What are the symptoms of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis?
Symptoms of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis are drooping eyelids, double vision, visual confusion or unsteadiness. 95% of patients with Myasthenia Gravis will have drooping eyelids or double vision at some time in their illness. About 80% of patients with Ocular MG will progress to experience other symptoms. Only 10% of patients with Ocular Myasthenia Gravis will report that the symptoms and disease has remained restricted to the eye muscles. Visual problems can be helped in several ways. Eye patches eliminate double vision and lifting devices (ptosis tape or crutches) elevate the eyelids. Often Mestinon helps the strength of the eye muscles and improves drooping lids and double vision. Prednisone suppresses the immune system and often improves these symptoms, but one must be aware of the complications of this medication. About half of patients with Ocular MG do not have antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor, which is one of the markers that doctors use to diagnose MG.
