Eye Question for the Docs
 

This has now happened twice. First time was a few months ago, last time was 2 days ago. Both times were early morning just after I got out of bed. It started as a small, floater-looking speck and quickly grew. The best way I can describe it is it looked like crumpled tin foil but mostly transparent. It had motion like melted butter in a hot pan. It grew quickly and was irregular shaped. At max size it covered about 30% of my vision. When it began to fade, the center went away first and eventually the outer edge was the only thing left and was very shiny. It was located a just left of my field of vision, about 10 o’clock, about midway between center and max outer edge. It was stationary and I could see it with my eyes closed. The entire episode lasted about an hour. If it happened while driving I’d certainly pull over. I’ve always had excellent vision and just began wearing reading glasses 5 years ago.
Good health, not diabetic, normal bp.

I've had sort of the same thing off and on although never when i first get up.
It never blurs the whole eye but the outer edges look like i'm looking through a kaleidoscope.
Usually lasts 5-10 minutes then clears up.
I've told my Dr. about it but she didn't seem too concerned. Told me i should see an eye doctor which i haven't.

It sounds like an "Ocular Migraine" but I would see your Optometrist and have him perform a "Dilated Fundus Exam" and a "Visual Field Test" to rule out any Retinal pathology such as an impending retinal detachment, Vitreal Syneresis such as a PVD or Posterior Vitreal Detachment, or other "dormant" pathology. Sorry about the big words but you can easily google them for further clarrification.

Are you prone to migraines? What you describe is often the pre-cursor to a migraine episode. Some people go on to develop the headache about 20 minutes later while many do not....I too, get them occasionally.

Cheers!

Dr. Alex Wilson
Optometrist

Optical migraine as mentioned. All I can add is this very good visualization of the effect:

20TWENTY: AURA . . . Am I going blind or Am I going crazy?

Note that this blog post also sends you to the doctor for an eye exam to ensure no retina problems.

Massive amounts of MSG are a common trigger. Did you have chinese food or bad pizza?

G

Thanks Doc. I had migraines years ago but it's been more than 10 yrs since my last. I did not have any type of headache after these events.

The images in the link look a lot like what I experienced. I had pasta the night before.

Thanks for the info guys!

Cool, I started having these things years ago. (not too often though)
Now I finally know what it is.

I get them too but so far w/o the headache....thankfully. My vision also gets 'weaker' during the episode... Yes, I get my eyes checked fairly regularly...

As aigel points out, there is usually a trigger that sets up the event....MSG, red wine, chocolate, atmospheric pressure change, etc. The blood vessels supplying oxygen to the choroid, retina, optic nerve, and other various tissues of the eye will dilate and then suddenly constrict causing a more or less ischemic event which induces the classic Migraine Aura.

Having these "occasionally" (2-4 times per year) is no big deal. However, studies have shown that patients....err, people that experience these regularly are at a higher risk of developing Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. So if this is your case remember to mention it to your Optometrist so that he/she can monitor you with the appropriate tests regardless of the fact that your vision may seem fine to you.

I forgot to mention that Ocular Migraines should be differentiated from what are called TIA's ...Transient Ischemic Attack...a sudden painless loss of vision lasting anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes or possibly longer. This is a very serious situation indicating the onset of a CVA or Stroke. So if one of your eyes "goes dark" for a short period of time but comes back to normal, PLEASE do not dismiss it...like a lot of men might....immediately take an Aspirin (ASA), not a Tylenol or Advil or Motrin but an Aspirin, and seek immediate medical care....like now...like right now, now!

I hope this helps someone....pass it on to your friends and family!SmileWavy

Cheers!

Alex

Well written Alex.
Jim

Thanks on2wheels!...just trying to help out!

Like there is really such a thing as bad pizza .... :D


Kind of a coincidence, my wife was nagging me to do some chores this past weekend and I told her I couldn't because I had an eye problem.
She said what eye problem?
I told her that I couldn't see myself doing those chores instead of watching a re-run of USC beating the dux.

ba da bump. but serial folks.

BTW there's a local optometry college that I go to for eye exams.
It's cheep, they do a really thorough job, and the exams are usually done by junior and senior year college girls.

Yeah I know but still ........



(PS after they're done the real eye doc checks everything out to make sure they got it right).

I remember those...back in the early 80's in Waterloo, Ontario. We, as interns, would provide "comprehensive" eye exams to the general public. The problem was that patients actually received two exams, one from the interns and one from the clinician, to make sure "we got it right". As a result, the patient was subjected to a 1.5 hour exam!....many of our senior patients would end up falling asleep on us!

I've had three of them over the last 20 years. I thought I was having a stroke at age 36. I get them without a headache. It can be very disturbing, especially when you are driving.

The OM starts out on the periphery of the field of vision and slowly closes in to the center, very wierd feeling.

