Entopic Phenomenon

I am 30 years old and have been experiencing entopic phenomenon for about 18 months now.  I’ve seen an optometrist, two ophthalmologists, and a neuro ophthalmologists in that time period.  None of these doctors have been able to find anything wrong with my vision, which is obviously a good thing.

I am also a hypochondriac who has been taking prozac for the last week or so.  In the last few days, I’ve noticed increased entopic phenomenon.  Three questions…..  First, could the increase be due to the mind-altering effects of prozac.  Second, have you ever heard of hypnotherapy helping get rid of the entopic phenomenon?  Finally, the entopic phenomenon always gets worse the longer I focus on something.  Does that make sense with a diagnosis of entopic phenomenon?

Thanks for your help.

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

Hello Fred,   Glad the extended exams turned up nothing serious.

1. There is no prescribing literature on Prozac or other anxiety/depression medications causing increased entoptic phenomena.
2. I have never heard of hypno-therapy getting rid of entoptic phenomena. Perhaps a better use of you time and money would be to try and get rid of the hypochondriasis.

3. Most symptoms be they bad backs, breathing difficulties, extra-heartbeats get worse as you focus on them. The background noise of the living human body is like a room full of people all talking (perhaps a cocktail party) there's generally a drone. If you turn your head and ears you can sort of hone in on one conversation. That's the way we direct our mind's "eye" to the different sounds and sights of the functioning body.

If its any help entoptic (or entopic) phenomena are a very common reason for posting on the two eye websites.

JCH III MD   Eye Physician & Surgeon

[davinaj]

is it true that if you start looking for these visual anomolies you will basically find them?

[davinaj]

I find that when I am stressed/anxious all these things are more obvious. Does the brain learn to tune them out by itself or do we need to practice?

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

Most people if you tell them what to look for can "find" the entoptic phenomena. If I stop a second while I'm typing this out and move my eyes I can see my floaters and if I look at the screen I can see the "flying corpusles".

You don't practice not seeing them you just get busy and do something else and go about your business. Once you know they're "normal" you shouldn't worry any more about it than hearing your stomach "growl" or your knuckles "pop".

JCH III MD    Eye MD

[fredhtuttle]

Thanks JCH M.D.,

Your response is much appreciated.  I think the thing I find most frustrating is that there is little information about it on the web.  It seems to be a fairly confusing thing, too, because most people think this phenomenon is actually floaters.  Those of us with both problems know differently.

I have just one other question for you.  Since entopic phenomenon is very distinct in its description (somewhat bright, like something in a Petri dish, mainly visible on white or blue backgrounds), is there anything else that it could be?  No other eye problem I have found seems to match the description.  Thanks so much for your time. Fred Tuttle

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

Be sure you've read this reference and some of the links:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entoptic_phenomenon


I try and never say "never" but I can think of no eye disorder I've treated or studied that would cause similiar problems.

JCH III MD

[barby33]

A related discussion, floaters was started.