Third nerve palsy

After aneurysm ruptured, pressure caused my right eye to shut down. Anyone have this condition? Did it get better? Driving me nuts!!

Tim...sorry I am sooo slow...

Third nerve palsy is the oculomotor nerve (CN III) on the BrainStem... Your neuro-docs may have explained this clearly to you...

If you want more data; search online: Oculomotor nerve cistern

There are images a/w/a the written data... AJNR is the first that comes up...

Please let me / us know,.. if this data is helpful...

Briefly, the optic nerves are situated behind our eyes...And the others relating to the muscles of our eyes, are along the brain stem w/all the other cranial nerves... there is lots of data on the cranial nerves...

Yes, I had 3rd nerve palsy after I had surgery to put in coils following my aneurysm. My aneurysm occurred late June. I went to a neruro-ophthalmologist in August. They told me that I needed to be patient, which I didn't like, but that's what I did. Late Sept my eye opened, kind of all within a few days, but it was not tracking at first with my open eye. To keep from going crazy I wore "fake" glasses with one eye patched. That worked pretty well. Slowly my left eye got better. I am probably about 75% now. I have very good left / right movement, but up/down is not so great. I just went back to the Dr. this past week and she said she was pleased with the progress, but she would not be surprised if there were not significant improvement beyond this.

Long story short, hang in there. Time is your friend with this one. It is very annoying, but there is hope. Best of luck!!

1 Like

Mine was the result of a craniotomy during which the aneurysm "blew" against the nerve resulting in my right eye to be swollen and closed. The pupil was fully dilated, and the eye itself was positioned in the far right edge of the socket. I was to9ld that it would return to normal within 4-6 weeks, or so it was expected. It took about a month for the eye to open on its own. The pupil remained dilated. I was able to "exercise" it to move to the center, but it would not track to the inner side toward my nose. 3 months later I was seen by a neuro-ophthalmologist who said we'd wait for another 3 months to see what would happen naturally. 3 months after that I was on his operating table for a procedure similar to the correction of "lazy eye". He was able to make the eye track back and forth, from side to side, but the dilation did not subside. When measured it was clear that although the eye tracked horizontally with the left eye, it did not track completely vertically. Prisms were not successful, nor were any exercises. I remain, 6 years later, with double vision and full dilation. I wear a patch. For me, this beats whatever the alternative might have been for 3 aneurysms. YOU should ask to see a neuro-ophthalmologist if/when the eye does not return to normal after a couple of months. Mine said that 6 months is pretty standard waiting time before surgery or other methods would be employed to correct the problem. Good luck!

I also had 3rd nerve palsy after my aneurysm rupture a little over 2 yrs ago, along with a fully dilated pupil. I would recommend a neuro-ophthalmologist as all the other eye drs I saw knew very little about this. My neurosurgeon recommended me to one. My eyelid took about 2 months to fully open and my eye was pointed down and out. I wore an eye patch until about 4.5 months post rupture when my eye lined up enough that I would see single by holding my head back a little. It improved up to about 10 months post rupture and then I was fitted for prism glasses. Those work well for me since I have worn glasses all my life anyway. It does take 1-2 weeks after you get them for your brain to understand and then I could see great with the glasses on. Without the glasses I still see double if I look straight or upward but can see fine looking down. I opted not to do the surgery because the Dr. said it could correct my seeing upward but might mess up my seeing downward and I don't want to risk that since seeing downward is more important to me. I understand your frustration but it will get better and I hope you are fortunate enough to be one of the ones that it improves back to normal. I was told if the pupil is affected like mine was, that's when it may not fully recover. When you get tired, your eye will not work as well as when you are rested so take that into consideration when having to drive.

Yes Tim I have/had it too. Please see a Neuro-Ophthalmologist ASAP, they are the specialist needed. They are continuing to help me regain my normal vision.

When my large L-ICA "bulged" into III & IV I think nerves, eye shut, unable to open and if held open by hand things were very off, muscle involved too. After my 2 PED's were placed, the pressure slowly reduced on nerves. I was told could be from 6-18 months for vision to return to "normal". Eye lid finally opened and wore patch for awhile to rest eye and keep from scaring kids as the eye looked abnormal, I also had blurred and double vision and eye would not track.

