dark flashes in right eye and pain

[my2babies]

I am a 32yo female and have had a dark flash happening in my right eye for 3 years. The flash is a dark blob that changes shape, in the center of my vision, and lasts only a second.  The flash will stay for months at a time and disappear for a few weeks. I went thru 2 MRI's and LP for possible MS (optic neuritis) which came back negative. I did have some spots on the brain that seemed to have disappeared by the 2nd MRI, 1 year later. In the last 3 weeks I have had pain in my right eye (no spot until it came back today) that comes and goes, lasts only a few seconds. The pain also is in my cheek bone, upper molars,jaw and side of nose at times. I am planning on seeing a retinal specialist this week however my regular Opthamologist saw nothing wrong 3 weeks ago.  I have had many eye doctors look and only conclude Occular migraines without pain.  Since the flashes last for months at a time it is hard for me to beleive they are migraines.  This all began after the birth of my first daughter when I was sleep deprived and stressed out.  When I see the flash it is very fast and I only notice it if i am typing, watching tv, my eyes are closed, or I am inside being still. I never notice it when I am active or driving.
I am feeling anxious that is is something serious with my brain or eye. Thank you in advance for your time.

[my2babies]

Just an update...I started getting VERY dizzy/nauseaus last thursday that lasted til sunday so I went to the er and they did a cat scan, no brain tumor or other concerns thank God! But...yesterday I saw a neurologist who wants a 3rd MRI and seems to assume the vision flash is a form of optic neuritis (an MS exascerbation that never fully went away 3 years ago) and the dizziness may be a new ms symptom.  We will know when we see the mri, that is if new lesions are present, especially on the balance part of my brain. I am absolutely scared to death and can hardly make it through the day. I don't have the mri until friday morning and don't know if the neuro will be able to see me after the mri to review results.  I keep looking into MS on the internet which is giving me horrible, scary info.  I have 2 little girls, 1 & 3 years old and feel so cheated in life if I have this.  I know there are varying forms of MS but knowing what form I could have will not be clear for years either. The flashing I have had in my eye is so not typical for Optic Neuritis.  And since it hasn't gone away or changed in 3 years does that mean I will have Progressive MS where the syymptoms never go away, just new ones build up?? Please someone give me some answers!!! I can't bear this weight...

[Ag-i-doc]

yes, aneurysms can definitely be too small to show up on an MRI...

BUT!  IMO the absolutely TINY ones are pretty unlikely to cause too many symptoms.  i dont know.  you really do need to be seeing a neuro-ophth.

[my2babies]

I have had 2 mri's in the past since this flashing has been going on (11/2002 & 6/2004) and an aneurysm was never detected. Could it have been too small to show on the mri? If it was an aneurysm would it be normal for the flashing to come and go? I have the flashing shape for days/weeks at a time (every 30 seconds sometimes) then it goes away for days/weeks.  I believe it to be sleep related as it happens when I don't get a good night's sleep but goes away after I have "caught up on sleep). I am waiting to hear from the neuro-opth to get started with him on finding some answers.  My left thumb was tingly for about 24 hours this week but went away.  I don't beleive this is an MS symptom as I understand them to develop and get worse for 7-10 days then recover for 2-12 months. Thanks for your help! Aimee
PS there seem to be a few posters here with this same issue...what could that mean?

[Ag-i-doc]

a "bubble" in a blood vessel is called an "aneurysm".  no, an eye doc would only be able to "see" it if it was *IN* your retina/eye, or might be able to detect it with a visual field or pupil testing *IF* it was pressing on your optic nerve.  otherwise nobody can see or detect those until they burst or get big enough to show up on an MRI

[my2babies]

Just to add, I have never had high BP, mine is actually always pretty low. I looked into this and now I fear I could have a stroke...what kind of doctor should I see? Would this show up on am mri? Since I am not having the spot now I imagine I am not at present risk, but I have had the spot on/off for 3 years..would'nt I have had a stroke already? So confusing!!