Two years ago I went to see my opthomologist, I mentioned the OM to him, he did'nt see too concerned.

BTW, he told my that I had an embolis in my eye, that was disturbing. It was gone last visit.

I'm pretty old but I haven't fallen asleep, ... yet.


Sometimes I'll go years between appointments and my glasses will get old so I'll get a new pair at the local drug store for $13. I just pick out which ever pair makes me see the best.
Is that a good idea?




Yes I'm kidding but that's how allot of the people I know take care of their eye sight.

Mike2, do you mean an embolism?...did he say where it was located within the eye? What did he recommend you do after discovering this?

Although "drugstore readers" might do "in a pinch" you are really short changing yourself if you self prescribe these all the time. Most people tend to pick ones that are way too strong and, besides that, the quality of the lenses is usually quite poor. Also, the optical centres of the readers are set at an arbitrary distance, typically 55mm, which often does not match that of the person wearing these. This will result in significant "induced prism" which means that your eyes may have to converge or diverge excessively while reading, which will add up to greater eyestrain.

As far as your last comment, yah I hear that alot and it is very unfortunate....I could go on and on on that topic!

BTW, DonDavis I sincerely apologize for hijacking your thread!

Alex

Hijack..

the reason some of us get to kick the can another day..
is because of folks like you Alex..

you cared..
we get informed..
thank you..

Rika

Alex,

Yes embolism. He told me it would disolve. I believe it was dead ended in the retina. I did not have any symptoms.

Rika, thank you for the kind words!

I have frequently been helped out by some very kind fellow Pelicans on the 911 Technical and Turbocharging forums and trully feel blessed by their actions. I can honestly say that I am now a "professional" amateur mechanic...I can do most of the maintenance on my SC and plan on possibly working on the 997 shortly.

With that, I am more than happy to pass on my now 28 years of eyecare experience to fellow Pelicans. I mean we are all here to help each other out the best way that we can, right?

Cheers!

Alex

Mike, how long ago was this?

Two years ago. I go see the opthamologist in a month. He told me last year that it was gone.

Initially I was shocked. I had an issue with embolisims post back surgery, 5 clots in the left lung so I was rattled when I heard the E word again.

Mike, there's no way to "sugar coat" this but the presence of emboli in your arterial vasculature, your arteries, is not a good thing. An embolism that is found in the retinal arteries is referred to as a "Hollenhorst Plaque". You can google that for more info. Essentially the plaque originates in the Carotid artery on the same side of your neck as where the H plaque is found....right eye - right Carotid artery. These plaques are a cholesterol deposit and will usually break up and may not be seen on subsequent visits. So, the fact that it was seen earlier is actually a rare event as they may be constantly forming and breaking up.

Mike, if you have not done so already, I would highly recommend that you get a consult with an internist, vascular surgeon, or cardiologist asap. Can your family doctor/GP arrange for that? In the meantime, if you are currently not taking any blood thinners (Coumadin, etc.) and if you are not prone to stomach ulcers, I would start taking a low dose Aspirin (81mg) daily until then. You can contact me directly via my iPhone:

agwilson_iphone AT yahoo DOT com

if you would like to discuss things further and would prefer a more prompt response. I am located in Calgary, Alberta so I'm 2 hours "behind" you.

I hope this helps?....keep me posted!

Alex

Alex,

I am on 81mg Ecotrin. I have a good vascular surgeon, I had phlebitis 6 years ago in right leg (superficial).

I'll contact you by email.

Thanks

This is all good and pertinent information. I really appreciate the contributions. No apology necessary!

What he said...

SmileWavy

Mike, I responded to your concern not knowing your background medical history but it sounds like you are being monitored by a specialist in that field, which is all good!

I wish you all the best in that regard!;)

Alex

This is why the BBS is the best.

The combined knowledge and concern for eachother is like no where else, sometimes not even as good as "real life".

Thanks so much for your concern Alex, I will be speaking to my docs shortly.

Thanks Mike and I agree, this is a great forum!

Sammyg2, on a humerous note, I'm digressing a bit here but going back to my "intern" days at the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry...as I had mentioned we were always paired up with a clinician...a real doctor... when examining patients. My good buddy's last name was Cox.

One morning he was paired up with clinician Dr. Dyck (I kid you not!). His patient that morning was a pretty hot looking "college girl".....so he goes to the waiting area to greet his patient along with his clinician in tow...and of, course, there are many other patients waiting there as well. He calls out her name and she comes forward...at that time all us guys are busy giving her the once-over discreetly...he presents himself...."Sandra, I'm intern Cox and this is Dr. Dyck...we'll be examining you today" ....the young lady and pretty much anybody else close by is just a "cracking a gut" laughing!

...Cox and Dyck!...what a team!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...s/beerchug.gif