Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe LinkTypesOther CausesWhat to Look ForTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Link
Types
Other Causes
What to Look For
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
This article discusses the connection between MS and eye issues, treatment options, and prevention.
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The Link Between MS and Eye Issues
Vision problems are often one of the first symptoms of MS. Fortunately, vision recovery is possible for many people with MS-related vision issues.
The effects of MS can directly affect many other essential visual pathway components, including:
Types of Vision Issues in MS
Some of the types of vision issues associated with MS include:
Myoclonus
Nystagmus
Nystagmusis a type of ocular myoclonus that can result from MS. It occurs when the eyes move quickly and uncontrollably and can result from MS. Eye movement can be fast or slow and more rapid when looking in a particular direction.
Nystagmus causes the eyes to move:
The movement usually occurs in both eyes.
Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia
This condition occurs when cranial nerves that move the eye do not function properly. As a result, the nerves on one side of the eye are slowed compared to the opposing muscle movement on the other side of the eye.
Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritisis inflammation of the optic nerve, the cranial nerve, that allows our eyes to see. This condition causes pain with eye movement, blurry vision, and loss of color vision. Some people also experience dimmer vision or see ascotoma, a blurred or fuzzy sport, in one eye.
Optic neuritis usually only affects one eye. However, it can affect the other eye at a later time. Although the loss of vision is scary, most of the time, at least some vision returns.
Diplopia
Diplopia, or double vision, occurs when eye nerves that control eye movement become damaged or inflamed.
Other Causes Why Your Eye Twitches
Some minor reasons for eye twitching may include:
How to Recognize the Cause
But if you have any known neurological conditions, feel pain, have vision loss, or have other eye trauma, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Glucocorticoids, such as intravenous or oralprednisone, are often used to help improve the vision recovery of people with optic neuritis. Rest and applying a cold compress may also help.
Some people with nystagmus turn or tilt their heads to see more clearly and slow down their eye movements.
Treatment options for nystagmus may include the use of certain anti-seizure medications or muscle relaxants, such asgabapentinorbaclofen.
For diplopia, eyeglasses that realign vision from two images can help manage double vision.Corticosteroidsmay also be prescribed to lower inflammation.
When to See Your Healthcare ProviderContact your healthcare provider if you have any vision or eye issues and have a known neurological condition, pain in or around the eye, facial spasms, vision loss, discharge, or another trauma to the eye.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Contact your healthcare provider if you have any vision or eye issues and have a known neurological condition, pain in or around the eye, facial spasms, vision loss, discharge, or another trauma to the eye.
Living With Multiple Sclerosis
Summary
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system. The disease destroys the myelin sheath, which is the fatty covering that surrounds nerves and aids in transferring information between the brain and the rest of the body.
Vision problems are a common MS symptom. MS is known to attack heavily myelinated nerves within the brain and spinal cord and affect essential visual pathway components.
A Word From Verywell
Vision problems are often one of the first symptoms of MS. Fortunately, there are treatments that may help restore vision. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have any vision or eye issues. The sooner you get medical care, the sooner you may be able to find relief and, in some cases, improve vision issues related to MS.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAn autoimmune disease is a condition where the body accidentally attacks healthy cells in the body. In the case of MS, health problems such as eye twitching and other vision issues can occur.In many cases, eye twitching is a minor concern. If you feel pain, have redness or discharge, vision loss, trauma to the eye, or your eyelids are drooping, contact your healthcare provider immediately.Blepharospasmrefers to uncontrollable blinking or other eyelid movements, such as twitching. Blepharospasm can be genetic, and it is most common in women ages 40 to 60. In many cases, there is no apparent cause. You may be more likely to develop blepharospasm if you have MS.A healthcare provider specializing in eyes and vision is called an ophthalmologist. Talk to your primary healthcare provider, who can assess your eye twitching and provide a referral if needed.
An autoimmune disease is a condition where the body accidentally attacks healthy cells in the body. In the case of MS, health problems such as eye twitching and other vision issues can occur.
In many cases, eye twitching is a minor concern. If you feel pain, have redness or discharge, vision loss, trauma to the eye, or your eyelids are drooping, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Blepharospasmrefers to uncontrollable blinking or other eyelid movements, such as twitching. Blepharospasm can be genetic, and it is most common in women ages 40 to 60. In many cases, there is no apparent cause. You may be more likely to develop blepharospasm if you have MS.
