Flashing in centre of vision

[Tachi55]

Hi, about 3 weeks ago I noticed a darker patch in the centre of my vision, though sometimes it looked more like a ring shape than a blotch. I thought this might be a scotoma, but I'm too young for Age-related Macular Degeneration (I'm 22) and I would've thought that 3 weeks is too long for an optical migrane.

I've also noticed a flickering in the centre of my vision. I thought that it might just be the odd wave patterns that I've occasionally seen since I was a child (I would see them sometimes when looking at a bright blue sky or another blank colour, and by that I don't mean the sun), but this is in the centre and thus more prevalent. It sometimes appears as a flashing light, and is there in some form 24/7 even when I close my eyes.

I've been tested with an Amsler Grid (both at home and at an Opticians) and I can see all of the lines fine and they aren't curvy. The only time I've had trouble with the Amsler Grid is when testing with a white-on-black one and looking at it in the dark, the dark patch would slightly cover the white spot. Though some medical sources say that the tests should be done in good lighting (and indeed the one at the opticians was)

I went to the local opticains and they said that my eyes were fine. Afterwards I went for an eye test at the hospital eye clinic and they said that they could see something near the macular but they weren't sure exactly what it meant, and the test which uses a laser to scan the rear texture of the eye came out fine.

I'm very worried if it'll get worse causing me to be unable to read. :(

[Tachi55]

I just hope that it's not something chronic. :(

[Tachi55]

Thanks for the reply. The doctor at the eye clinic who tested me couldn't give me a firm diagnosis, only that  there was a small clump akin to an exudate (though he wasn't exactly sure) near the Macular. Because of this, he booked an appointment to see the hospital's eye consultant who is specialised with the Macular. This will be in 2 to 3 weeks time, so I'm very anxious.

The problem did start when I was very anxious about one of my university module results, so that might point toward CSR along with my other symtoms. But the doctor didn't seem to notice anything on a Optical Coherence Tomography scan. or at least I think it was a OCT scan, I'm not entirely sure as I was quite panicked at the time of the results being given. It involved a laser going in two directions across my eye and they commented on my healthy double-curve.

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

It may be CSR but a retina doctor should be be to diagnose this through examination and office testing.  If you have not seen a retina specialist that needs to be your next step.  This could still be an ophthalmic migraine.  If all retina evaluations come back normal, this is the most likely diagnosis.

[Tachi55]

I hope it's Central Serous Retinopathy.