Central Vision Blackout Randomly

I was recently diagnosed with having a migraine disorder related to anxiety that I inherited from my maternal grandma. Over the past few months (I cannot remember if this started before or after I had sinus surgery in January, which is also when my migraine disorder began by sheer coincidence) I have had central vision blackouts -- or blackouts in the center of my eye where I cannot see anything that is straight in front of me but I can see to the sides fine. It lasts for a few minutes and then slowly fades away. My eye feels uncomfortable while it is happening and after (it happened in my right eye last night and my eye is STILL uncomfortable today). It sometimes happens in both eyes and other times in just one- mainly the right eye. It has only happened at night. I called my doctor and am waiting to hear back from her on what I should do next. Any ideas what might be causing this? Is it possibly related to the migraines?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

There are many causes.  You need to see an EyeMD for an exam.

Dr. O.

[luminous10]

It sounds like you may have a brain tumor. This may sound extreme to you but it usually would cause this kind of vision loss. I would get an MRI done and go from there. Drink a relaxing chamomile tea at night. Be aware that when you're dealing with doctor's they tend to want you to take various medications with no real surity of the problem, get right to the point and avoid making the issue larger than it is. Hope this information helps you get back to serenity.

[EJ5]

I had the condition you described. It wasn't a "blackout" in my vision, but a "hole" in my central vision; that is, the hole wasn't black, it just deleted whatever was in my central vision.  In some people who suffer migranes (migraines), they have pre-migrane symtoms (symptoms) and loss of vision is one of them.  I could always tell a migraine was coming because of that hole in my vision, which lasted about 15-20 minutes, then the migraine hit.  I looked it up one time, the condition has a name, of which I cannot recall.  You may want to look under the migrane (migraine) forums.  I had this condition for about 2 years, but luckily I haven't had a migrane (migraine) for some months now (knock on wood).  

Of course, if your migranes (migraines) are severe, you would want get checked in order to rule out any potentially serious condiiton.

And to luminous10:  I do not agree with your post.  And the part "...get right to the point and avoid making the issue larger than it is?"  How could an issue be larger than a brain tumor?  

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

There are many causes.  You need to see an EyeMD for an exam.

Dr. O.

[atown911]

My doctor called and referred me to an ophthamologist, which I will be seeing on Thursday. I'll update this after I get some more info! Thank you all for you help!

And I agree, it's probably not a brain tumor. I had a CAT scan done of my head in the early Spring.

[plantationdoll]

My grandson is experiencing blackouts in vision.  He is 10 years old and
when he was 3 he had brain surgery to remove a infectious mass, probably staff.  He had a long recovery and they told us it was caused by
a sinus infection.  The mass was between the skull and the mengis.
He has been doing great, but I remember that his neurogolist told us that
he would be 10 or 12 before his brain would be completely in place and
healed.  We watch him to make sure he doesn't get head insuries, etc.
Please advise.