Hypoglycemia blind spot

I'm a 60-year-old female with insulin-dependent diabetes for 10 years (LADA).  Whenever I get low blood sugar, usually at night, I get a bright spot that varies in size from small to large in my field of vision - the lower the sugar, the bigger the spot.  It is usually a yellow-green glow that goes away as my blood sugar increases with treatment. I don't get blurry vision, as listed in almost all symptom lists, but a bright blind spot.  I haven't had an occular migraine or classical migraine with aura in at least 5 years.  Why do I get this bright blind spot?  Is it serious?


This discussion is related to Temporary Blind Spots.

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

As long as you have had a normal eye exam by an Ophthalmolgist (which you should have each year) this most likely represents the reaction of your retina to low blood sugar. The retina has a high metabolic rate. As long as it is always only associated with low blood sugar I would work on trying to get rid of the hypoglycemia
JCH MD

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

As long as you have had a normal eye exam by an Ophthalmolgist (which you should have each year) this most likely represents the reaction of your retina to low blood sugar. The retina has a high metabolic rate. As long as it is always only associated with low blood sugar I would work on trying to get rid of the hypoglycemia
JCH MD

[kona1248]

Thank you for your prompt response.  I am working with a Diabetic Nurse to get my blood sugar under better control, keeping food logs with insulin-to-carb ratios, and really keeping BGL down during the day.  Now we're working on minimizing all the lows I've been having during the night.  Maybe it's just a temporary adjustment problem.  The bright spot only happens during hypoglycemia and is not like the visual aura (bright shimmery zigzaggy spiral and blind spot that grow and then fade away) that happens with my occular and classical migraines.  Thanks again for your comments and recommendations.

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

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