Pressure Phosphenes

[madnmas]

To give a little needed background information....For 6-8 weeks I let go what I thought was a sinus infection without the care of a dr. The pain got really bad with my sinuses, particularly on the left side of my face....ear pressure, tinnitus, sinus pressure, eye pain (not to say it was not on the right side, too, but that was the primary location of the pain). I went into the dr. and got on two different antibiotics over a 3 week period of time (Z-pac, Omnicef). This did not clear anything up so I went back in with the same symptoms. She stated if there was any infection that by this time I would be fine. She put me on a nasal steroid and Allegra D and I was 80% better within 24 hours. I obviously have allergies. I am continuing with the Allegra and nose spray and continue to get better. (It is necessary to add that my spouse has the same sympoms during the same time I do which helps prove the diagnosis of allergies)

During the time period that I let the sinus issues "go" for several weeks,  I got a small grey spot in the same eye that I had the most sinus pain with (left). It is oval in shape (very small) and has flashing lights inside it (kinda resembles static on a tv). I only see it when I blink and it seems to respond only to lighting and blinking. It may just be circumstantial, but it appeared as though it gets better (and not so pronounced) when I actually feel better and do not have as much pain with my sinuses. I went to see my optometrist (not realizing I need to see an OPthamologist) and he did do some thorough testing and everything came out normal. When I have both eyes open I have to really concentrate to see it. When I close my "good" eye it is more prominent. It in no way whatsoever affects my vision unless I TRY to make it do so by purposefullly blinking with the intent to look at it. I suffer from general anxiety and it seems from reading other people's posts on this subject, it is extremely difficult to ignore (as benign as it may be) and concentrating on it all the time makes it probaly appear worse than it even is. I feel if I ignore it and don't try to blink a million times a day to see it I would probably not even notice it. In fact, one day I attempted to stop myself from purposefully looking at it and several times I even forgot about it.

Although I do not feel that the internet is the best way to diagnose one's self, everything that is happening with this "spot" appears to be what people describe as a pressure phosphene. Yes, I am following up with an opthamologist this week. I would find it hard to believe that this spot would have nothing to do with my sinus issues that I let go way too long since it is the same side of my face with the extreme pain since it appeared during this same time.

I am trying to relieve some of my anxieties so I have a few questions. If in fact it does appear that I again have a normal eye check up,

#1 Can these pressure phosphenes last for months, years, possibly forever?
#2 Why would it be that after a person feels better or improves from what brought it on would it still remain?
#3 Are pressue phosphenes considered rare? Researching this on the internet brought very little information.

Thank you in advance for the time that you have taken to read this post. I appreciate any insight you have that might relieve some of my anxieties.  To other posters, please understand that I do suffer from anxiety in relation to health concerns and am trying to stay clear from reading anything absolutely negative or harmful to one's health.

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

There are all kinds of things going on in our body that we "tune out" anxiety brings them out and makes us concentrate on them. For example people that are always hearing their heart beat.

These background events in the eye are called collectively entopic phenomena. Pressure phosphenes can bbe demonstrated on almost everyone if a person looks for them.

you plan to see an Eye MD ophthalmologist is important to be sure you do not have problems with the retina or optic nerve.

JCH MD

[madnmas]

bump.....


HELLO?

[madnmas]

Dr.,

I have seen you post relpies to this same subject. I was hoping you would see my post and answer. Is there any way that this could be a prolonged scintillating scotoma?

I found this on wiki and this image on the right is exactly what I see, but there is only one spot...not two....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scintillating_scotoma

The only difference is that it does not expand...it just appeared and then stayed. Can opthamologists literally "see" these scotomas upon exam? The other difference is it is notable upon blinking and it did occur when I was having these major sinus symptoms.

Thank you. Please reply.