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Strange Cross-eyed Feeling causing Loss of Balance

Posted , 86 users are following.

katewarn39
katewarn39

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

125 Replies

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  • diane42609
    diane42609 katewarn39

    Posted

    I just had the same thing happen to me today. I'm 62 if that means anything . A little scary. Looking for an answer to this.

    • TobyLarue
      TobyLarue diane42609

      Posted

      I just went to my 4th specialist today for this cross-eyed episodes. They have done MRI of the brain, Altra sounds, x-rays, blood work and Balancing testing. Each different type of specialist I have seen say they believe it's Migraine with Aura. The misconception out there is that with migraines you must have the pulsating headache but that's far from true. There are other symptoms one being the cross-eyed episodes. I have been very sceptical about the migraine diagnosis up till now. Seems everything else has been eliminated as possibly being a cause leaving migraine as the only option left. Now to finding the trigger. Do some research and be sure to get a physical to eliminate any other issues. Good luck.

    • arthur1977
      arthur1977 TobyLarue

      Posted

      Hi. Did you figure out more about your dizzy spells? Having same issues
    • TobyLarue
      TobyLarue arthur1977

      Posted

      Yes it's Menieres Dease. Check out the symptoms online to see if they are similar to yours. Good luck.

  • robyn80266
    robyn80266 katewarn39

    Posted

    I have found that by NOT eating chocolate, my migraines and the cross-eyed sensation have mostly gone away.  If I have an intense attack of Vertigo, I take 1/2 tablet of Lorazapine.  Hope this helps!
  • linda_64296
    linda_64296 katewarn39

    Posted

    I have been having the same symptoms as yrself for nearly 2years now had MRI scans etc but still no nearer to finding out why this is happening I get double vision and nausea having to lie down for an hour after each episode Any help would be most appreciated TIA
  • AndyRied
    AndyRied katewarn39

    Posted

    Hi! I had this feling twice as a teenager and it only lasted a few seconds. This January however I woke up in the morning looked at my phone and all the sudden I felt like I had crossed-eyes. My wife looked into my eyes and they looked fine. My vision was double, I beleive the picture was above each other. Since I have tha aura migraine, I hoped it was just a migraine and closed my eyes to take a nap. The episode however lasted almost 7 hours. Anyone else had such a long episode???? I ended up in the ER had eye exams and MRI of the brain done as they wanted to rule out MS and a brain tumor. They couldn't find anything. They asked me to see my eye doctor and a neurologist. They also had no idea and said maybe migraine. Now 6 months later I again had an episode while sitting on my computer. This time it lasted about half an hour to an hour. When I look straight I have the double vision as soon as I look to the sides or up the vision goes completely crazy and I'm super dizzy. To me: I'm 31 do suffer from anxiety/panic disorder and have Aura migraines. I'm "glad" so many have the same symptoms as this makes it less likely to be dangerous :-) Never had an episode while driving but due to my anxiety think a lot about having an episode every moment. 

  • charles14502
    charles14502 katewarn39

    Posted

    Hey Kate, Charlie I'm 71.I have recently changed doctors and have stumbled on a possible disease. Let me know if any of this fits. My symptoms have been cross -eyed feeling with dizziness, loss of hearing and headache. Please check the symptoms of Menieres disease .

    • TobyLarue
      TobyLarue charles14502

      Posted

      Charles you are my new hero. Menieres Disease matches all the symptoms I have been experiencing for the last couple of years. I have had every test that was suggested to rule out any other issue. I had been telling the doctors that what ever this was that it had something to do with my left ear but they didn't take it into consideration and just chalked it off to my hearing loss issue. Well according to the systems of Menieres the hearing loss is due to the disease. Thank you so much for taking the time to post your comment that lead me to the answer.

    • provocals
      provocals TobyLarue

      Posted

      Hello please read my post below.

      However yours is very interesting as i had and ear infection same side as the cross eye effect at the same time this happened to me 😊 Thank You

    • TobyLarue
      TobyLarue provocals

      Posted

      Hi, after doing much research I went to a ENT who is familiar with Menieres Dease and was diagnosed with it. They put me on a directic and it seems to be helping. If you have another episode write down the before and after effects. Do some research of Menieres Dease now so you know what to look for. In my case it's fluid in the left ear that seems to pop when an episode happens. Stress and allergies can make it worse. It's not curable and there are different leaves and them symptoms can very. I know when an episode is coming a couple days or so ahead of time and feel the after effects for a couple days or so afterwards. Just watch for any symptoms. Take care and keep us posted.

  • provocals
    provocals katewarn39

    Posted

    I had this immediately after coming off stage then twice again within 2 hrs lasted only seconds

    They said I'd had a minor TIA

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/transient-ischaemic-attack-tia/

    I had no other symptoms tho

    They treated me with tablets for high blood pressure and a thinner.

    (Clopidogril and Simvastatin)

    They told me its a warning to calm down and i wasnt allowed to drive for a month.

    Now im freaked out I could have a full blown stroke!!!

    It's not happened again within 14 weeks of the initial attack.

    Tho my eyes feel gritty, dry and like something is in the socket ?

    My vision was diagnosed perfect by the optician with no damage or "signs" on my retina.

    Im 59.

  • Jalexa
    Jalexa katewarn39

    Posted

    I had elective cosmetic surgery in Richardson, TX  almost 5 years ago and came home with  symptoms very similar.  My eyes still feel like they don’t track together and I feel disoriented  all the time.  I feel like I’m on a bad acid trip all the time. ( not that I have ever done drugs)  Large open spaces, including stores, overwhelm me; I can’t see individual things easily.  It’s been the most depressing  and debilitating  thing I’ve ever dealt with. Dr R insisted it was nothing he did.  Ophthalmologist agreed it was awfully suspicious considering the timing but diagnosed me with cataracts and corneal Dystrophy.  My husband lost his job soon after so no insurance. I’m now 65 so I recently had cataract surgery on the troubled eye and my condition is now worse, which I never thought possible.  Now i also have twitching in that eye to add to the other problems.  I have to wait till January 30 to get into a cornea specialist.  I was afraid  to have cataract surgery on my left eye after the disasterous outcome of the right one.  (I also went to a specialist for misaligned eyes and he saw nothing wrong. )  

    I wish my issues would come and go and not be constant if I have to live with this. 

  • dina123456
    dina123456 katewarn39

    Posted

    I had this once and it was horrible lasted for hours but then finally vanished and haven't had since and won't bother me one bit if it never ever happens again.  I'm thinking it was from lack of too much sleep but don't know if is just guessing but hope it was a freaky one time event.  smile 

  • jscullin130
    jscullin130 katewarn39

    Posted

    Katewarn39, did you ever get a diagnosis for this.... is it still happening? I have had the exact same. 
    • katewarn39
      katewarn39 jscullin130

      Posted

      Hi

      I was diagnosed with silent migraine by eliminating everything else!  I now believe that there were changes to my body’s chemical balance which triggered this as I later had surgery to remove a large borderline ovarian tumour.  I have not had the balance and eye issues since fully recovering from surgery although I do at times get other migraine type symptoms.  Obviously mine was a very unusual case!

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