Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects nerve fibers with a multitude of symptoms. The eye is affected in a variety of ways in many of the people with MS.
Optic Neuritis
As one of the most common eye problems related to MS, optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve) causes pain, blurred vision, loss of color vision, blind spots and occasionally blindness.
Nystagmus
Involuntary movements or jerking of the eye is called nystagmus. These movements can be either vertical or horizontal and are fairly common in MS.
Diplopia (Double Vision)
When the muscles controlling the movement of the eyes are not evenly coordinated, a person with MS can develop diplopia, or double vision.
Ocular Dysmetria
When a person is attempting to look at something and the eyes overshoot or undershoot (miss focusing) a target object, the condition is called ocular dysmetria and can be a symptom of MS.
Afferent Pupillary Defect
An afferent pupillary defect is when the pupil does not dilate appropriately for the amount of light being shown in the eye. This can occur in people who have had optic neuritis.
Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia (INO) occurs when one eye has uncontrolled movements while the other drifts outward. This can be a symptom of MS but it also occurs with other conditions, including HIV infection and cerebrovascular problems.
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