double vision after mvp repair

[Janine]

It's been one year since my mvp repair ate NYU. I feel great. However, the past month or two, I've had instances of double vision that last for about a minute. I've had occular migraines on and off since the surgery, but not the double vision. I can't believe this would start at the one year point! Anyone have ant info? Should I just accept this as part of the recovery? I've read about many others with visual disturbances.

Janine

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Several of us have had various types of vision disturbances or images following surgery, but usually not too long after the surgery.

It would be wise to at least inform your cardiologist and maybe even see an ophthalmologist.

Are you on Coumadin?
What is your INR?

Visual disturbances can be a sign of small clot formation which may warrant raising your Coumadin level and INR for better control.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Janine,
We've had numerous threads devoted to visual disturbances; if you do a search, you should be able to find that information. Several of us on this forum have had various disturbances that weren't present before the surgery. Mine can best be described as an instance in which a gray curtain gets pulled over my field of vision. It usually lasts a few minutes or so and then resolves. I have had them once or twice per year since my surgery - 7ish years ago. A neurologist I saw several months ago said he was convinced they were small micro-emboli being thrown from the prosthetic valve; however, I see you had a repair rather than a replacement. I agree with Al in that you need to inform your cardiologist and perhaps go see an eye specialist. Good luck and keep us informed.

 

[Creed3]

Hi Janine!

Hi Janine!

I know exactly what you are talking about. My surgery was a little over 2 1/2 years ago. I also get ocular migraines. My migraines became more frequent after my surgery. My migraines have also changed some since my surgery. In the beginning I had some flashing light auras etc.....pretty much the norm. Then I had some where I couldn't focus with both eyes open, but I could with one eye closed. I went to the ER and they told me that I was having an ocular migraine. I also had it checked out with my opthamologist. He told me the same thing. I recently had one a little different. The sight in my right eye for a short time was a little blurry. I went to have it checked out and was told again that it was a variation of an ocular migraine. Sometimes I get headaches and sometimes I don't. I would suggest that anything that seems like a new type of visual disturbance, you should definitely get it checked out. I also want to let you know that it is also possible that you are having variations of your migraines. I'll tell you when I have these visual disturbances, they freak me out. Especially if they are different than what I'm used to. I hope this has helped you out some.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[MelissaM]

The visual thing seems to be a common thread among us. Has anyone else been tested for keratoconus? I would be very interested to hear if there is some sort of link between OHS and this condition.

I had similar symptoms to many us - the double vision, grey curtain, ocular migraines (sometimes followed by full-on migraines) - none of which was present prior to surgery. The migraines were diagnosed and I was put on prophylactic medication, but it still felt like something was amiss.

The big clue came when I went to update my eyeglass prescription. Two things occurred: the first was they couldn't correct my vision more than 20/40. The second was my monocular double vision (double vision in one eye) became super-apparent in the darkness of the eye exam room. Unlike other times, where my double vision split the world in tow, this double vision was more of a ghosting effect.

That led to a corneal topography exam, which revealed the keratoconus - a thinning of the cornea, which causes the cornea to bulge. The bulging of the corea is what was causing the double-vision, grey curtains, etc.

It really took the corneal topography to make the diagnosis. Usually opthamologists can see keratokonus in the eye exam (slit lamp), so if they don't see it there, then they assume you don't have it. It took a really astute doc to order to topography and make the Dx for me.

So... if any of you think this might be your issue (especially those with unexplainable monocular double vision), I would highly recommend that you keep pressing your opthamologist/docs for answers.

One other note, when I went back to my neurologist for a follow up on the migraines, I told him about the keratokonus, and he didn't even know what it was - so I wouldn't necessarily rely on a neuro for this kind of Dx.

Melissa

 

[KimC]

Hi,

I'm part of a NHLB study on female vascular disease. Today I was asked to participate in another segment of the larger study regarding vascular changes in the retinal arteries. Their hope is that detecting narrowing of these arteries will give them additional insights into the pathology of microvascular disease, perhaps even allowing doctors to diagnose women without invasive procedures like the adenosine cath.

My nurse told me that many women with vascular disease have eye disturbances related to narrowing of the eye vessels.

I've had ocular migraines with no headache, and am experiencing a permanent teeny-tiny black spot in the middle of the vision of my left eye when my BP is up.

If you have vascular degeneration, it can effect more than your heart. Hopefully the study I'm in will shed more light on the pathology. (No pun intended).

