Eye twitches, hard time focusing anyone?

Hi everyone, I hope you are all hanging in there okay. I just had a quick question. My eyes will move back and forth really fast side to side. Usually when I am reading or focusing on something small, but sometimes it happens even when I'm just looking around or sitting down talking to my husband. It started to increase in frequency but then went away for a while. and now has come backa again My husband says it happens to everyone, and I am so used to analyzing everything my body does that maybe it IS just normal. It doesn't seem normal to me though.

I am only 29 so I can't say age has effected my eyes too much, but I did have Optic Neuritis as a child and am legally blind in my left eye. The nerve is almost completely gone due to the damage. The Dr's. do believe that Lupus caused the Optical problems as a child so I wonder if the Lupus can be effecting the nerves again. Don't know if it's Lupus CNS that is causing these twitches or what?

Anyone ever had this or experience this?

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SLE (Lupus) Dx'd - Nov. 2005, Raynaurd's - Dx'd Nov. 2005, GERD - Dx'd 2006, Fibromyalgia - Dx'd 2005, PCOS - Dx'd Jan. 2007, Migraines - Dx'd 1995,
Optic Neuritis - Dx'd 1984,

Currently taking - Plaquenil 200mg, Prozac 20mg, Spirnolactone (Aldactone) 50mg, Vit. A

Occassionally take - 1/2 500mg Vicodin (2-3x/wk), Maxalt as needed for Migraines,
Clonazepam 1mg as needed for sleep and muscle pain,
Relafen 500mg as needed for pain, Pepsin for Gerd
Prednisone (for emergency use only)

(((( hugs)))) My eyes twitch too but not like yours. I've mentioned it to my eye doctor, he said it can be caused by stress or fatigue. It doesn't interfere with focusing it's just annoying!!! I would mention it to your doctor, lupus can wreck havoc on any part of our body so it wouldn't surprise me if it was lupus doing it. Take care and let us know how you are doing

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Stacie

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding

~ Proverbs 3:5 ~

DX: Hashimoto's 1999, Celiac 2003, Raynaud's 2004, Costochondritis 2004, Lupus 2005 and Sjogrens 2006

Imuran, Plaquenil, Flexeril, Sulindac, Levoxyl, Folic Acid and magic mouthwash (as needed)

My eyelid will twitch, but my eye doesn't move back and forth on its on like that. I hope you find out what is causing this soon and get it treated. Please let us know what you find out. Take care and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                                    Babs

Thanks for your input Babs, and Stacie. I appreciate it. Well I guess it's not normal. It doesn't seem normal to me but I guess many people haven't experienced this. Oh well. I tried. I will see my Opthomologist within the next month or so. I will let you know if it's something serious or just a strange "tick". Who knows, it could just be me! Thanks again. You are both very sweet. It's nice to hear from others even if it seems like a silly question.
Take care of yourselves, Jyllian

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SLE (Lupus) Dx'd - Nov. 2005, Raynaurd's - Dx'd Nov. 2005, GERD - Dx'd 2006, Fibromyalgia - Dx'd 2005, PCOS - Dx'd Jan. 2007, Migraines - Dx'd 1995,
Optic Neuritis - Dx'd 1984,

Currently taking - Plaquenil 200mg, Prozac 20mg, Spirnolactone (Aldactone) 50mg, Vit. A

Occassionally take - 1/2 500mg Vicodin (2-3x/wk), Maxalt as needed for Migraines,
Clonazepam 1mg as needed for sleep and muscle pain,
Relafen 500mg as needed for pain, Pepsin for Gerd
Prednisone (for emergency use only)

YES YES YES !!! holy crap(can I say that?)ah,yes the eye move back and forth at the speed of light!yup!I'M using the bifocal part to read yet when I look up! I have nerve damage(optical I believe) to my right eye,that's where the lupus beast first became physically obvious,mini ulcer looking things,redness,vision changes,etc-I thought I was a weirdo for the rapid eye movement LOL they say that's a sleep thing,SLEEP what's that!sorry off topic,have brain farts too,excuse me!....do both eyes do it ?(yes for me)TOTALLY ****s the kids out! Do you have what 1st looks like pink eye(but not in my case),did you have eye infections as a kid?Just was reminded that I did,but again,just in the right,hhmm,what else(OMG,I sound like a junkie-sorry 'bout that-just so interested,very little information from doctors,and no one I personally know has this) when it happens,I pull my head back(trying to focus)thinking,okay that's weird,not cool,not cool! WOW,does it freak you out (''eye flashes''?) how long has this been going on for you? I am somewhere around 23 yrs,it was middle school,how weird my husband thought I was off my rocker,not a nut bar,just try trying to explain it to the doctor-you know the deer in the head lights look ...hehehe,sorry Very imaginative,could picture it!....looking forward to getting to know more of your situation,these gals are great,they sure know how to pick you up when you are down,thanks for posting,very pleased to meet you,take care!
crystal

Wow! Finally! Yes it is at the speed of light. But sometimes if I catch it, I can actually see things moving back and forth but usually it is so fast I just cant focus at all! Ok, now we are getting somewhere! YEAH!!!

