Visual disturbance or distortion in child

[Babs]

My 10 year old has, for 3 years, been having intermittent visual disturbances. She describes them as her vision moving very quickly from side to side (for a split second). This sometimes happens in only one eye. Also it sometimes happens whereby her vision goes up and down (for a split second). She says these distorbances are like 'when you fast forward a video'. It can happen at anytime - in bed, when reading or writing, when watching T.V. Basically they happen at any time. Also, her eyes usually become sensitive to light and may feel watery when she tries to open them. She has been seen by a consultant neurologist and an optimologist and had an MRI, EEG and optimology tests but nothing has shown up. Her neurologist said that it is not epilepsy. Her optimologist says it could be that blood vessels at the base of her brain may be spasming and distorting her vision. But they do not know what is causing it. These visial distorbances had eased but since Christmas have been getting very frequent, approximately 20 times per day and upsetting her. She did have myoclonic epilepsy when she was 4 years old and responded immediately when on epilim syrup. She has been clear and on no medication for 4 years now. Can someone tell me what is happening?

[Forum-OD-MP]

not easily, no.  this is definitely a neurological problem, not an eye problem...even tho her symptoms are visual.

[aimee37]

Have you taken her to a neuro-opthalmologist? They look at the connections between the eyes and the brain, whereas opthalmologists concentrate on eye function, and neurologists concentrate on brain funtion, which can miss the connection between. Good luck to you!