Lately I have spent a lot of time wondering why my meniere’s disease is coming back. Last week I went to the doctor and found out my blood pressure was high, so I thought that was the reason. I am still having attacks, small attacks but attacks. Before that I thought it was the plane ride that I took in June. Well, it has been a month since that happened so my ears should have recovered since then.
Here is another theory I am tossing around, my vision has something to do with it.
Last summer was busy with gent injections every 2 weeks for a total of 4 injections and my cataract surgery, which was a month after that. It seemed like it was all squeezed together. After I had the first eye worked on I couldn’t believe how different everything looked, the colors were vivid and the sky was very bright. The time between having the right eye done and the left eye was strange because my vision was mixed up, everything was vivid coming in one eye and dull out of the eye that still had the cataract.
After the surgery was completed I had to put eye drops in many times during the day for several months till my eyes healed. This caused blurriness in my eyes. At the same time I was feeling the effects of the gent injections and I was having some of my worst attacks. It was at this time I went on disability.
My eyes got better, I stopped taking the eye drops and my meniere’s got better early this year. My vision was so good that I no longer needed prescription glasses just glasses from the drugstore.
Now some 6 months later my vision doesn’t seem as good as it was and I might need to go back to the eye doctor.
Is there a connection between my vision and Meniere’s disease coming back? I don’t know I’m not a doctor but I know that vision plays an important part in the balance system along with the inner ear.
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Thanks
Sunday, July 19, 2009
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10 comments:
Hi David, hope you are feeling well now. In my experience and the experience of many others who have Meniere's Disease and contact our help site, I think vision is of course conected. On the one hand things like watching TV or something fast moving - reading while travelling (in the car or train)- flashing lights, driving etc can all spark vertigo attacks nwith Meniere's. On the other hand the vision is affected by Meniere's Disease anyway isn't it so it's a bit of a chicken and egg question.
Have you tried a strict diet? Meaning lots of fresh veggies and fruits & low in salt (obviously) sugar, saturated fats and processed foods. We have found this can help a great deal "over time". Also we have found that alcohol and smoking is a BIG problem.
Take Care David and I wish you luck.
Mike
www.menieres-help.com
REF/MENIERES/EYES. I use [opto chromology filters]in my glasses to help limit the effect of meniere's on my eyes.I suffer from variable D/Vision on a daily bases. Primarily used in the treatment of AUTISEM/DESELIXA.Try to limit READING/TV/SHOPPING when exp/episodes.MENIERES SELF PERLIFERATES.Keep a day log to help you relate to pos/causes and triggers.I MY SITUATION MENIERS EFFECTS MY EYES AND VISION IMPUT EFFECTS MY MENIERES 100% CONCLUSIVE.
Hi David, I too have Meniere's Disease and have had difficulty with my vision. Mainly, the difficulty is that I got new contacts but haven't been able to wear them due to pre-vertigo symptoms (for me this includes narrowing of vision, sweating, ears ringing, etc.). I can't get myself through that period of time when a person needs to adjust to a new glasses/contacts prescription. I keep going back to my old glasses, knowing that someday the inevitable will happen and they will get broken or lost. I'm sure I will have to beg my provider to give me my old prescription, although it expired a three years ago. Anyway, I can't wear my new contacts longer than 2 hours without that ill feeling that vertigo is coming on. Good luck to you. This can be a very discouraging disease.
Hi Chloeamos,
I really think that there is a connection between vision and meniere's. I hope you get your contacts to work.
thanks for the comment and keep in touch
David
Hi David,
If you are still receiving comments, please let me know. I had Cataract surgery in March, 2010, and in May I was told by an ENT that I have Meninere's Disease. I have not yet tried another Dr. but am seeing one soon. The only symptoms I have is hearing loss and ringing in my left ear. I too wonder if the surgery on my eyes could have created this horrible disease. Take care, God bless.
Roni
Roni,
It is always good to get a second or even third opinion. Luckily you don't have the spinning which is good and I hope you don't get that. As for the tinnitus (ringing in the ears) there are things that can be done about that. Try to find a doctor who specializes in inner ear problem and who is familiar with tinnitus and meniere's disease.
good luck and stay in touch
David
I was diagnosed with Meniere's just last week...however, I've dealt with the symptoms for quite a while. The specialist I saw, said that drs. now think that Men. has to do with migraines. What I have noticed is that I don't have full-force vertigo...mine is a stumble here and there because I get 'out of whack' . As far as vision, what I have noticed is that I have a feeling of a panic attack and it seems that my periphreal vision is stronger than what I see what in front of me. I'm not sure how to describe it...I guess what I am saying is that my brain tries to focus on what I see to the sides of me rather than right in front of me. Anyone else experience that?
There seems to be a lot written about the connection between migraines and meniere's. Although you can have meniere's without the migraines. And I have also heard of people that have meniere's without the terrible vertigo.
That's interesting about your periphreal vision being stronger than what you see in front of you I hadn't heard of that before. I will have to ask that question in an upcoming blog
stay in touch
David
There have been no peer-reviewed studies to suggest a correlation between cataract surgery outcome and Meniere's disease.
BUT...
Since I am Bilateral Meniere's, and since my balance is ENTIRELY reliant on my visual acuity and my adaptation to my own values of vision that have established over many years an almost perfect balancing system, I have declined the offer for cataract surgery.
There is one article on PubMed - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20375750 - that would indicate that we are not deceived by the pacifications of eye surgeons.
I KNOW instinctually not to have this procedure, which would throw my life back to the fishes. I operate instinctually in most things, and it has served me better than my intellect ever did.
David, lovepeacesanity to you, and may your path be clear and with joy.
-Jessica Williams, jazz pianist
Hi Jessica,
it is so strange that I had a lot of my meniere's problems after my cataract surgery I wonder if they did have anything to do with my balance.
I can imagine that it would be very difficult to control your balance with bilateral meniere's especially only relying with your sight.
thanks for commenting and stay in touch
David
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