Blurry, Double Vision Freaking Me Out — Could It Be a Brain Tumour?

Hi everyone.

I developed high pitched unilateral tinnitus about 4 months ago, it's in my left ear.

At the same time I noticed my eyesight was a little off. Got new glasses, didn't help. The eyesight has gotten worse by the day. I can barely see now. Blurry, double vision. Glasses help a little with the double vision but still blurred. Eye doc says there's nothing physically wrong with my eyes.

I'm freaking out about a brain tumour. The fact that it started at the same time as tinnitus has really worried me. I've seen doctors, ENT and neurologist. Had MRI with and without contrast. No cause can be found.

Anyone had anything similar or any ideas? I don't think it's visual snow as there's no static. I don't think it's a strange form of migraine either as one doctor suggested.

Cheers.

 

Can you get a second opinion with a specialist?

Do you get blurry eyes and double vision all the time or just after you read or watch tv??

 

Had so many second and third opinions. I pass every eye exam but when I get the glasses everything is blurry and double again. Focus pulses in and out. I'm terrified. This has ruined my life. I feel so out of it, hopefully that's stress combined with the eyesight.

 

What types of exams have you had? This is more to reading an eye chart.
Glaucoma test? Does your retina look ok (macular degeneration)? Have you been screened for diabetes? Etc.

You are freaking out about a brain tumor, yet you had an MRI... so stop freaking out. What eye specialists have you seen?

 

I've had my eyes looked at inside out and back to front! OCT, back of the eyes photographed. MRI of orbits, you name it.

My vision is so strange. Some days I literally cannot read with or without my glasses on. I'm on my 5th pair of glasses now. Still no good. Often when looking at text or a patterned surface my focus blurs in and out. I used to be 20/20 corrected. I do not trust the MRI scans I've had as I feel it's a problem with my brainstem. Double vision and tinnitus are hallmark signs of this. I also feel really spaced out all the time. These symptoms have taken over my life for 5 months now.

 

Have you looked into symptoms of anxiety? Anxiety can have nasty symptoms that hit people differently. Take a look into it. I hope your eyes improve.

 

Maybe you have something called Miller Fisher?

I was hospitalized for a week. Here are 3...

 

I looked into miller Fisher. I don't think it's that because my vision is double in both eyes! If I cover either eye I have the ghost images. They can be in any direction, above to the side etc. Last night I noticed that there were at least 3 images when I was trying to watch football. It lessens to a degree when I look through a pinhole but I'm not sure it totally goes away unless the pinhole is tiny. I'm also really struggling with feeling, what I can only describe as spaced out, all the time. Like I've had a few pints but not in a good way. I recently had another mri, this time of the pituitary which came back normal.
This has ruined my life. I've not been to work or seen my friends and family for months.
Saw a neurologist the other day who looked in my eyes did a quick sight test then basically said it was all anxiety. I'm willing to believe a lot of is but not the eyesight and unilateral tinnitus.

 

Hey Worriedguy74,

Your symptoms sound very similar to mine.

Happy, mentally healthy. Don't take drugs, alcohol typically one or two drinks a week.

About 6 months ago I noticed an odd visual disturbance in my peripheral vision. Like a ceiling fan with a light behind it, but gone when I looked at it. Was bizarre, but I just ignored it.

Over the last two months I started having more disturbances, like there was some movement or light in my peripheral vision. I went to an optometrist who said my retina seemed fine and referred me to an optometrist.

I let that go too, but over the last two weeks I've started getting other odd symptoms. Loud tinnitus in my left ear. Eye twitches in my right eyelid. A tingling sensation on the back of my head right side. Numbness in my right pinky finger. Also seems like it's harder to focus sometimes. And lights seem brighter at night sometimes. And a spaced out feeling. The tinnitus is permanent but waxes and wanes in volume, the other symptoms come and go randomly.

I'm seeing an ophthalmologist tomorrow. And going for an MRI on Wednesday - but the whole thing has me... worried. My partner is 5 months pregnant so, it's just terrible timing.

I'll post here with updates.

Good luck with getting to the bottom of your stuff!

 

I think high (or low) blood pressure can cause blurry vision. Probably tinnitus as well.

Diabetes can also cause blurry vision.

 

Hey!

Excuse the length of this reply! I feel the need to justify my potential suggestion so will reference my experience with the same symptoms.

This is 100% relatable. I've had the same issues for over 2 years (and it kept getting worse for a significant amount of time!)

I went down the same thought process as you - "it must be a brain tumour! I have some fatal disease! I'm going to lose my vision!"

My eyesight got so bad that I've had to stop driving and my quality of life is minimal. It's truly terrifying when you get double vision even when wearing glasses. Everyday is just a struggle - though not having answers triggered anxiety and depression - which can manifest their own symptoms.

