Blurry Spot When looking at Long Lights....

[Jegolden1]

I am 19 years old, normally healthly male.

Yesterday(although to be honest this could have happening for a while), I noticed that when I look at long lights(such as flourescent bulbs or a series of normal light bulbs next to each other) and move my eye focus left and right, a very small blurry spot moves with the focus of my eyes. It's not like it's directly in my vision, it actually appears to be moving left and right on the light bulb/bulbs themselves. My normal vision does not have this blurry spot, although I am concerned that the high intensity of these lights is showing me a problem that can/will begin to become worse.

Thank you,
jegolden1

[John C Hagan]

Sabella, it's okay to fly with a retinal detachment or a retinal tear UNLESS you have had surgery and the ophthalmic surgeon has injected a special gas (SF6) or a large amount of air into the eye. Generally they will warn you if they have done this.

JCH MD Eye Physician and surgeon

[Sabella2]

Hello Blurry Spot,

I have a rare corneal dystrophy, a genetic condition called posterior polymorphic dystrophy.  It has been diagnosed as benign, and I have been to the corneal
center at Mass Eye and Ear several times. My cornea has even been photographed for  medical textbooks. In fact, the head cornea specialist at MEEI told me that
he's never seen a configuration of ppmd like the one I have, making it rarer still.

I have read about some other corneal conditions and talked with other corneal patients--my regular exams are every two years now.  During my eye exams,
I usually get a group of medical students coming to check out my eyes.  Every
time I have an eye exam now for PVD, the doctors say things like, "Can you
see ok?" But my particular corneal dystrophy is not a harmful one, although
in some it can be.

What you describe makes me wonder if it might be a corneal condition.  If you call MEEI, ask for Dr. Dohlman in the Corneal Center, or one of his resident assistants and maybe they can assist you further.  Describe your symptoms and you'll get a call back.  

Also, question for the Good Doctor: Is it ok to fly (on a commercial airline jet) with operculated retinal tear and PVD?

Best,
Sabella2

[John C Hagan]

Photophobia just means increased sensitivity to light. Like when you're pupils are dilated or when you're at the beach on a very bright sunny day. Allergy mainly causes itching and perhaps some swelling and watering. Photophobia is not a symptom of allergy nor should allergy cause the light phenomena you described.

JCH MD

[Jegolden1]

I hate to be such a bother, but I did have one more question.
I have been suffering from extreme allergies for a while. Is it possible my issue could be related to photophobia, which I have heard can be a side effect of allergies.

[Jegolden1]

Thank you at least for your time.
I do think that this has been happening to me for a while. The concern again is that while my normal vision is fine right now, perhaps looking at these bright lights is a predictor for future issues.

It's not even a blurry spot as so much just a faint gray that appears to be moving from light to light along with my vision path, not instateneously, but tracing it. It isn't noticable when my head is still, just when I move side to side with my eyes and focus.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I'm sorry I can't make any authoritative comments. Perhaps some of the other ophthalmologist will comment or perhaps some readers may have experienced the same situation.

JCH MD