Best,

 

[SteveK]

Same thing here

Same thing here

I am 17 months post-op and have been feeling great also. I have had two occurences of double vision in the last two months. The first one was very briref and I dismissed it. The latest one occurred while I was driving and scared the ^&%$ out of me. It lasted for a minute or two and went away.
I had a couple of these within the first three weeks after the surgery and then nothing until 15 months later.
My cardiologist told me today that it could be MS or a brain tumor. I tried to tell him that I read about several occurrences of it on this site and he says he's never heard of it. He is sending me to a Neurologist and says I will probably get an MRI and CATSCAN. I am trying not to get to stressed about it at this point, but it is tough. It sucks to go through the surgery and be feeling fine, and then have a bomb dropped on you like this.

 

[Janine]

Thanks to all for the replies. I plan on following up with my eye doctor and cardio in the near future. I've been a bit preoccupied-my sis is due to have a baby tomorrow, and my 3 yr old needs attention with her own eye problems. you know, mom always has to come in last. Anyway, I thought I would just get some other opinons mean while. Thanks for your help

 

[MelissaM]

Steve,

Try not to get too stressed. I think just about everyone here who has pursued their vision problems has gone through the brain tumour, MS, blot clot, detached retina scare. If my memory serves me correctly, not one of our members has been diagnosed with any of the above with regards to their post-OHS visual disturbances. Seems like about 90% get diagnosed with migraines of some sort, and the other 10% get no answers except that the tests for all of the above came back negative.

Melissa

 

[tobagotwo]

Many of us have had visual disturbances, double vision, occular (also called atypical) migraines and other visual phenomena, both before and after surgery. You want to rule out eye disease or damage, and strokes. After that, it just falls into the murky occular migraine category. It's not impossible that you have a separate and important issue, but the general experience here is that it comes and goes, but doesn't seem to amount to anything but a bother in the end.

Please go to an ophthalmologist first. The cardiologist will either send you there or to a neurologist. However, it will likely be a neurologist, as he won't know any ophthalmologists. They travel in different circles.

I am not looking to knock neurologists, but if you read their tortured literature about occular migraines, migraines in general, and related symptoms on the web, you will likely come to the conclusion (as I did) that they are still in the dark ages as far as causation and prevention of that particular problem. They are in chaotic disagreement with each other about the entire subject. The web is chock-full of migraine theories, discussions, and arguments, and easily supports that viewpoint.

If you go to the ophthalmologist first, s/he can rule out mircovascular blockages in your eyes, eye damage or disease, and other pressing physical optical possibilities which a neurologist is not equipped to do.

If you then wish to continue to a neurologist, you will at least know the eyes themselves are functional.

Best wishes,

 

[KimC]

Check out this link ...

Check out this link ...

http://www.eyeweb.org/CRAO.htm

Good info ...

Best,

 

[SteveK]

I have seen my opthamologist and he said everything looks o.k. He only did a visual inspection though. I don't know if any tests are necessary. I feel better after browsing through the posts, and reading Melissa's comment. I will go through the motions just to be sure and hopefully all will be fine.

 

[Marguerite53]

please check into it

please check into it

Janine. I would echo Bob's remarks (Tobagotwo). Please check in with an opthalmologist as soon as possible. If you've been dealing with high blood pressure at all (I mean high, high) there could be issues with your retinas detaching (most likely not, but just a little fear to get you moving ).

Think back to when it happened. Could you have just ingested something really salty, been suddenly anxious or angered, eaten spicy food, looked into a bright glare? It's always helpful to know when these things have occured and what surrounds them, particularly in the instance of migraine.

Keep us posted.

Marguerite

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Janine,
I just posted a brand new Cleveland Clinic article on migraine auras that you may find interesting. I posted it in the reference section of the forums.

 

[tobagotwo]

Excellent article! Seems to fall in line with peoples' real experiences, and doesn't take on that "fear merchant" tone, that I have so come to loathe from those who want to pump up the importance of what they have to say.

Not that I have to approve, of course. But I do, anyway.

 

[Sherry]

Thanks, Bob. I thought it was a fair and balanced article, plus, I appreciated the fact that it was up-to-date, published this month. Another aspect of the article I liked was its seemingly accurate descriptions of the actual episodes, in other words, what they really look like. It seems when this issue gets brought up, we never quite know if what another member is experiencing is the same thing we are - gray clouds, jagged lines, double vision, blackouts, etc. This article describes each of these episodes in vivid detail, which helped me tremendously.

 

[Janine]

Thanks, Sherry for the article. It was very informative. I plan on seeing my eye dr soon, as I am due for an exam. She previously diagnosed me with ocular migraines, and I have had migraines since I was a teen. I even went the neuro route back then. My mom and sisters have a history of them as well. I am sure the few episodes I have had are part of all of that. Maybe the surgery, or meds have contributed as well. I am glad my questions have opened up a discussion. I am glad all of the info generated can help someone else. Steve K, I echo everyones responses. I hope all goes well with your follow ups.

Janine