Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is an autoimmune disease that damages the myelin sheath, a protective layer that covers the nerve cells, and patients with MS have nerve damage that gets worse over time. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke points out that vision problems are often the first symptoms of MS, with 15 percent of patients having inflammation of the optic nerve as the first symptom. The inflammation, called optic neuritis, results in a loss of vision and eye pain.
Double or Blurred Vision
Some MS patients may have trouble seeing clearly. The Merck Manual notes that patients can have double vision in which they see two of every object. Blurred vision can also occur with MS. Some MS patients may have dim vision in which their vision becomes cloudy and images do not appear as bright.
Vision Loss
The National Institutes of Health point out that if an MS patient has a loss of vision, it will affect one eye at a time, and that this vision loss will not be permanent. Like the other vision symptoms of MS, this symptom will occur only during active episodes of the disorder. During remission, MS patients do not experience vision loss.
Eye Pain
MS patients may experience eye pain. The Merck Manual explains that this eye pain affects one eye, and may make it difficult to see, especially if patients move their eyes to see something. Patients who have this eye pain experience burning, aching or stabbing in their eyes.
Uncontrolled Eye Movements
MS patients may also have problems controlling the movement of their eyes, which can affect their vision. The National Institutes of Health point out that some patients have uncontrolled rapid eye movement which impairs their ability to focus on an object. For example, a patient's eyes can move back and forth quickly and uncontrollably. The Merck Manual adds that patients can also have problems seeing when they look straight ahead. In these cases, patients have a limited visual field.
Color Distortion
MS can cause problems with color vision for some patients. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke points out that some MS patients have red-green color distortion, a condition that makes it difficult to distinguish the difference between red and green. For example, if a patient with red-green color distortion looks at an image with a red circle inside of a green square, she would have problems identifying which color each shape is.