I had 4D scans of my eyes done privately, I had brain scans, saw a countless numbers of Drs with various specialties - no answers. (other than, "anxiety" - though that's a chicken/egg issue)

In December, I had to see the Neurology and ENT department in the same day. The Neurologist basically said - there's nothing wrong with you, learn to live with it. I felt like I'd been given the death sentence.Anyway, a few hours later I went to my ENT appointment (regarding my tinnitus, specifically, pulsating tinnitus, though I also have high pitched tinnitus too)

My appointment was with a clinical scientist, who saw how distressed I was. I started to explain my issues to her and within a few minutes she was finishing my sentences for me. She knew exactly what it was (generally speaking); a vestibular ocular reflex disorder. Google it. You may find it scary how much of the list of symptoms relate to you.

To summarise "vestibular ocular reflex" though, if you look straight ahead and lock your eye sight on something in front of you, then turn your head slowly to the left, you'll notice your eyes move to the right, and vice versa. That's the basics of the reflex.

In my particular case, due to severe inner ear damage - my vestibular ocular reflex is affected! Causing me have the same symptoms as you (and multiple other symptoms which seemingly would be unrelated)

Each case will be different so I won't go into the inner details of my particular experience - however I thoroughly recommend going to an ENT department as ask them specifically about this! As mentioned earlier, I saw numerous healthcare professionals and had no luck. Even the specialists I saw didn't make the connection. I was convinced it was a brain tumour. It was by a miracle I met that scientist who recognised my symptoms which no one else had linked together before.

I'm not having any treatment for it yet, as it's a long waiting list. There are more sub-categories of vestibular ocular reflex disorders apparently, but I won't have the specifics until I get booked in to see the Dr who specifically treats people with this issue. - but simply knowing it wasn't a brain tumour and having the anxiety removed made my life more bearable.

Obviously, you may not have this as I'm not a Dr nor qualified to diagnose - but I specifically joined this forum just so I can reply to your message as I know how helpless and scared eye symptoms can make you feel - and I hope you manage to get the help you need soon!

One final note, would be to make notes of when it gets worse. My eye issues spiked when looking down aisles in supermarkets, driving at night, looking at certain types of monitors etc. Having a record of it's frequency, and any potential triggers will be very helpful for a diagnosis IF it is that.

All the best, and keep me posted

 

I also haven't had time to read the rules of this site, so I hope I'm allowed to post links, but in reply to "also_worried" I too had those symptoms. It may be worth having a read of these to see if the majority of them apply to you.

https://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/symptoms

Again, I'm not in a position to diagnose or advise, but the symptoms you listed as very relatable.

 

So it isn't a brain tumor.

 

Yes these symptoms sound a lot like mine.
My biggest concern is that my double vision is in each eye independently. I don't have a misalignment of the eyes.
I had a mri that ENT organised.
Would vestibular ocular reflex show on a scan.
I feel like I'm waiting around to deteriorate and die at the moment.

 

Well, I was assured my scans were normal - though I never questioned it. But as mine wasn't detected, I would assume it doesn't? I may be wrong.

To provide some comfort; "mechanically" my eyes are perfect - well, so I've been told multiple times - but I get quite few visual issues (including double vision) in just one eye at a time.

 

Did you feel spaced out with it? I feel drunk all the time it's awful.

 

Hey,

Yes I did. That was one of my main worries that it was a brain tumour. I felt like I under the influence morning, day and night, when I was stone cold sober; that scared me a lot. to be honest, I'm quite confident that I wouldn't even be here today had I not been diagnosed. It felt like falling down a bottomless hole.

A few other symptoms (For me personally) I had everything from numb limbs, loss of balance, forgetfulness, feeling drunk, feeling like I was faint, the need to hold onto objects (or the desire to lay down horizontal), hard to focus, slurred speech/change in speech etc - that's just a few which come to mind immediately - there are many more...

I've not had treatment for any of it yet, but simply having that HUGE weight off my shoulders that I don't have some undiagnosed/missed neurological disease is enough to make it bearable.

You sound like you have a lot of similar symptoms as me and it is truly awful. I'll be approaching the three year mark soon and in that time, I've lost most of my friends/relationships. Life literally stopped for me. Couldn't drive. Couldn't hold a conversation. My mental health was appalling. My physical health suffered to where I wanted to just give up on everything. Even things like taking a shower or cooking are unbearable from time to time.

Removing the anxiety of being undiagnosed really helped though - I know it sounds cliché - but it's true. You're probably feeling that your mind is just as blurry as your eyes!? My current coping mechanism is to; just stop, take a few deep breathes, tell myself what's happening and rationalise it and not worry (or get annoyed by it). I know that's easier said than done, especially as you can't rationalise your sensations without a diagnosis, but your state of mind definitely can either exacerbate or reduce your symptoms. There is obviously a chance you don't have the same as I do - but it sounds very similar - either way, removing the fear of the unknown and getting answers will give you likely help you regain as much of your former self as possible.

