suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[duchene]

i seen my an eye specialist as my right eye was flashing zig zags and it lasted for about a few minutes.
he told me a lack of oxygen or a mild stroke or a heart problem could be the cause...seen my family doctor, he
ordered all blood work...all ok ordered an mri on the brain and a 24hr monitor for the heart.....what else can we do

therese

[HumanNature]

Thank you for the clarification, sky. I've been trying to figure out if perhaps these symptoms I've been experiencing have been because of some constriction of the arteries in my neck (the carotid or vertebral), as it seems lack of blood to the brain can cause fatigue, light-headedness, visual disturbances, and imbalance.

Today my eyes have been fuzzy, like there's a film over them, like I just woke up, but for the majority of the last few weeks it's been like there is a lag in my vision, that things are moving too slowly, or in strange ways, and that some items are curved strangely when I know they are not.

Do you think it is possible for tense muscles, or weak muscles to constrict the flow of blood in my arteries in my neck? Or possibly nerves in my neck. From time to time I have neck tension, especially at the base of my skull. It's not constant though, and not bad.

Thank you again, sky.
And have a great day.

[skydnsr]

I don't know if they are "always" neon-like.  They always are like that for me, and when I have heard others talk about them, it sounds like their auras are similar to mine.  That's all I can tell you.  Maybe Eddie1994 or duchene or someone else on the forum  will chime in.  

As for whether I have ever had a brain aneurysm, no, not that I know of.  But then, I have never had a CT scan of my head to check for that.  I guess I could have one.  I have had a thoracic aortic aneurysm, and people who have had those are at relatively high risk for brain aneurysms.  But I have never been checked for a brain aneurysm.  I don't want to be checked.  If I have to be checked at some point, I will, but I don't have to go there right now.

On the other hand, migraines are so common that I don't think everyone who has the type of visual auras we are talking about could possibly have an aneurysm.  I think that was the point of Eddie's mentioning them.  As I stated above, visual auras (AKA silent migraines or ocular migraines) are thought to be due to the temporary constriction of a blood vessel.  There is no lasting brain damage that anyone knows of.  

FWIW, I have had dyslexia as a migraine aura.  It only happened once.  Complete and total inability to read.  No zig-zags, no neon lights, no visual impairment of any kind.  I just looked down at the page of a book, and I could see it perfectly, but it looked like nothing more than random black ink marks on paper.  Now that was weird.  It lasted about 30 minutes.  Got a smashing headache but could read again from then on.

[HumanNature]

Thanks! Are they always neon-like? I don't think this is what I'm experiencing when I talk about blurriness. Have you ever had an unruptured brain aneurysm, sky? What symptoms did you experience at the time?

[skydnsr]

Typically, an aura will look like a neon light that is superimposed on the visual field.  You can't look around it; it is just there.  It keeps you from seeing well out of that eye.  Usually mine will look more or less like fuzzy lightning bolts, but one time I had one that looked like a British pound sign with green and pink checking.

[HumanNature]

Duchene,

Hi! How are you?

I'm interested in these zig-zags you are talking about - can you elaborate on the visual effect/feeling? I think this might be the type of 'blurry vision' I'm experiencing.

Thank you so much!

[skydnsr]

I have the same thing, from time to time.  I used to always get a migraine headache within about 45 minutes of having the aura; now I just get the visual aura.  I think some doctors call it an ocular migraine.  

If an ocular migraine or silent migraine is what duchene is having, it is annoying but, as far as I know, it is harmless.  I believe it results from the temporary constriction of a blood vessel in the brain.  If all the medical tests are negative, I would just try not to worry about it.  If it is happening frequently enough to be a problem, there may be some type of medication that duchene can take on a preventive basis, probably the same medications that are used to prevent migraine headaches.  

If it is just happening every once in a while for a few minutes at a time, I probably wouldn't bother to take medication, but that's just me.  My auras happen probably less than once a month and last for maybe 30-45 minutes, and I don't want to take a pill every day for that.  Duchene's doctor can advise her, once the test results are in.

[Eddie1994]

Don't rule out what is called an Aura - it usually but not always preceeds a Migraine.  You may not end up with a migraine or headache as well since Aura can occur independently.  I have had zig zags that started small and  within 20 minutes encompassed all of one eye.  If it continues, you may want to consult a Neurologist to discuss silent migraines ( I believe this is what they are called.)