It isn’t necessarily obvious to think about the possibility of eye issues when you are facing surgery for an acoustic neuroma brain tumor. You may know that balance and hearing are likely to be impacted because of the tumor’s names and location, but that doesn’t mean you are prepared to face challenges with your eyes. Unfortunately, it can be a reality for those who have surgery for their acoustic neuroma.

In case you are wondering why eye problems would arise, the reason is primarily because several nerves are so very close together in that area of the brain. The facial nerve may be impacted by the tumor or by the surgery. The facial nerve controls eye function and movement, so even just inflaming that nerve can lead to big consequences. Typically, surgeons try to leave the facial nerve intact when removing the tumor, even if that means leaving some tumor behind. However, facial nerve complications can arise.

Vision is always really important, but you could argue it is almost more important for someone who has had acoustic neuroma surgery. Generally, after surgery, the balance nerve no longer is functioning on the tumor side. Once that occurs, the balance system has to make adjustments to how it gets the information to help you keep your balance. Typically, your brain begins to rely very heavily on your vision to decide your balance. So, struggling with vision can severely impact balance and your ability to orient yourself in the world.

There are a variety of eye issues that can arise, and I am not going to try and write a full medical journal here. I do recommend checking out the Acoustic Neuroma Association’s booklet on eye care. I  want to just go over a few of the eye issues that can possibly occur after acoustic neuroma surgery.

There can be issues with the muscles moving correctly or with the feeling in the area around the eye. It can be hard to fully blink or control the eye. Some experience eye twitching or numbness.

Dry eye seems to be one of the most common eye issues post surgery. This can be caused by different things. Sometimes, tear production problems are the reason for dry eye. Other times, the lack of full closure of the eye is the culprit. A lack of full closure when sleeping can be really sneaky. You may think you are closing it fully, but it is open a little bit.

This dryness can lead to bigger problems like injuries to the cornea, so it is important to take it seriously and to stay on top of keeping the eye moist. There are lots of possible solutions for these problems, which range from eye drops, moisture chambers, taping the lid closed, to even surgical measures like adding a weight to the eyelid.

Some info on dry eye: https://www.anausa.org/latest-news/719-dry-eye-can-affect-more-than-the-eye

Another frequent concern is double vision or challenges with focusing your vision right after surgery. I read books in the hospital after my surgery, and I remember all my care team being shocked when they saw me reading. I did not have issues with focus, but it is really common. It can take some time and possibly some assistance from your eye doctor to work through.

I did, however, struggle with floaters after my surgery. I had never even heard of floaters before. A little while after my surgery, I noticed there were odd dots in my field of vision, especially toward the floor. They disappeared if I tried to look at them. I was terrified that something else was wrong and went to see my eye doctor. They told me that floaters are a natural part of the fluid in the eye. They are little hardened parts, and they sink to the bottom in your eye. Having brain surgery stirred them all up so suddenly they were in my field of vision. The doctor said they would just go away overtime as gravity settled them, and that did occur.

Not everyone experiences eye complications after acoustic neuroma surgery. Many of the people who do have eye issues find that these problems get better with time. Unfortunately, nerve healing can be a slow process. It can be weeks, months, or more than a year for healing. Incremental slow healing can be frustrating, but improvement is possible and does happen.

However, it is important you talk with your doctors about any eye concerns you have after surgery. Some things are extremely time sensitive, so don’t wait days or weeks to handle these issues. It’s important to be proactive in keeping your eyes healthy.