qa12

Question

I'm 29, and have been diagnosed with CFS (Chronic Fatique Syndrome) in 1992. Neurologically nothing seems to be wrong, although one of my pupils is always more dilated than the other, and it also wanders off outwards when I'm tired (which I am nearly all the time). My eyes also don't work together; one is nearsighted, and has a considerable amount of astigmatism. I'm accustomed to squinting, otherwise the blurry image bothers me. I used to wear glasses when I was 15, 16, but the astigmatism kept changing, I got tired of obtaining new glasses every three months, so I stopped wearing them altogether. A couple of months ago an ophthalmologist prescribed glasses with prisms to help with eye strain, and they do help somewhat. I would like to know if there is a link between CFS and eye problems; I get a lot of muscle aches, even in my eye muscles.

(Lisa)

Answer:

I am not familiar with a link between CFS and strabismus. The exophoria (outward squint with double vision) should be treated by surgery or by prisms, as is currently being done. It can be difficult to prescribe appropriate glasses in patients with anisometropia (need for unequal left and right glasses) that have not worn their glasses for years, especially in combination with astigmatism, but this too can be done. As the eye strain is relieved by your new glasses, I certainly advise you to pursue this treatment.

(Herb Simonsz, MD, PhD)

_{Note: To contact contributors to this page, replace [AT] in the e-mail address by @.}