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SLE (Lupus) Dx'd - Nov. 2005, Raynaurd's - Dx'd Nov. 2005, GERD - Dx'd 2006, Fibromyalgia - Dx'd 2005, PCOS - Dx'd Jan. 2007, Migraines - Dx'd 1995,
Optic Neuritis - Dx'd 1984,

Currently taking - Plaquenil 200mg, Prozac 20mg, Spirnolactone (Aldactone) 50mg, Vit. A

Occassionally take - 1/2 500mg Vicodin (2-3x/wk), Maxalt as needed for Migraines,
Clonazepam 1mg as needed for sleep and muscle pain,
Relafen 500mg as needed for pain, Pepsin for Gerd
Prednisone (for emergency use only)

And yes, it's both eyes at the same exact time. I dont get pink eyes or anything else, but did have Optic Neuritis when I was a child and was completley blind in both eyes. I lost my vision for almost a year and thanks to good ol' prednisone, we were able to save my right eye almost completely. But the left eye is shot! Yes I do get flashes white flashes and dark spots too. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. You are the first person that I know that has this too! Thanks for your response. It helped A LOT!!! I look forward to hearing about some of your querks as well. Maybe we can compare! Hehe! Well it's late, but my sleeping schedule is always out of wack. Took a pill to knock me out so hopefully it'll kick in soon. I will keep in touch. Any other information about the eyes would be really helpful. I get all sorts of strange eye things that just don't seem quite right. Like there's a glitch in my brain that is connected to my eyes. Which of course would be the Optic Nerve but I think there's more to it than that. I am wondering if the Lupus is once again attacking the nerves. I would like to hear about your lab results too! I have had no one to compare my results with and am a bit confused. So it you get the chance, maybe you can help me with that too! Wow! That's so great! Not that you have the same problem, but that someone else has the same problem that I can disucss it with. Who knows, maybe we have more of the same symptoms. I look forward to hearing from you. You sound super cute! I love your sense of humor. It's just like my husband's, very imaginative. Keep in touch.
Thanks, Jyllian

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SLE (Lupus) Dx'd - Nov. 2005, Raynaurd's - Dx'd Nov. 2005, GERD - Dx'd 2006, Fibromyalgia - Dx'd 2005, PCOS - Dx'd Jan. 2007, Migraines - Dx'd 1995,
Optic Neuritis - Dx'd 1984,

Currently taking - Plaquenil 200mg, Prozac 20mg, Spirnolactone (Aldactone) 50mg, Vit. A

Occassionally take - 1/2 500mg Vicodin (2-3x/wk), Maxalt as needed for Migraines,
Clonazepam 1mg as needed for sleep and muscle pain,
Relafen 500mg as needed for pain, Pepsin for Gerd
Prednisone (for emergency use only)

ok im glad you brought this up lol. it happens to me quite often too, i have an apoint. with and opometrist next tues, and i will try my best to ask about it. it kinda feels like your on top of a jackhammer for just a few seconds but only left to right, doesn't go up and down, kinda like your brain and your eyes just had a very confusing moment :) im feeling good in a very sick way lol, because no one else i have ever talked to has understood this, they're all like...."ok....you're crazy" lol. and monte i was just wondering if u don't mind me asking, how old are you? im 24 so im wondering if its something weird that maybe coresponds to age?? or we just have crazy eyes :) well ill try to remember to post what my doctor says, hoping that he doesn't give me that blank stare when a non-medical person tries to explain something this strange. hope everyone has a good day

Hi starzphalling,
I was hoping there was someone out there with the same prob. Well I am 29 years old. I became chronically sick at 26 but really have been sick my whole life. In and out of the hospital all the time.

