TBI and Vision Issues or TB Eye Eye

Posted by hevykevy @hevykevy, Apr 4, 2020

Since Maggie20 joined the group and mentioned vision issues, Colleen recommended that I start a conversation. No pressure.;-)
When I first woke up at HCMC I looked around trying to figure out where I was. That didn't take long as hospitals have some very distinct features. As I assessed the situation, one thing became clear...my vision was not clear. There was two of everything, and to make it worse one of everything was slanted about 10 - 15 degrees. No matter how hard I tried, I could not bring the images together. Of course, this meant I now had two wives and I could see that this would be a source of endless problems! 🙁
Fortunately, this issue corrected itself by the next day. I have no explanation other than, our brains are amazing things and can figure things out all by themselves.
Because of the injury, and because my eye glasses got majorly reshaped by the tree branch, I went to an ophthalmologist and found that my sight had not changed that much. However, about 6 months later when I started having some dizzy spells again, I went to my regular Dr. I noticed that I was again having issues with double vision as well as shadowing of letters as I was trying to read. Different from the original problem.
A few months ago my new glassed broke and back to the ophthalmologist(glad I copied that when I got it spelled right). Come to find out. my eyes aren't producing enough tears now and so when I wake up, my eyelids are stuck to my eyes. It actually takes some time to get them loosened up enough to open fully and see where I am going. During the day, if I don't blink often enough they can stick and the eye will be moved by the eyelid. I now use eye drops to lubricate several times a day.
I can't really say if this issue is caused by the TBI which could cause a communication issue between my eye and my tear production, or i it was cased by the seven hours of surgery on my face after the accident. To repair my upper jaw, they went in between my lip and jaw as well as down between my right eyelid and my eye,
Will things improve? There are so many unknowns. Our heads are so complex that we may never know how everything works. But that is why we are here. To give medical professionals details about our issues as well as helping each other get through this.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group.

SueinGeorgia | @sadivari | Jun 14 10:42pm

In reply to @scottrl "Yikes! Scary story. Congratulations on persevering until you got the help you need. Thank you for..." + (show)

Thank you!

SueinGeorgia | @sadivari | Jun 14 11:04pm

In reply to @kb2014 "Thank you for your post. Keep advocating for yourself. Gaslighting from anyone is not acceptable. AKA..." + (show)

It took a year and a half to figure out the problem of not properly being cared for The first concussion clinic with this fabulous reputation did basically nothing for 4 months. Their eye test consisted of me following a pencil with an eraser that looked like a brain. I was seeing them on Medicare. They knew they would get paid very little. I realized that when I asked to go back for an update of symptoms and they refused. It's all about money and isn't that a sad thing. Where I went the other day had all hi-tech equipment that was able to find all these issues with my eye and hearing. I had to sign a 5 page contract that they will get paid at their rates out of my settlement. It was impossible to read and understand but I knew I had to go thru with the appointment, I knew enough to write that I did not fully understand what I was signing and that I was told the first office visit was $650.00. An amount I can pay if the contract was more then it appeared. It's basically a lean on the bill so they are assured they get paid. No nickel and dime payments from Medicare. Whatever it's going to cost it's worth it to be told the truth and be tested so thorough...I will put the other tests on hold until my lawyer lets me know who's responsible for the bill....

earthchild | @earthchild | Jun 15 10:56pm

In reply to @sadivari "Hi everyone on this topic of issues after a traumatic brain injury. I've been on here..." + (show)

