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Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Vison Disturbances and And Movements
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Vison Disturbances and And Movements
by DarciB, May 04, 2007 12:00AM
I have noticed flickering in my vision (like a strobing effect). I have also recently noticed floaters and litlle flashes of light in my peripheral vision when looking at the sky or a white wall. Also, my eyes are not focusing correctly, primarilyin my peripheral vision. It seems as if my eyes are working against each other and cannot agree on where to look. Also, upon waking from sleep I have noticed my eyes have been twitching and rolling, back and forth. Ive had a CT Scan,a MRI, and multiple blood tests. Everything came back normal, the only exception was the antibodies with my thyroid. My TSH levels are still fine, but my thyroid is enlarged and slowly being killed by the antibodies. I am seeing a endocrynologis in 3 weeks. I have seen and opthalmologist and a optometrist, both said my eyes are fine. The nueurologist diasnosed them as ocular migraines and gave me preventive medicine, i have been taking it for a month now and see no improvement. All these symptoms have presented themselves within the past 3-4 months. DO you have any idea what going on? Should I have another MRI? Could this be caused by something serious? I have made an appt with the neuro-op again. This is really scaring me, its going to be hard to go to sleep tonite. Help!
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, May 04, 2007 12:00AM
'I have noticed flickering in my vision (like a strobing effect).'
well the big thing we all think when someone says 'flashes' is retinal detachment. but if you had this symtom before and have seen both an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, then you're fine. they already ruled out serious eye problems. with your other listed symptoms, i personally kind of doubt anything is seriously wrong. i think you're mostly seeing entoptic phenomena.
'I have also recently noticed floaters and little flashes of light in my peripheral vision when looking at the sky or a white wall.'
a known and common entoptic phenomenon called 'scheerer's phenomenon'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_field_entoptic_phenomenon
'It seems as if my eyes are working against each other and cannot agree on where to look.'
this sounds like either a refractive or binocular problem.
'Also, upon waking from sleep I have noticed my eyes have been twitching and rolling, back and forth.'
again, nothing serious here, but this could be a refractive or binocular problem.
'All these symptoms have presented themselves within the past 3-4 months. DO you have any idea what going on?'
no. could be thyroid, could be neurological, could be nothing.
'Should I have another MRI?'
no.
'Could this be caused by something serious?'
i personally kind of doubt it given the fact that you've had multiple eye exams and neurologists visits w/o a definitive diagnosis...
well the big thing we all think when someone says 'flashes' is retinal detachment. but if you had this symtom before and have seen both an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, then you're fine. they already ruled out serious eye problems. with your other listed symptoms, i personally kind of doubt anything is seriously wrong. i think you're mostly seeing entoptic phenomena.
'I have also recently noticed floaters and little flashes of light in my peripheral vision when looking at the sky or a white wall.'
a known and common entoptic phenomenon called 'scheerer's phenomenon'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_field_entoptic_phenomenon
'It seems as if my eyes are working against each other and cannot agree on where to look.'
this sounds like either a refractive or binocular problem.
'Also, upon waking from sleep I have noticed my eyes have been twitching and rolling, back and forth.'
again, nothing serious here, but this could be a refractive or binocular problem.
'All these symptoms have presented themselves within the past 3-4 months. DO you have any idea what going on?'
no. could be thyroid, could be neurological, could be nothing.
'Should I have another MRI?'
no.
'Could this be caused by something serious?'
i personally kind of doubt it given the fact that you've had multiple eye exams and neurologists visits w/o a definitive diagnosis...
This has happened in conjunction with a change in my medication...from risperdal to abilify. I know that one of abilify's side effects can be seizure, could this be an aura?
I just went to get my eyes checked at the opticians and aside from being short sighted he said my eyes look healthy.
Thanks.