Fatigue after a strenuous physical or mental activity is natural. But in some individuals, the feeling of fatigue is everlasting and does not go away no matter how much they relax or rest!
If you feel that your fatigue never seems to go away, you might have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Other terms used for this are myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID).
This condition affects your day-to-day life as you are always left too tired even to perform regular tasks. People suffering from this problem often experience insomnia and even loss of concentration and weakened memories.
Some people also experience problems with their vision. These vision problems are mostly due to brain dysfunction and can occur even with normally functioning eyes.
What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet known, but experts believe that there may be a number of factors that lead to the development of this problem, such as:
1. Problems with the immune system
It has been seen that people who have chronic fatigue syndrome have a weakened immune system, but it’s not yet clear if it is the predisposing factor for this syndrome.
2. Viral infections
Most people have been found to develop chronic fatigue syndrome after encountering a viral infection. Some viruses that are suspected of causing this syndrome are Eppstein Barr Virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6, Ross River Virus (RRV) and rubella virus.
3. Hormonal imbalance
People with chronic fatigue syndrome sometimes also have abnormal levels of hormones. But similar to all the above factors, even this has not been proved as a definite chronic fatigue syndrome cause.
4. Genetic predisposition
Some people have a certain genetic predisposition that gets triggered after strenuous physical or mental activity, leading to the syndrome.
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms often differ from person to person, but a few common ones to look out for are:
- Severe fatigue that doesn’t get better with rest
- Insomnia and disturbed sleep patterns
- Headache and dizziness
- Some people may also experience weakened memory and difficulty to concentrate
- Chronic fatigue syndrome also causes vision problems in some people
- Fatigue gets worse after the slightest physical or mental activity
Chronic fatigue syndrome can be rather debilitating, which is why if you experience any of these symptoms that keep you from going about your day-to-day life, make sure to consult with your doctor.
Effects of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Your Vision
A lot of people that suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome experience problems with their vision. It is believed that these problems arise from the brain’s decreased ability to send the right signals to the eyes.
This means even when your eyes are functioning just fine, the brain dysfunction that occurs in chronic fatigue syndrome affects your vision, making it unclear and blurry. This also happens as a result of dizziness, which is a common symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Along with blurry vision, you may face some other vision problems like double vision, seeing floaters when exposed to bright light, dry eyes and irritated eyes, dizziness when looking at moving objects, etc. These vision problems get worse as the day passes and are at their worst in the evening. They make it hard to focus your vision and cause headaches and lightheadedness.
Even when you are already diagnosed and being treated for chronic fatigue syndrome, any changes in vision should lead to a visit to an ophthalmologist at the earliest. This will help you avoid any severe visual impairments.
Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The chronic fatigue syndrome treatment protocol focuses mainly on managing the symptoms. This is also mostly because, as of now, there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome.
Any medicines that your doctor may prescribe will mostly manage your symptoms and not act as a cure for the syndrome itself. Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed to tackle the effects that the illness has on one’s mental health.
Lifestyle changes and managing your day-to-day activities in a certain way so that they don’t leave you severely fatigued is also one of the important aspects of the overall treatment.
Lifestyle changes also mean making changes in your diet. A chronic fatigue syndrome diet includes foods that give you energy and nutrition. Other than that, you are advised to avoid caffeine intake as it may make your insomnia worse. Also, nicotine and alcohol should be avoided.
Why Choose Centre for Sight?
If you have chronic fatigue syndrome and have recently started experiencing changes in your vision, you need to consult with an ophthalmologist. Being one of the largest chains of eye care hospitals in the country, Centre for Sight has experienced ophthalmologists who will ensure that you get the best possible treatment right from the first consultation.
Article: Always Tired? You Might Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!
Author: CFS Editorial Team | July 10 2021 | UPDATED 01:00 IST
*The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of Centre for Sight.