@sadivari

Hi everyone on this topic of issues after a traumatic brain injury. I've been on here before and really appreciate knowing there are others out there going thru the same thing. My injury was blunt force trauma to my head and face in December of 23'......I was unconscious between 39 and 59 minutes. Even then they were just guessing. I have many issues since. One being my left eye which took the hit pretty hard. I still have a dent on my forehead. I've been complaining of my eye for over a year. Then one day it blackened on my upper lid for no reason. That happened three times and I lost sight for 3 days the last time. My left eye appears to be smaller in size than the right. No one's paying any attention. My attorney sets up a "mediation" for the people responsible. Hey there!! I'm getting worse. I stepped up and asked to see the original concussion clinic who basically did nothing for 4 months I would go once a week. They refused to reevaluate. Said there was nothing they could do for me. I find another clinic in town (well over an hour away from my home) and I mention it to my attorney. He thinks I'm nuts, my husband thinks I'm a hypochondriac. I saw the new clinic yesterday. They put clinic #1 to shame....they had more technology and testing that you can't even imagine. So far there is something wrong with my eye. After the black eyes I went to my eyeglass Dr. he said eyes were fine it was neurological. I saw a Neuro-Optomologist. She was useless saying the Optometrist was nuts. She had an attitude like she was the original person who performed brain surgery. Said my eyes were fine, it had nothing to do with my TBI. If anyone has seen the Vacation movies they know Cousin Eddies daughter had crossed eyes " Clark, she fell in a well and her eyes crossed. She got kicked by a mule, and they are OK"....Well, that's me. My eyes are not in sync with one another. Who knew?? Apparently not the Neuro-Optomologist....It's common in head injuries to basically knock your eyes out of alignment. I'm at the point where I can't read and my eye hurts some times so bad it wakes me from sleep. My vision is blurred. While they were testing I kept seeing the technician having three heads. I had the opposite of vertigo where the room spins. When I looked at the wall my eyes saw the pattern in the wall moving up and down not side to side or spinning. But that wall was moving. So I let the attorney know and calmly he says (Bless his heart) "Oh, that's very common with a concussion. I thought the "blank" concussion clinic (it's world famous) took care of that for you. So people speak up and if you know something isn't right just keep complaining. And if you are in a legal fight and you know you truly have been injured DO NOT take whatever they want to throw at you to make you go away. Hold on and fight until you are OK with your issues. I'm originally from Jersey and believe me, we fight till the end and speak up when you're not being treated right...God bless you all and hang in there. Sue.

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Hi Sue
After a TBI, I had some success with vision exercises from a very good OT.
While different sized eyes sounds concerning. Have you seen a “plain” neurologist? They may have a fresh perspective, or at the least order a new MRI to assess for any changes since your injury.
I hope you have some strength as you seek answers.

SueinGeorgia | @sadivari | Jun 15 11:45pm

In reply to @sadivari "Hi everyone on this topic of issues after a traumatic brain injury. I've been on here..." + (show)

@sadivari

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Hi....they are starting me on the vision exercises at home since I'm leaving for NY soon. When I get back home end of July I will go for the vision therapy. Yes, I did see just a neurologist and the minute they hear you had an accident they don't want anything to do with you. I saw a Neurophysiologist and the minute I mentioned "accident" he literally threw me out of his office. He got up from chair and said "I can't talk to you , leave now and you will not be billed"..I asked the Neurologist who was suppose to be a concussion expert, if my BP that was in the 200's was associated with the TBI. He said he never heard of that. The NIH.gov website shows it can cause your BP to be erratic. I certainly have the strength to find answers, what I'm lacking is support. Here is a picture of what my eyes look like. Then they also found a problem with my hearing. My brain isn't processing what people are saying. I'm understanding different meanings of what people are telling me. It's just nuts...the bangs are hiding the dent on my forehead. Thank you for your message, it means a lot.

kshort49 | @kshort49 | Sep 20 10:05pm

Hi-about 15 years I fell and got a TBI. I received therapy for the vision and balance problems that resulted. I think that I adjusted pretty well. Recently (over the past 6 months or so) I have been having vision problems again. It seems like when I move my head, turning right or left, it seems that my eyes have a hard time keeping up with my head-lagging behind. Recently, after bending over to pick up something, upon standing up, I had double vision for about a minute-no dizziness or vertigo. Blinking my eyes didn't correct it. I waited a bit and it corrected itself. I had some double vision after the TBI but I think I just learned to cope with it and got used to it. This was worse than that. Can this still be an effect of the TBI. I'm going to make an appointment with my neurologist (I haven't had to see him for about 5 years) to see what he thinks. I was just wondering if any of you have had things like this. (I'm 76 years old, so this is something I need to be careful about). Thanks.

gregd1956 | @gregd1956 | Sep 21 2:28pm

In reply to @kshort49 "Hi-about 15 years I fell and got a TBI. I received therapy for the vision and..." + (show)

Dear @kshort49
I had a TBI (brain-injury) at 2012 and I lost a lot of things like my right-side of my eyes is not there. No more driving or my cars or MCs (motorcycles). Sure, I can move my right-side eyes but no more driving when you setup straight when driving. Also, my eyes, one higher higher than the other one. I can’t see a 2 eyes.

I has a bicycle accident that hit the right-head on the hope of my brain.

Thx,
Greg D. @greg1956