Retina Issues

Please talk to me about how Lyme and co-infections affect your retinas. My retinal specialist has no clue about Lyme, and my Lyme specialists have no clue about retinas.

I have central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), a type of retinal swelling that leads to permanent vision loss. I have slightly high VEGF, which is associated with this retinal disorder and also with bartonella infection.

The condition also is associated with high stress, and thus it's considered dangerous to take any sort of steroid or supplement that could increase cortisol levels. Unfortunately I have HPA axis dysfunction and need to be on adaptogens and an adrenal glandular supplement, though I keep them at very low doses despite some scary adrenal crashes. It's brutal to have to choose between being able to stand up and being able to see. At multiple points, a steroid has been recommended to me for urgent medical issues, and I have had to turn it down.

(CSCR is also associated with h pylori, CMV, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, none of which I have as far as testing can be trusted.)

I have posted before about not being able to handle more than the most minute antimicrobial treatment right now. So aside from advice to kill bartonella, does anyone have recommendations for how to support the retina? Has anyone had good luck with photodynamic therapy or laser surgery, or are the injected dyes and other interventions involved in those going to do more harm than good, considering the outcoms are only slightly better than placebo in the few studies done for this?

I take curcurmin and other supplements to reduce inflammation in general, but recommendations are welcome for general and/or ocular inflammation reduction. Is there something simple I'm missing, like ice packs?

Are there others who have had these infections (...or the stress from them...) impact their retinas? Did you find a way to resolve it?

Thanks.

If my memory serves (and it doesn't), you are the third person I've seen with bart to report central serous.

Nonrhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Infections associated with exudative detachment
Many pathogens, including bacteria, rickettsia, fungus, and viruses have been reported to be able to infect either the choroid or the retina and result in exudative retinal detachment. Increased choroidal vascular permeability from infection-induced inflammation, is the major reason for the fluid accumulation. The visual recovery after appropriate treatment varies.

Bacterial infection
Syphilis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, cat scratch disease from Bartonella henselae, and brucellosis have been reported to cause exudative retinal detachment.

Ocular syphilis may sometimes be concurrent with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, leading to a more violent and destructive course. Ocular syphilis with or without concurrent HIV infection may be associated with exudative retinal detachment.

Exudative retinal detachment may be seen in severe cases of intraocular tuberculosis. Subretinal neovascularization may later develop and result in choroidal hemorrhage in some cases.

Peripapillary serous retinal detachment and central serous chorioretinopathy-like manifestations have been reported in patients with cat scratch syndrome.34 The exudates may be absorbed spontaneously, with or without antibiotic treatment, but some severe neuroretinitis cases may be left with optic disk pallor, abnormal color sensation and a relative afferent papillary defect.

Brucellosis invading the eye is rare, but every structure of the eye could be involved by the disease. The clinical presentations are visual loss, optic disc edema, and serous retinal detachment.

Submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment caused by cat scratch disease
To present submacular exudates as a manifestation of cat scratch disease. Report of two cases. The first patient, a 34-year-old man, developed submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment ten days after having axillary lymphadenopathy and fever. The second patient, a 30-year-old woman, developed submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment mimicking central serous chorioretinopathy. Fluorescein angiography revealed late staining of the subretinal lesions in both cases. The lesion resolved spontaneously in the first patient, while sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim was required for the second patient. Both patients had a positive IgG titer for Bartonella henselae. Submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment can occur in cat scratch disease. Cat scratch disease should be included in the differential diagnosis of submacular exudates with central serous chorioretinopathy.

In conclusion, cat scratch disease can manifest as submacular exudates with serous retinal detachment. Cat scratch disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy and uveitis syndrome with subretinal fibrosis. Careful observation is mandatory since subretinal lesions caused by cat scratch disease may resolve spontaneously, with or without antibiotics.

This may be totally different - but have you explored intracranial hypertension? Usually this shows as optic nerve dilation.I was somewhat evaluated for it - the main test is lumbar puncture which I did not do. My MRI's always note that it could be a possibility.

My vision gets really blurry if I read or watch tv laying down. It stays blurry for an hour or so after getting up. It really has gotten worse in the last 3 months. I guess it could be normal eye strain. I always struggle with what is normal aging and what is not. I'm 41 but have always had perfect vision.

Maybe it all is bart (I am IGG +). I'm not treating at the moment - finally at the top of waiting list to see a Klinghardt/Shoemaker trained doc. I have no information on how to protect the eyes but if I figure anything out I will let you know. I'm really hoping that I get more answers with this doctor than I've gotten in the past.

I know on another thread you mentioned root canal. Maybe this is causing eye issues too? Do you have tinnitus? That was one of my first symptoms. Although I just was listening to a podcast that it's a big mold tip off too.

bluelyme said...
toxo and bart tx helped get back my vision

That's interesting. I remember testing positive for past exposure to toxoplasmosis when I was pregnant. I had asked to be tested because if I was already exposed they said it wouldn't be an issue to clean out my cat's litter box myself.

What kind of treatment did you do for it?

just to be clear, i am not sure if my retinal issues are resolved. the retinal specialist said that my RPE changes may have been caused by a previous resolved case of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR)

they just monitor it.

i haven't had any vision changes that i have noticed, i too am looking for proactive ways to deal with it. since i wont know if this is worsening until a year from now.

because of the timing with the retinal testing its unclear to me if its a non-issue, since i have treated primarily focused at bartonella/lyme all last year.

saraeli, if you find anything supportive for this let me know, thanks