I hope you get the answers your searching for

 

Just an update. Had an MRI. Nothing wrong with my brain. I have very big mishapen sinuses but it's probably not related. So not closer to finding out what's going on - but relieved. Still have loud tinnitus and yeah when the vision stuff happens in particular I feel spaced out / drunk. Good luck everyone.

 

Sound like we're all in a similar situation!

Had another worry put on me today. I went to opticians because I wanted some contact lenses made to the same prescription as my current glasses (they're not perfect but it's the least blurry/double) because I find wearing contacts lessons the derealisation/brain fog.

The lady optician said she's never come across bilateral monocular diplopia before and It was way beyond anything they could deal with and that the problem was most likely in my brain!

I'm so stuck now, since I had the dreaded 'clear MRI' doctors won't investigate this any further. Just send me home with printouts about health anxiety.

I'll admit I am anxious about my health but that's because it's not right! I think anyone would sh## themselves if they had these symptoms for nearly six months with no diagnoses.

I went to see a private doctor who was a bit of a prick and berated me by saying 'no offence but did you study medicine for 5 years?... no didn't think so.' He's sent me for an MRI with MS protocol but without contrast! This will do nothing to ease my mind.

 

I have lost everything because of this.
My friends, family, my daughter, gonna lose my job if I don't go back soon, gonna lose my house, spent nearly all my savings on tests and scans an specialists. Still no diagnoses. I do think anxiety could cause a lot of this but not the eyesight and ear ringing.

 

P.s. to also worried.
I had inflamed sinuses and inflamed left mastoid sinus on my MRI and a nasal polyp.
I don't think these things are related to my symptoms though.

 

Did everyone have contrast with their MRI?
They're really tight about using it in the UK. Just wish they would then I'd know for certain. The only contrast scan I had was just to look at blood vessels in the optic nerve not in the entire brain.
Why won't they just do the scan I want?
Just wanted to add that I can modulate the pitch of my tinnitus by moving my jaw or pressing my head. Anyone else do this?

 

Mine gets louder when I put my head down, pitch remains steady. I had double vision in individual eyes as well, and the blueish shadow effect you get when you look at the sun was happening on all lights.

I've had anxiety before, but this was definitely something else.

The problem is when the symptoms come on I would then become anxious making them worse.

My eyes seem to be behaving at the moment. My tinnitus is louder than ever. No idea what to do. I think there's something wrong, but also now that I've had a negative MRI scan, I'm able to just shrug off the symptoms as, oh well, nothing serious.

It's annoying though. My plan is just to eat right, exercise, and sleep plenty and hope it goes away. Not sure what else I can do.

Try not to worry hey, if the MRI is negative you're probably going to be okay.

 

Did you have contrast with MRI?

 

No - if I understand correctly, it's not needed to see intercranial lesions.

 

Hrmmm - it's easier to see - but I can still see it on the left.

 

To the worried guys and to @Worriedguy74
It's possible that pre hypertension may be setting in. Sudden, brief and occasional rising of blood pressure. This may not be completely vascular if under 50 years of age, although certain vascular conditions such as PAD can seriously develop at 30. Your heart may be giving you warning signs to ease stress. Thousands of studies about this and they go in all directions, but being over 60 - can mean a lot more happening.

Much of what is discussed, could point to blood flow - heart to carotid arteries. With being under 50, this can also involve other arteries and veins of neck, but not the abdominal aortic area. Twisting neck or bending neck forward does not go well with pre hypertension. Sinus, neck and jaw problems can also be other pre hypertension warning signs. Cranial nerves, nerve networks in jaw, face, neck and head, c spine - vertebral artery, carotid arteries, blood flow, rising blood pressure and the fingers are all combined associations to eye problems caused from hypertension. Often MRIs are negative, unless over 60. A brief, sudden hypertension crisis - a medical term - is more serious, as that will certainly cause eye problems.

Solution: Getting stressed and upset is not always a serious problem. It's getting ready ticked off about something and often with association to neck movements. Just two cents worth of a C note (one hundred dollars) on what can associate to retina, optic nerves and eye problems, but a little Lincoln copper is usually present. That copper is known as hypertension.

 

I do have hypertension. It started around the same time as all this. Not massively high. 160/100.

 

I though so, as I stated above - with eye problems.

Readings between 160/110 and 160/100 indicate Stage 2 Hypertension. Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of greater or equal to 140 and/or a diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90.

https://mymedicalscore.com/blood-pressure/160-100/

I would see an Ophthalmologist - an ENT or neurologist have limitations. From what you describe, you may just have retina detachment which often can be easily fixed by a laser in two minutes. A Neuro Ophthalmologist would discuss cause of eye problems and hypertension. Keep salt intake low and don't eat too much of a food source with large amounts of vitamin A. In the link above, there's some things that you can do at home. You can then research beyond this.