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Why I’m riding the Bike MS: the 2009 Ride Across MN

Carol Risdal, ABO/NCLE Certified Optician

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and stops people from moving. MS has personally touched my life and I’d like to help create a world free from MS.
As many as 80% of people with MS will experience vision problems; often it’s the first symptom. As a trained paraoptometric it’s my job to assist our doctors in testing for vision abnormalities that may be caused by MS as well as other conditions.
The most common vision problems are optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve), nystagmus (eye movement) and diplopia (double vision).
Optic neuritis or inflammation of the optic nerve occurs when MS damages the optic nerve. This nerve is responsible for sending light and images from the eye to the brain. As a result, it can lead to eye pain, blurred vision, dark spots, problems with color vision, “graying” of vision, or vision loss. Optic neuritis comes on suddenly and usually affects only one eye.
When MS damages the part of the brain that controls eye movement, two main problems can result: diplopia and nystagmus.
Diplopia, or double vision, occurs when the muscles that control movement in one eye becomes “out of sync” with the muscles controlling movement in the other eye. This causes people to see double, interfering with vision and can lead to a loss of balance, coordination problems, and nausea.
Nystagmus, or uncontrolled eye movement, is believed to occur because of difficulties with the body’s system of holding images at the back of the eye. The eye movements may be up-and –down, side-to-side, or circular. Many people with nystagmus don’t even know they have it. Sometimes it is severe enough to affect a person’s vision and make them feel nauseated or disoriented. People with nystagmas may find that their vision gets worse if they are tired or under stress.
Retinal Photography is an important part in identifying causes for many visual issues including but not limited to MS. Our doctors study the photos for inflammation of optic nerve and retina, vascular abnormalities or sheathing and can monitor any changes year to year.
See your doctor right away if you think you might have diplopia, nystagmus, or if you notice any changes in your vision.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society supports more research, offers more services, provides more professional education programs, and furthers more advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world.
Help my team move toward a world free of MS! You can become a volunteer, be a rider or make a donation online today. Join me for the MS bike ride in July!