[my2babies]

Interesting...I did have another child 20 months after the first one and nothing changed.  Could a retinal eye doctor see this bubble? I just saw the retinal specialist and he gave me a clear report, says it's my brain as my retina's are healthy. I have tried to see if the flash coordinates with my pulse but it doesn't seem like it does, although it is so similar in speed and frequency.  Are you a doctor? Can you tell me any more about this condition? My next step is to see a neuro-opthamologist to review past mri/spinal tap results...going the ms route again although I don't have typical symptoms and everything in the past is negative for ms.  The flsah is gone again, been gone a few days as I have caught up on my sleep...I am 90% sure it is sleepo related. THanks for your post!! Aimee

[jamjam]

I wonder whether the blood pressure spikes which are a normal and expected part of giving birth might have made a small bubble in one of your Internal Carotid arteries. These arteries are prone to develop bubbles under some circumstances, and they run right behind the eyeballs, so a bubble in one can press against the retina, causing a flash of darkness or light when you move your eyes just right,or when blood pressure to your head rises above baseline for some reason. Have you noticed seeing your pulse in the affected eye after exercise, such as climbing a long flight of stairs? If this is what's going on, it's not necessarily an emergency, but you might want to be evaluated before having another child.

[Ag-i-doc]

yes, please see the retinal specialist and tell him/her you're worried about your flashes & visual symptoms.

you are not a hypochondriac.  you have a legitmate complaint and real symptoms.  just b/c no one has figured out exactly what it *IS* yet, does not mean it doesnt exist.

good luck & you're welcome!

[my2babies]

I know I am being a hypocondriac about the tumor, although the mri's were in 2002 and 2004.  I think it must be migraines brought on by lack of sleep or a potential retinal detachment. I will proceed with the retinal specialist and if he, again, finds my eye to be healthy I will accept the migraines and not push for an MRI unless something else happens.  Thank you so much doctor.

[Ag-i-doc]

okay a tumor shows up on an MRI.  even tiny ones show up.  if you had 2 MRI's and they found absolutely NOTHING, then it is HIGHLY unlikely you have a tumor.

optic neuritis has other symptoms...vision loss, obviously swollen nerve head, iritis or iridocyclitis, etc.  no eye doc would miss any of those (i would hope!) and if you had vision loss it would show up on visual field testing, etc.  

i have not seen you, but from what you describe, i am agreeing with your previous docs.  migraine aura is still a good possibility.

migraines are funny things.  you know a migraine is kind of "faulty wiring" to the nerves that control blood vessel dilation & constriction.  yes, someone could in theoyr have a 3 year migraine, although that would be odd...

[my2babies]

Thank you for your post.  With occular migraines is it possible then to have them all the time? I always thougth migraines lasted 30+ minutes then went away.  My flashes are every 30 seconds when I am paying attention and last months, some days they are father apart (every 2 minutes). Since I don't have color fading or dimmed, blurred vision and I can see the flash with my eyes closed my Neuro ruled out ON, do you agree? Also I always pass the evoked response test (may have that wrong).  I just worry like I did 3 years ago that there is a tumor pushing on the back of my eye (self diagnosis) but figure in 3 years I would have gotten sick or died.  I just am so frustrated and scared. It is very kind of you to take the time to address my concerns, thank you. Aimee

[Ag-i-doc]

pressure phosphenes only occur when you or something PHYSICALLY or MANUALLY presses on your eye.  in that other thread i was really clarifying what some other poster described as something like "snow", which to my knowledge is not a clinical diagnosis of anything.

what you describe does not sound to me like pressure phosphenes.  it sounds like ocular migraine aura.  i'm sure you've heard that before, and i'm sorry if i am just repeating what every other doc has told you, but thats what it sounds like.

the other thing it could be is retinal traction w/o hole or detachment.  both of those can be really, really difficult to diagnose.

i am an optometrist in private practice in Texas...

[my2babies]

I just read another post that descibes the same thing I have experienced, titled Flashing Shapes in Right Eye 10/17/05. Which thrills me as I have been explaining this for 3 years without acknowledgement! You noted it could be pressure phosphenes but I looked into it and it seems similar but not exact. I agree that it could be pressure on the retina interfering with signals from the brain but my questions is "why" is there pressure. It seems that the flash has something to do with lack of sleep, which I have had with 2 small children. It was gone for 3 weeks and came back today while least night I didn't sleep well at all. The pain I have is very slight and comes and goes with seconds. I don't know if the pain "ache" is related or from my worrying. Are you a doctor?  I noticed you post here often, any other similar stories? I really appreciate your response!!

[Ag-i-doc]

you are already doing all the right things...going to a retinal specialist and having neuro work-ups.

it is *still* possible that this is a form of ocular migraine.  in fact, thats what i sincerely hope it is, b/c most of the other things it could be are brain related and more dangerous (like MS)  

keep going to your appointments & good luck!