Strange Cross-eyed Feeling causing Loss of Balance
Posted , 86 users are following.
For about the past 2 years I have suffered from a sudden feeling of visual imbalance or cross-eyed sensation (although not actually cross-eyed)! This in turn causes a type of vertigo involving loss of balance accompanied by nausea. This lasts for approx 10-15 minutes before my vision returns to normal. I have had 2 eye tests which confirm nothing untoward (I have replacement single vision lenses in both eyes following cataract surgery). My doctors have given up trying to diagnose this condition having carried out blood tests for Pituitry, thyroid, diabetes, anaemia and infection which are all perfectly OK. I would be interested to know if anybody has suffered similar or knows a possible cause. I have not been rfeferred to a neurologist or recommended for CT or MRI. I am female aged 65
3 likes, 125 replies
jennifer12532 katewarn39
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j24302 jennifer12532
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cullen04669 katewarn39
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I went through my second episode of this yesterday. It was much longer than the first time it had happened but only lasted 3-5 minutes. I'm just glad I was in the passenger seat of the car because I would've crashed for sure. I went to the doctor and like many of you they just said that it was a type of migraine. They think it could be caused by so much Time spent on our smart phones and TV. I think they could be right. I've also been having brief but sharp pains in my left temple. They've become more frequent. I had an MRI done yesterday and will soon have the results. I'll keep you all updated. I'm 24 yrs old, by the way.
Psallo cullen04669
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tammie00790 katewarn39
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I have experienced the same symptoms for about a year now. They are completely random and from what I can tell unrelated to anything. My health is good, slightly elevated blood pressure sometimes, but not on medication. I had a spell earlier this morning while sitting in a meeting. Complete double vision and it's very hard to concentrate and continue a conversation, but no one is aware anything is wrong. Lasts for at most a minute. My eyes stay weak and I have a slight headache for awhile. I see clearly with one eye shut, but that's weird when you're having a conversation with someone. Eye doctor suggested ocular migraines. Regular doctor says stress. It is just such a weird sensation, something should be causing it to happen. I'm watching this thread to see what others find out.
nicole071011 tammie00790
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Katt52 katewarn39
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Kate I am the same age as you - I've also experienced exactly what you describe twice.... doctors seem blase about it. I have mentioned my thoughts about strokes etc but it just seems to be poo-pooed.
katewarn39 Katt52
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i too had difficulty in getting doctors to take it seriously. I had to see 5 GPs before I was sent to neuro specialist and had numerous blood tests and MRI. Nothing showed up and I was diagnosed with silent migraine by default. In 2014 I was diagnosed with a large ivarian tumour and had surgery. Luckily it was borderline and non invasive so I am fine, but a year after surgery my dizzy feelings disappeared! I am now certain that it was silent migraine triggered by the hormonal and chemical changes in my body over a long period of time and that it disappeared once these were back in balance. Do keep pushing for all the tests you can because, if nothing else, I will rule out anything you need to worry about.
Sexy_Mexy katewarn39
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charles14502 katewarn39
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Kate,, Charlie here, 70 from the UP, MI. Mine started about a month ago, exact same symptoms as many have described here. Was very concerned when it happened driving through Duluth, but shut one eye until it passed. I'm surprised that so many have this condition and the Dr's seem to be unaware that this condition exists. Please pass along any info you may find, perhaps it is something simple.----I don't take and sort of medication, but have had slightly elevated blood pressure for some time.
Thanks, Charlie
Dbmetsfan katewarn39
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I have had head pressure and dizziness for over a year now. I am pretty sure it is anxiety as I had an episode last December and haven't been the same since. I did go for two months with no incidents because I had to take care of my husband who had rotator cuff surgery and I had to do all the driving, helped getting him dressed etc. As soon as he was able to do for himself symptoms came back which is how I am convinced it is anxiety. Anyway, my reason for this post. I have had head pressure for the past week or so. I was just wondering if anyone has had this happen to them. I can't really describe it exactly but I was on my iPad and all of a sudden I felt like my eyes went cross eyed and I got a dizzy feeling. Lasted only a few seconds but it felt like my head felt really weird. Now of course my insides are in knots because I don't know what that was. I have had this happen in the past especially when staring at something or when I worked and was in the computer for too long but that was before I had all this anxiety and I kinda blew it off and it didn't bother me. Now everhing does bother me. Sorry for the rant but would like to know if this feeling had happened to anyone. Thanks for this
Dbmetsfan
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kimbercin Dbmetsfan
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katewarn39 Dbmetsfan
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Hi there. I posted this 3 years ago and I had the problem for a total of 4 years. After extensive tests I was diagnosed by default wit "atypical migraine " because they could find nothing else wrong. In 2014 I was diagnosed with a large ovarian tumour and had surgery to remove it. I was very lucky because, having been told I was stage 3 cancer the tumour turned out to be borderline and non invasive so I am fine. However, I always wondered whether there was a link, such as hormonal, with rhe weird dizzy thing and, a year after surgery, when air was finally healed, it disappeared and I haven't had it since! So definitely in my case there was a link to all the chemical changes in my body over a long period and it could be that you have a type of silent migraine which can be triggered by any number if factors such as stress, diet or hormonal changes. Make sure you are tested for everything to rule everything else out. I had MRI, chest X-ray, numerous blood tests and balance tests. Hope this helps
annasan Dbmetsfan
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After suffering with similar symptoms for about a year my doctor referred me for brain scan to rule out TIAs and tumour. The result was negative and as I had migraines from my teen years to menopause they said it could be a form of migraine but could also be related to my Lupus and/or Sjögren's syndrome. I now get random attacks with a feeling of pressure in my head and the pressure can last for one or two days. My blood pressure is normal/very good. I have had to give up driving as couldn't take risk of hurting someone during attack
valerie46363 Dbmetsfan
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28yo pregnant female here, replying to your post because my recent disturbing eye symptoms are exactly what you described getting while using your ipad, i have had a "cross eyed" sensation lasting 5-20secs only two times, each in the evenings after a long day when i have been using my smartphone. I would also describe the eye sensation as inability to focus or feeling of loss of control of one eye? I have a history of intermittent typical migraines (severe headache with light and sound sensitivity and nausea and vomiting lasting 4-6hrs) and also a history of dizzy spells lasting under a minute that dont seem to be related to position changes or really anything in particular... i am completely healthy otherwise, but as i said i am currently pregnant and a few other posts here have mentioned possible link to hormone changes. I also have a hx of cancer in my family members.
Someone mentioned anxiety as being associated? I have never been an anxious person before hitting third trimester but now have been struggling with anxiety and have suffered what i consider at least one panic attack.
To thicken the plot, i developed not typical vision changes not associated with preeclampsia in 2nd trimester that fit the description of "floaters" (black spots and strings in vision). I only became concerned about this because they are so numerous and my husband had sudden onset of these same "floaters" just recently.
I have been to a regular eye doctor this week who dilated and inspected my eyes and had no concerns and i am following up with my midwife and a neuro appointment this week. I am a registered nurse but as you can see even when you're in the medical feild and are getting checked and helped by your doctors things can still be scary and a mystery, so i just wanted to add my experience here, thanks for reading...
charles14502 valerie46363
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Thank you for the post, I guess I'm still searching for a cause, although I have been having some blood pressure issues on the high side, another person posting here suspected low blood pressure. I have actually checked my BP while having this cross-eyed thing-- it was normal. I am still experiencing it a couple times a week or more. I haven't found any correlation with anything. I suppose with all the garbage in our food these days, we are fortunate to be relatively healthy.
Good luck to us all and be safe