The eye twitches didn't start until this last year. I know this sounds crazy....but I assumed it had to do with drug use as a child. Don't get me wrong, I was never an addict. But I did have my share of experimentation when I was in young. Haven't touched drugs since I was 16 (for the record, just so you don't think I'm a drug addict) If you guys have never done any drugs, then I guess I could rule that one out! What are your thoughts? Maybe it is an age thing but I dont think so. No offense! But it's nice to meet some girls around the same age. I think the disease has different impacts on us than it does on someone older. Don't get me wrong, it impacts US ALL!!! But we are at a different stage in our lives and it effects a lot more social functions. I think it's also harder to accept being younger because you don't expect to have physical limitations so early in life. And then of course you worry about what the future brings if you feel this awful in your twenties! Not to take any credit away from someone a bit older. We all have our battles. Well good luck with your Dr. appt. I will be praying for you and would love to hear your stories. Let me know what yourDr. says about the eyes, and I will ask my Dr. and let you know. We can compare notes. :) Hehe! Keep in touch.
I'll be thinking of you. Jyllian

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SLE (Lupus) Dx'd - Nov. 2005, Raynaurd's - Dx'd Nov. 2005, GERD - Dx'd 2006, Fibromyalgia - Dx'd 2005, PCOS - Dx'd Jan. 2007, Migraines - Dx'd 1995,
Optic Neuritis - Dx'd 1984,

Currently taking - Plaquenil 200mg, Prozac 20mg, Spirnolactone (Aldactone) 50mg, Vit. A

Occassionally take - 1/2 500mg Vicodin (2-3x/wk), Maxalt as needed for Migraines,
Clonazepam 1mg as needed for sleep and muscle pain,
Relafen 500mg as needed for pain, Pepsin for Gerd
Prednisone (for emergency use only)

I am 38(but tell my husband I look 21-hehe,I was ID' before xmas),LOL!
The jack hammer thing is too funny-it reminded me of my husband taking out concrete! But,the lightening speed twitches are so bizarre, afterward I have that dizzy feeling ,like when you were a kid and you just kept spinning in circles,and after you fall,your eyes go all over the place-gee,actually got dizzy thinking about it!LOL!
As for the drug thing,I did take the odd pull or two,was no saint,but did almost flip when I read a possible connection-but if that be true,ah um,yeah,WAY more people would have this...and I was young(16) as well.
I was starting to second guess myself,wondering if it was just me, some people lower their brows and have this puzzled look .
It's comforting to know others have this too,HUH! I'm not crazy,I'm not crazy(ya gotta sing it though,sounds better,or is just a good indication that I am crazy!) nice chatting with you,take care! crystal

Hi,

has anybody got any new information about this eye twitching?

I was diagnosed with Lupus 23 years ago (I'm now 30), and have quite a few other complications, including Sjogren's (dry eyes & bright red rims). I have taken Plaquenil for about 8 years now (twice a day) but have managed to avoid Prednisilone apart from 6 months during pregnancy.

The week after my son was born (3 years ago) I started getting shaky eyes. My eyes twitch from side to side at such an speed I can feel them moving. My vision goes totally blurred and I can't focus on anything at all - nothing. AT first it was maybe one or twice a month for a few seconds. But now, 3 years later, it's happening on an almost daily basis and sometimes can last for 5-10 minutes. It's very distressing.

When it happens I basically can't see anymore - i have to stay where i am and wait for it to pass. Last week it happened whilst I was crossing teh road, and it was terrifying cause I suddenly couldn't tell how far the traffic was.

Does anybody have any information on what it might be. It sounds like we have the same thing and to be honest I'd be relieved to know it's SLE related and not something worse!

I have ptosis (one droopng eyelid) and had alot of twitching at around your ages when my ptosis became more evident. I was tested for MS and myasthenia gravis. The less vision you have in one eye, the more the other eye has to dart around to compensate. I actually JUST had this all measured during hearing and balance test ordered through my ear,nose and throat doc. They actually make you follow moving dots back and forth with your eyes, and they filmi your eye movements, as they are key to your balance, that darting around.

Using a computer will make them worse. Check your desktop properties and make sure the refresh rate on your screeen is as high as it can be, try to avoid bright backgrounds and playing games for hours. I used to work like 30 hours straight on computers and my eyes would tear uncontrollably for days on end sometimes.

My eye doc swears by eye vitamins, and I don't follow up as I should. Also, I have pain from the muscle in my eye sockets, especally if I turn my eye too far in one direction or the other and I have found that I've had big styes in the eye socket causing some of this pain. You can't see them, soits hard to knw you have them. My eyes twitch because they press on the nerves. My eye doc popped the last one in his office. Its a recurring thing, Like sinusitis and mouthsores.

I did't know the eyes played such arole in balance and I wonder if my eyes darting around has more to do with my failing balance than anything wrong with my eyes. The balance and hearing test was good and they also see into your eyes and video the movements and your pupil responses.

Take care and make sure you get them checked out, esp. on the styes behind your eyes that might be causing pressure. He popped it, I put warm compresses to drain it. Warm compressed help me alot, as does a nice dark room oncein a while.

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Love, Marji