Its now 7 months since surgery and things have improved, I am driving and eye looks pretty normal until you look up very close. I have learned to rest eye, wear sun glasses as very light sensitive and to allow eye to continue the healing process.

You have great advice already and see everyone experience is different, so see what an eye specialist says about your eyes and do exactly what they advise and do give it time to heal, we are survivors who have been thr....well you know!!!!!

Yes, I had it but on my left eye. That's how they finally realized something was really wrong after sending me home from the E.R. twice. I woke up with the palsy on my on my third nerve, left eye and they did a cat scan with dye and there is was. It had been leaking for almost a month... They life flighted me to Dallas and clipped it and the palsy went away.. So I'm not sure why yours is still there?? What did they say about it?

To All...

During the marketing of the varied procedures...did any of you have a neuro-doc kind and caring (ethical?) enough to explain this potential? And/or in some cases...explain to spouse/partner/family?

My reason for asking all of you...is because it is not at all a newly found issue...but also I have no memory of the BAF site referencing vision issues/potentials...

In the category of "resources" I put in a Visual Pathways...iisting the cranial nerves...(and, I have to go back and add a note on the cross-section (L/R) of nerves on the brain stem...have to research it more)...

Again, my biggest question...is IF a doc explained this potential in any/all the procedures?



patioplans said:

To All...

During the marketing of the varied procedures...did any of you have a neuro-doc kind and caring (ethical?) enough to explain this potential? And/or in some cases...explain to spouse/partner/family?

My reason for asking all of you...is because it is not at all a newly found issue...but also I have no memory of the BAF site referencing vision issues/potentials...

In the category of "resources" I put in a Visual Pathways...iisting the cranial nerves...(and, I have to go back and add a note on the cross-section (L/R) of nerves on the brain stem...have to research it more)...

Again, my biggest question...is IF a doc explained this potential in any/all the procedures?

My wife is 4 and half years post clipping. She had 6th nerve palsy damage and is unable to to fuze bith eyes so she uses a contacts that shuts out one eyes vision. Just went to neuro-optomologist and he put her on Ampyra...stay tuned

P.P. my palsy occured before they even discovered the aneurysm. Neuro doc explained the pressure on nerve caused the condition. At the time, it was the furthest thing from my mind. I was hoping to wake up breathing. To trade off an eye seemed like a good deal. Now, 6weeks later, it’s just a hassle.



patioplans said:

Tim…sorry I am sooo slow…

Third nerve palsy is the oculomotor nerve (CN III) on the BrainStem… Your neuro-docs may have explained this clearly to you…

If you want more data; search online: Oculomotor nerve cistern

There are images a/w/a the written data… AJNR is the first that comes up…

Please let me / us know,… if this data is helpful…

Briefly, the optic nerves are situated behind our eyes…And the others relating to the muscles of our eyes, are along the brain stem w/all the other cranial nerves… there is lots of data on the cranial nerves…

Cole...I am always sooo slow...and, I missed your initial joining...please accept my apologies...

Will you share more on the Ampyra? I am sooo interested...



Cole Silver said:

My wife is 4 and half years post clipping. She had 6th nerve palsy damage and is unable to to fuze bith eyes so she uses a contacts that shuts out one eyes vision. Just went to neuro-optomologist and he put her on Ampyra...stay tuned

I have 3rd, 6th and 5th nerve palsies due to unruptured giant Cavernous Carotoid aneuysm. It was first treated in 2007 and was recoiled in several more times until it was finally occluded in 2014. The droopy eye was the first sign I had an aneurysm due the because of the pressure. After the initial procedure it was fully closed for months. The nuero-opthomologist told me it would not improve for close to 4 months and he was right. It continued to improve for almost a year until it was barely noticeable. However after each episode it returned and improved. The last time it did not improve as much. While I can see, it is noticeably droopy. My situation is complicated by the double vision associated with nerve damage, because me eyes don't always line up with each other. Rest and stress reduction help it to be the best it can be, other days it is worse.

I have struggled to get used to my new face. One a day, a 6 year old asked "Why does my eye look like that" Her grandmother, my friend said "that is just the way her eye is" and they said "oh" and moved on. It took the lesson to little ones to teach me, that it is just the way I am and move on.

Be patient, there is reason to hope for improvement.

