A recent visit to the eye doctor revealed changes in my vision. “Which looks better, one or two?” I tried to focus but the letters seemed to be moving, disappearing and at times, missing pieces.

“I think it is a D or G but it looks like a fat snowman,” I said after a prolonged delay.

“Do you see two sets of highlights when you drive at night?” he asked.

I pulled my head away from the machine and looked at him as I thought about it. “I can’t remember the last time I drove when it was dark – I live in Alaska. And even if I did drive at night, the road winds like a snake through the mountains and I seldom see a car coming towards me because few people have reason to be heading in that direction after dark.” I couldn’t say if I see two sets of headlights at night. What I can say is that I see double vertically with only my left eye and it was quite a shock to realize I am missing pieces in my vision.

He went on to explain, “MS is affecting the message through the nerves. It is slower. Breaking up. That is why it is there and then it isn’t and sometimes it is missing pieces. You also have a stigma which can cause vertical double vision.”