Hi I was just diagnosed in April 2013, due to a head trauma. I am waiting for an MRI in June, but I am having issues with reading, my vision seems to be blurred and I cannot keep my eyes focused on words without the words moving. I am wondering if any others have eye issues, such as blurreed visions or troubles reading.
Yes. Do you have high CSF Pressure (IH) or are you on medication? The issues with reading could come from Concussions, Headaches, Intracranial Pressure, Head Trauma, Medication, Glaucoma. There are many reason. I have had multiple concussions and with each one I had vision problems, but that is also a CM symptom. Have you seen an eye Dr or a NL? What did the dr. say at the time of your accident?
Tracy Z.
I have not been official dx yet with CM. But I'v had these symptoms for years - when I'm reading something my eyes are moving all over the page, I cannot focus on the words at all, my vision is blurred a lot -bifocals don't help very much. I cannot do sudokos anymore, the lines move all over the place, and I make a lot of mistakes. I too suffered a head trauma as a small child, but unfortunately I was never treated... I'm praying that I will get a dx soon so at least I will know this is what I have.
Thanks for the replies, No No medications yet, DR says take Tylenol 3 for headaches, that is all she can give me she says and then she refreed me to specialist, which I have to wait six months to see. But the specialist did send a letter stating that I should have a MRI, which has been booked for June 13th. Int he meantime I suffer in pain with no meds, and my vision I guess I should try to see a Eye doctor, but I think it may be related to the Chiari or to perhaps the head trauma, but the trauma was in February I din't think the vision would be from the trauma this long. But who knows! I am so lost waiting for the MRI and then I will ahve to wait even longer to ahve the results read to me! It is so frustrating. I live in Yukon Canada, and we have DR shortage now, and My dr leaves next month! SO I am in for a really bumpy journey! I am thankful for this site as it is helping answer so many questions that I have.
I was having double vision and blurred vision, I'd call your doctor and tell them ASAP don't wait!!! Mine turned out to be related to something else, but they had me checked for macular deneration, retina detachement things like that, also your field of vision could be decreasing (which is what they thought mine was). I don't post this to scare you, but I would seriously call your doctor and let them know that your having problems with your eyes, they'll probably send you to a opthamalogist.
Blurred and double vision can be asign of pressure on the optic nerves. It needs attention. The double vision for me was corrected with prism lenses. Worth looking into.
My vision issues began after a nasty NASTY migraine. I had what I now call 3D vision since it looks like I’m watching a 3D movie without the glasses on. Forget reading. If I didn’t know my subway and city so well I would’ve been completely lost for almost a week. Now it comes and goes. I will add that all my typical chiari symptoms amped up just after that NASTINESS of a migraine I had 9(?) months ago. I probably should have gone to the ER, but my GP said oh no it’s just residual migraine. Even though I have a history of stroke… And other things started, drop attacks, falling over when turning too quick etc etc… But enough about that! I had decompression surgery 4 weeks ago tomorrow and have had a bit of blurred vision off and on since but my NS says it’ll work itself out after all the mushy swelling has healed. Now, for me, it’s a waiting game. I wish you luck in your quest for health! We are all here for you.
My Eye Dr. from childhood from Abingdon, Va. shocked me last summer. I hadn't seen him since I was 18 years old. He not only still had my file active. He also was a Chiari Specialist and taught the Head NS at UVa Med. Ctr how to operate on Cranial Nerves behind the eye. I could have cried I was so happy. I was having major vision problems and Dr.Frederick E. Conrad was a world class CM Dr. and much loved family friend. He didn't know I had CM but was so incredible to me. I will be forever grateful to him and Thankful to God.
Hi fleecy! Sorry to hear about the situation you are in. I think it would be a good idea to see an eye specialist… I went to see one last year due to the blurry vision. He said my eyes are healthy and referred me to another lady… who did eye exercises with me.
I think it worked for a little while. But all the symptoms started getting worse again with warped vision on the left side.
I have spent the last year investigating each symptom seperately… so I could yry to ascertain if related to my chiari or not.
It has been nice to methodically investigate it… just makes me feel some sort of control 
So seems as you have a while to wait… seeing an eye doctor could be a good idea… and may be able to offer some answers and treatment for you.
Good luck! Xx
made my self an appiontment with eye doctor, get in next week :)
fierywolf1981 said:
I was having double vision and blurred vision, I'd call your doctor and tell them ASAP don't wait!!! Mine turned out to be related to something else, but they had me checked for macular deneration, retina detachement things like that, also your field of vision could be decreasing (which is what they thought mine was). I don't post this to scare you, but I would seriously call your doctor and let them know that your having problems with your eyes, they'll probably send you to a opthamalogist.
That is great information! Thank you! I will be in Edmonton in June so I will contact the suggested optometrist and vision therapist!
grapefruit flavour said:
I started having vision prblems a year and a half ago. I saw many optomitrist who did not know why I was seeing double among other vision disturbances. It turns out that optomistrists are not normally trained to assist people with vision problems as related to Chiari and concussion. I also saw a neuro-opthamologist who suggested surgery but more thought I was just nutty in the head. I am in Canada as well so the training may be different in the States.
I finally stumbled onto a vision therapist who is highly qualified in both Canada and the United States and can work on her own. Normally, where I am, vision therapists work under an optomitrist and have dubious educational back grounds. I also saw an optomitrist in Calgary who specializes in "behaviour assessments'. This is called other things depending on where you are and who is doing it. Basically, she examined how my brain was perceiving and processing visual data. Optomitrists generally assess how the eye itself is functioning. For me, my vision is 20/20 so they can't sell me glasses for anything.
Please know that both concussions and Chiari can result in vision disturbances which CAN be addressed by diligently performing eye exercises to help with fusion, eye motility, and depth perception among others.
Do not believe doctors who say that concussion treatment is just rest. Oculomotor exercises and other exercises help dramatically in regulating the information that the brain is receiving so that it can make proper sense of it. It also prevents your brain from making unhealthy adaptations in trying to normalize incoming data (like blocking out the vision from one eye which results in losing depth perception). You do not even know that your brain is doing this.
I have been able to regain the ability to read, use a computer, drive with more confidence, and just plain be more comfortable in using my eyes. On a vanity note, I also look better in pictures as my eyes are not crooked!
The folks I have been dealing with are Laura Niemi (vision therapist) and Dr Margaret Penny (optomitrist). Both are in Calgary. If you Google them and contact them , they may be able to suggest someone in your area as they have both been in their fields for some time.
Please know that brain stress is cumulative. Chiari, plus a concussion or two, plus stress, plus not sleeping can all add up to overloading the brain resulting with vision being sacrificed.
Good luck!
Yes, it is a common symptom of Chiari.