A third cranial nerve palsey was detected at one of my routine eye exams 6 years after endovascular coiling due to a ruptured brain aneurysm. Thank God I had no deficits from the aneurysm rupture in 2005. It appears that the coils compressed and blood was entering the aneurysm and ballooned near the optic nerve and damaged it. I think it was due to the increase in blood flow during my second pregnancy with my son, but no one knows. My 5 year follow up scans all came back normal and I was given a clean bill of health. I felt fine and just noticed blurriness when reading a bedtime story to my daughter at night on an angle, but blew it off to a bright light in the room. 6 days after the opthalmologist diagnosis and MRA scans, I was emergently admitted for testing from the doctor's office due to symptoms with the eye. The plan was to do a cerebral angiogram and go from there. Well, I needed a craniotomy. The third cranial nerve palsey in my right eye is permanent. I am not able to move my right eye up , but it does go from side to side and down. Sometimes my right eye feels swollen or like sandpaper, but Thank God I can see. I hear that it can be corrected via surgery from a neuro-opthalmologist. I decided not to go that route because I have been through enough and I can see. My right eye has not shut down but I do experience a droop in the eye. Good luck with everything!

Tim... you are, you were, blessed... your symptoms were addressed...and, cause determined...

in sharing of one I know, she lost a sis after her oph noted symptoms as "similar to, but not, glaucoma..."

and did not order / refer sis for other testing...when she ruptured, she left a hubby and two children...

Thus, some of us have stronger feelings/opinions...and, why we ask so much...

Thank you for all you have shared...and, yes, you are blessed for that initial oph who must have done your referral? At some time, will you share your time frame...from original symptoms to your eye exam...

Sharing the symptoms here may help others...


Tim Hamp said:

P.P. my palsy occured before they even discovered the aneurysm. Neuro doc explained the pressure on nerve caused the condition. At the time, it was the furthest thing from my mind. I was hoping to wake up breathing. To trade off an eye seemed like a good deal. Now, 6weeks later, it's just a hassle.

patioplans said:

Tim...sorry I am sooo slow...

Third nerve palsy is the oculomotor nerve (CN III) on the BrainStem... Your neuro-docs may have explained this clearly to you...

If you want more data; search online: Oculomotor nerve cistern

There are images a/w/a the written data... AJNR is the first that comes up...

Please let me / us know,.. if this data is helpful...

Briefly, the optic nerves are situated behind our eyes...And the others relating to the muscles of our eyes, are along the brain stem w/all the other cranial nerves... there is lots of data on the cranial nerves...

Tim...P.S. I glanced at your intro...your Rt supraclinoid 2mm ...

Can you share if the supraclinoid...is the one tortuous turn of the ICA and where the ophthalmic artery branches off the ICA? Or, was it near the PCOM branching off the ICA? Or somewhere else?

Thanks..

Hi Tim, I have third nerve palsy since my craneotomy and clipping six years ago. My eye was perfect before surgery. I not only wasn’t told of this risk, what’s worse, I had to find out at a rehabilitation centre that it was a third nerve palsy because my neurosurgeon totally ignored me. It took six months for my eye to finally open, I had a bit of double vision, which eventually subsided, but my lid will never open fully again. Good luck Tim, things may yet improve for you, everyone is different!

Isabel, did your aneurysm rupture during surgery?

Isabel said:

Hi Tim, I have third nerve palsy since my craneotomy and clipping six years ago. My eye was perfect before surgery. I not only wasn't told of this risk, what's worse, I had to find out at a rehabilitation centre that it was a third nerve palsy because my neurosurgeon totally ignored me. It took six months for my eye to finally open, I had a bit of double vision, which eventually subsided, but my lid will never open fully again. Good luck Tim, things may yet improve for you, everyone is different!



Aimee said:

Isabel, did your aneurysm rupture during surgery?

Isabel said:

Hi Tim, I have third nerve palsy since my craneotomy and clipping six years ago. My eye was perfect before surgery. I not only wasn't told of this risk, what's worse, I had to find out at a rehabilitation centre that it was a third nerve palsy because my neurosurgeon totally ignored me. It took six months for my eye to finally open, I had a bit of double vision, which eventually subsided, but my lid will never open fully again. Good luck Tim, things may yet improve for you, everyone is different!

Isabel, if you can get an appointment with a neuro-ophthalmologist, I believe that lid can be fixed.