A healthcare provider specializing in eyes and vision is called an ophthalmologist. Talk to your primary healthcare provider, who can assess your eye twitching and provide a referral if needed.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Multiple sclerosis: what you need to know.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Vision problems.Dhanapalaratnam R, Markoulli M, Krishnan AV.Disorders of vision in multiple sclerosis.Clin Exp Optom. 2022;105(1):3-12. doi:10.1080/08164622.2021.1947745American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.MedlinePlus.Optic nerve disorders.MedlinePlus.Uvea.MedlinePlus.Brain components.Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Visual disorders.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is nystagmus?Bijvank JAN, Rijn LJ van, Balk LJ, Tan HS, Uitdehaag BMJ, Petzold A.Diagnosing and quantifying a common deficit in multiple sclerosis: Internuclear ophthalmoplegia.Neurology. 2019;92(20):e2299-e2308. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007499Kale N.Optic neuritis as an early sign of multiple sclerosis.Eye Brain. 2016;8:195-202. doi:10.2147/EB.S54131Costello F.Vision disturbances in multiple sclerosis.Semin Neurol. 2016;36(2):185-195. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579692MedlinePlus.Eye twitching causes.Thurtell MJ, Leigh RJ.Treatment of nystagmus.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2012;14(1):60-72. doi:10.1007/s11940-011-0154-5National Eye Institute.Blepharospasm.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Multiple sclerosis: what you need to know.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Vision problems.Dhanapalaratnam R, Markoulli M, Krishnan AV.Disorders of vision in multiple sclerosis.Clin Exp Optom. 2022;105(1):3-12. doi:10.1080/08164622.2021.1947745American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.MedlinePlus.Optic nerve disorders.MedlinePlus.Uvea.MedlinePlus.Brain components.Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Visual disorders.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is nystagmus?Bijvank JAN, Rijn LJ van, Balk LJ, Tan HS, Uitdehaag BMJ, Petzold A.Diagnosing and quantifying a common deficit in multiple sclerosis: Internuclear ophthalmoplegia.Neurology. 2019;92(20):e2299-e2308. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007499Kale N.Optic neuritis as an early sign of multiple sclerosis.Eye Brain. 2016;8:195-202. doi:10.2147/EB.S54131Costello F.Vision disturbances in multiple sclerosis.Semin Neurol. 2016;36(2):185-195. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579692MedlinePlus.Eye twitching causes.Thurtell MJ, Leigh RJ.Treatment of nystagmus.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2012;14(1):60-72. doi:10.1007/s11940-011-0154-5National Eye Institute.Blepharospasm.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health.Multiple sclerosis: what you need to know.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Vision problems.Dhanapalaratnam R, Markoulli M, Krishnan AV.Disorders of vision in multiple sclerosis.Clin Exp Optom. 2022;105(1):3-12. doi:10.1080/08164622.2021.1947745American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.MedlinePlus.Optic nerve disorders.MedlinePlus.Uvea.MedlinePlus.Brain components.Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Visual disorders.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is nystagmus?Bijvank JAN, Rijn LJ van, Balk LJ, Tan HS, Uitdehaag BMJ, Petzold A.Diagnosing and quantifying a common deficit in multiple sclerosis: Internuclear ophthalmoplegia.Neurology. 2019;92(20):e2299-e2308. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007499Kale N.Optic neuritis as an early sign of multiple sclerosis.Eye Brain. 2016;8:195-202. doi:10.2147/EB.S54131Costello F.Vision disturbances in multiple sclerosis.Semin Neurol. 2016;36(2):185-195. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579692MedlinePlus.Eye twitching causes.Thurtell MJ, Leigh RJ.Treatment of nystagmus.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2012;14(1):60-72. doi:10.1007/s11940-011-0154-5National Eye Institute.Blepharospasm.
National Institutes of Health.Multiple sclerosis: what you need to know.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Vision problems.
Dhanapalaratnam R, Markoulli M, Krishnan AV.Disorders of vision in multiple sclerosis.Clin Exp Optom. 2022;105(1):3-12. doi:10.1080/08164622.2021.1947745
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Retina.
MedlinePlus.Optic nerve disorders.
MedlinePlus.Uvea.
MedlinePlus.Brain components.
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Visual disorders.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is nystagmus?
Bijvank JAN, Rijn LJ van, Balk LJ, Tan HS, Uitdehaag BMJ, Petzold A.Diagnosing and quantifying a common deficit in multiple sclerosis: Internuclear ophthalmoplegia.Neurology. 2019;92(20):e2299-e2308. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000007499
Kale N.Optic neuritis as an early sign of multiple sclerosis.Eye Brain. 2016;8:195-202. doi:10.2147/EB.S54131
Costello F.Vision disturbances in multiple sclerosis.Semin Neurol. 2016;36(2):185-195. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579692
MedlinePlus.Eye twitching causes.
Thurtell MJ, Leigh RJ.Treatment of nystagmus.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2012;14(1):60-72. doi:10.1007/s11940-011-0154-5
National Eye Institute.Blepharospasm.
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