I really notice is that my vision clears up and when my vision improves the swaying and pulling and motion I feel and witness becomes much less. The improvement of visual clarity further improves my perception (depth) of space around me, and allows me to feel much more connected to the world rather than observing it in what I can only describe as detached sense of reality.

Here are my visual problems that I have daily since my vestibular upset: Each are always present and each usually vary in intensity from day to day.

1.Visual static (Visual snow) - This is always present except on these rare better days. I don't know how to describe it other than it's as if I am looking out at the world through dense air. Static like fog. Carpets,bed covers,wall paper,netting seem to shimmer,flicker and dance. This was especially bad before starting my medication but is still present 24/7 except on my random better days.

2.Blurred vision - This comes and goes

3. Double vision - Again this comes and goes as it pleases.

4. Trouble focusing and Tracking (zooming in and out) - This used to be really bad. If I try and look directly at an object for example my finger in front of me. When I zoom in to look closely at the tip of my finger I will feel a push/ pull sensation and the the time it takes to zoom in is longer than it should be. What I mean is it's actually an effort (work) to simply focus in and look clearly at an object and hold my gaze. It's no longer immediate and natural. Zooming out from an object can create the same unsteadiness and effort. Tracking moving objects is difficult as they appear to blur and make me lose balance.

5. Night blindness - I think I have said it before but since my vestibular problem began a dark environment seems much heavier and darker.When my visual static is bad then my balance is bad and a dark room can be an extremely disorientating experience. Visual static appears to bounce,fuzz and dance noticeably in the dark making the air very thick and dense looking.

6. Unable to fix my gaze - I find it hard to keep my gaze still when looking directly at an object. For example if I were to fix my gaze upon a light switch on the wall then my vision appears to drift out and back again. I can also feel the jerking of my eyes but I don't think it's noticeable. Simply looking at a person or focusing on an object feels like constant work for my eyes now.This was very bad before the medication I was given.

7. Nystagmus - Involuntary twitching of the eyes brought on as a result of my acute vertigo attack way back when. Nystagmus tends to be temporary when brought on by an inner ear//vestibular problem but mine has never left and I don't know why. If I look at my doctors finger and he moves it hard right or hard left my eyes will follow his finger but then suddenly jerk back or bounce over and over. It's not noticeable unless I look hard left or hard right.

As you can see not only am I dizzy but have all these visual problems along side the dizziness daily. I am sure you fellow sufferers can relate to this. I wish dizziness was the only symptom we had to contend with.

However today I am steadier and as always my vision issues are much less so there is obviously a connection between the two.

I hope you all keep positive and keep battling on towards steadier days.

Swimmyhead