Question: For almost two years, I’ve had “snowy vision.” I have been to my family doctor, an ophthalmologist, neurologist and a neuro-ophthalmologist. I’ve had routine blood work, including thyroid, and everything has come back normal, except my body does not absorb folic acid properly. I take a prescription folic acid supplement and B-complex. Any advice would be forever appreciated.

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

Snowy or blurred vision that escapes the view of your neurologist and neuro- opthamologist is clearly going to be a challenge to answer in a column designed for short answers. Even though no autoimmune or blood studies have been abnormal, it may be time to totally re-assess your problem. We need to define whether this is occurring from damage to your visual cortex (brain), optic nerve(s), or some degenerative disorder of your retina, vitreous/posterior chamber, lens, anterior chamber, cornea or even from mild glaucoma.

So, return to your opthamologist and have them describe where they believe your defect is coming from, then have your neuro-opthamologist re-evaluate you. If no cause is found, I recommend you seek further neurological subspecialty advice until your cause is found or at least localized. Be sure your basic B12 and folate levels are in order and that there is no evidence of thyroid disorder. A nutritional, toxicology and vascular evaluation may be advisable if no local causes can be found.