I was finally diagnosed with MS last year and have been dealing with various health problems that my neurologist links to the condition. I didn’t tolerate Tecfidera well, so I’m switching to Vumerity shortly. Over the last two weeks, I’ve noticed my sight getting blurry at times, particularly when I’m reading or on the computer. After a shower an hour ago, I feel weak, my legs have blood pooling, and my vision is blurry. Even though the water wasn’t extremely hot—and I know I’m supposed to avoid hot showers—I’m still struggling. Do others experience vision problems like this? Could it just be a result of feeling faint and weak? I’m trying to stay calm, but it’s hard since my neurologist is difficult to reach (it took three weeks for a response to a critical question) and hasn’t really explained what I should anticipate.
MS can definitely cause vision problems, so you should mention this to your neurologist. Also, I’d inquire about why you’re moving from Tecfidera to Vumerity if you had trouble with the first one. While Vumerity is supposed to be easier to tolerate, they work in the same way… maybe a completely different type of medication would be better?
I definitely experience this symptom, especially during a relapse or when I’m under a lot of stress. Reading from a screen can be tough for me as well. If you’ve dealt with optic neuritis before, there might be a link. I have lasting blind spots and vision loss in my left eye due to ON, so I’ve come to expect some blurriness since my sight never fully recovered. I suggest seeing an ophthalmologist regularly, ideally a neuro-ophthalmologist. I go every six months or more if necessary. To help ease your anxiety, I’ll say that my vision gets blurry quite often, usually after physical effort, though not for long. This might become part of your routine, but if it’s distressing, definitely reach out to your eye doctor or neurologist. Be firm about your medication concerns if they’re impacting you. Wishing you the best during this first year of diagnosis; it’s a lot to handle. Consider talking to a therapist who focuses on medical trauma if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
I experience this too, usually after physical activity, when I’m exhausted, or feeling drained. It also happens if I wear my contacts too long while focusing on a screen. For me, it’s actually a sign of how my body is holding up and whether I need to rest. I sometimes get slight double vision along with the blurriness. I had optic neuritis during the major relapse that led to my diagnosis. I haven’t had another bout of it, so I just see these vision shifts as my new baseline. It’s a constant symptom, but when I’m feeling well, my body manages it better and it doesn’t bother me as much.
I deal with this frequently. I’m eleven years post-diagnosis, and the blurriness still fluctuates, though it has worsened slightly over time. I rely on reading glasses now, which is likely a combination of MS and aging (I’m 55). There are definitely times when I can’t even watch television because things are too fuzzy. My neurologist once prescribed Xanax, which surprisingly helped with both the vision and the ‘MS hug’ sensation, though I’m not sure why. Doctors don’t really prescribe that for these issues anymore, so now I just have to manage it on my own.
It definitely happens to me. I’m not sure of the specific medical term, but I encounter various strange visual issues, and blurriness is definitely one of them. Make sure to inform your doctor so they can refer you for regular eye exams with dilation to rule out other potential causes.