Stress-related eye problems

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Stress-related eye problems
4
Tue, 01-24-2006 - 5:18pm

I've been seeing spots in my left eye for the last week. I called my MD over the weekend, and she said to call the eye doc first thing Monday, so I did, and they sawe that day (yesterday). The doc there said that I may have something called "Central Serous Retinopathy", which is mostly stress-related. It is fluid in the eye, and from what I understand, can cause a portion of the retina to detach.... It can be caused by high cortisol levels in the body. I've been battling adrenal fatigue (exhaustion) since 1999. Wildly fluctuating cortisol levels are part of the adrenal fatigue. I have to see a retinologist tomorrow, who is expected to agree with the optho's diagnosis. There is no real treatment for CRS-- just wait for it to subside, and reduce stress... which I've BEEN doing, HOWEVER... at this point in my recovery, the body sees even fun things as a stress/threat to the body, and will pump out cortisol, in the fight or flight response.

Also, most MDs aren't familiar with adrenal fatigue... I've been treated for it by a naturopath, and have made great progress. BUT I will bring my adrenal testing results (5 years of saliva tests through my ND) to the doc tomorrow, to see if that will aid him in his diagnosis. On a related note-- my lawyer has told me that the court will not accept an ND's diagnosis, but if the MD (retinologist) will accept the ND's testing, it may help in my divorce case. We're talking chronic, severe stress for the last 10 years or so. I have been unable to work outside the hone, and the adrenal issue is the crux of the case.

I'll keep you posted about the doc's appointment tomorrow.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 01-25-2006 - 10:51am

I hope that you get some reassuring answers.


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

Avatar for susieyippin
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Wed, 01-25-2006 - 3:33pm
I'm back from the retinologist today. He took photos of my eye, and injected a dye, and you can see where the trouble is. He said that in my case, we'll just have to wait and see if the pigments start working again. It's not so much a detachment, but a blister near the retina, and is causing it to pull away from the retina; the pigments that transport the fluids in and out of the eyeball are "in shock", and need to settle down again before they'll start pumping the fluid out again. The right eye appears to be ok. He wants to see me again in 3 months, sooner if I have an increase in problems. He's going to send letters to my MD & ND; he said stress is the prevailing factor... my system has been so out of whack from the chronic stress of living with STBX-- the past 7 years or so it's been like being on steroids as far as my immune system in concerned. I've always wondered how much my body has been damaged from the stress. I guess this is the result, or one result.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 01-25-2006 - 4:14pm

Well, at least the "blister" seems like it would be more likely to heal than a detachment... or I would hope so anyway!


Hope you're on your way to some de-stressing.


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

Avatar for susieyippin
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2003
Thu, 01-26-2006 - 5:29pm

Thanks for the warm wishes, Karen. I'm trying to do as much de-stressing as I can manage! But it's wicked hard to do with one adult child having a major attitude problem, and the other one has ADD and his own attitude issues. I will be speaking with BOTH children, and enlisting the aid of my relatives. I don't like seeing blurry green out of one eye-- it has also distorted the refraction, so my driving glasses don't work as well.

I'm waiting for my massage lady to call me back, so I can get in some relaxation. :-)