Myasthenia gravis

It’s a rare condition that commonly affects the muscles that control the eyes and eyelids. It can also affect the face, speaking, chewing, swallowing and other parts of the body.

It can affect people at any age, but is most often found in women under 40 and men over 60.

There are other rarer types of myasthenia which you can read about on myaware.

If you drive, you must inform the DVLA that you have myasthenia gravis.


It can affect people at any age, but is most often found in women under 40 and men over 60.

There are other rarer types of myasthenia which you can read about on myaware.

If you drive, you must inform the DVLA that you have myasthenia gravis.


There are other rarer types of myasthenia which you can read about on myaware.

If you drive, you must inform the DVLA that you have myasthenia gravis.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of myasthenia gravis are often droopy eyelids or double vision. It usually affects the eyes first and may spread to other parts of the body. It can take weeks, months or years for symptoms to develop in other parts of the body.

The severity of the symptoms is different for each person. It’s likely that your symptoms will tend to get worse when you’re tired. The symptoms might improve after resting.

Symptoms can include:

Eyes You might experience droopy eyelids affecting one or both eyes, and double vision. In some people, only the eye muscles are affected (ocular myasthenia). In most people, the symptoms will spread to affect other parts of the body over time.

Swallowing, speaking and breathing You might experience: slurred speech difficulty swallowing difficulty making facial expressions like smiling problems with chewing a change in your voice choking or accidentally inhaling food which can cause chest infections shortness of breath

Limbs and neck The muscle weakness might spread to other parts of the body like your arms, legs and neck. You might experience: weakness in your arms, legs, neck or other parts of your body difficulty holding your head up aching muscles problems with tasks like climbing stairs or washing your hair

Myasthenic crisis Some people can experience severe breathing and swallowing difficulties, which require immediate hospital treatment. This is called a myasthenic crisis. It’s possible for patients to experience a myasthenic crisis before they know they have myasthenia gravis.

Phone 999 for an ambulance if: you’re experiencing severe breathing or swallowing problems You might need emergency hospital treatment.

You should avoid activities that could become dangerous if you experience sudden weakness, like swimming alone.