Exercise enduced vision problems

During exercise, especially when my cardiopulmonary system is stressed, I experience a dark circle that is encircled with a ring around it. I experience a loss of vision when this occurs but only in the left eye. Can you tell me what this could possibly be? I also have a history of Retinitis Pigmentosa in my family but have been tested and am not a carrier nor do I have the disease.

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

That is a serious symptom that could represient major disease of the heart, blood vessels, brain or eye. I would suggest seeing an ophthalmologist/neuro-ophthalmologist and a cardiologist SOON. I would stop exercising until you do so.

JCH MD