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Can a vitamin B12 deficiency cause eye coordination problems?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am recovering from a terrible B12 deficiency. I have already taken six injections. I faced symptoms similar to ADHD with irritation and mental fog. My current issue is that whenever I try to think, I involuntarily move my eyes and tense my head like people usually do, but I face heavy resistance. By resistance, I mean I cannot rotate my eyes or move in a particular direction while thinking as I face opposition inside my head. I have to force through that resistance which makes my head hurt. I know it is not a head pain-related or eye-related issue. I know I have not described it perfectly, but I do not know what is wrong. It is like someone has wrapped 1000 rubber bands in my head internally. This happens whenever I tense my head or think deeply, which cuts my line of thought. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Seyedaidin Sajedi

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

B12 deficiency can induce a wide variety of neurological signs and symptoms. However, your eye problem is a bit rare for such a condition.

I need to know more about your diagnosis.

  1. What was the cause of your B12 deficiency, according to your physician's evaluation?
  2. Was it due to a special diet? Or due to malabsorption? Or due to an autoimmune disease of pernicious anemia?
  3. Moreover, I need to know if you have undergone brain imaging in the process of B12 deficiency diagnosis.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your answer.

The general physician told me to take the injections. No further diagnosis was made. I was not eating correctly, so that could have been the cause of the deficiency. I have not gotten brain imaging done either.

The problem is not only eye related. It is like sitting still and trying to think of something while moving my eyes, and I feel some resistance and blockage inside my head that restricts my eye movement and breaks my line of thought. If you can recommend any test or treatment, I will talk to my doctor about it.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Seyedaidin Sajedi

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

It is now vaguer for me.

Please explain to me:

  1. What was your chief complaint in the first place?
  2. What kind of diagnostic para-clinic tests were done? Please upload your test result if possible for you.
  3. A purely vegetarian diet without animal-based products and supplemental pills may lead to B12 deficiency, so were you on such a diet?

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello, My chief complaint is that I am feeling tightness in my whole head. When I am lying down and try to raise my head, I feel heaviness and tightness in my head as if something is pulling my head back from rising. My eye movement is restricted as well. I feel tightness/resistance when I look past a certain degree to the left or right and I can feel the tightness on my head. Regarding tests, I have only got b12 test done and it was around 60 ng/l, but I have got treatment for it, so it should be higher. My ferritin and folate levels were normal. No further tests have been done. I think this B12 deficiency was an onset of 2+ years. Though I was eating animal based diet so I don't know the reason for my deficiency.
Answered by Dr. Seyedaidin Sajedi
Dear Rohan Thank you for your added data. As I said before, B12 deficiency can induce a wide variety of neurological problems. Your B12 level has been low. However, it is essentially needed to find the underlying cause. Moreover, your complaints are not among the common symptoms of B12 deficiency. A careful academic approach for your case includes a neurologist visit, a brain MRI and an in-depth evaluation of the B12 deficiency causes. For example, if you possibly suffer from a malabsorption syndrome, you may also have a B1 deficiency. Inability to eye movement in B1 deficiency is common, and it would not respond to B12 supplement. On the other hand, there are autoimmune diseases that can affect bowel function, insult the brain and prohibit vitamin absorption, like Celiac disease. Such diseases need special treatments. Therefore, please consider my recommendation and set an appointment with a neurologist.

Answered byDr. Seyedaidin Sajedi

Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team

Published At September 3, 2023
Reviewed AtOctober 4, 2023

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Seyedaidin Sajedi
Dr. Seyedaidin Sajedi

Neurology

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