Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Floaters, scotomata etc

Hello,
thank you in advance for patience -- because you will certainly need some if you are going to read this message. Sorry for my lame English and excessive details.

I am female, Caucasian, 25 years old, healthy. Or was healthy until Aug 8, when I started (quite abruptly, around midday if I'm not wrong) seeing light flashes with my left eye, in the single smallish spot of its visual field. Afraid of retinal rupture, I reserved check-up at ophthalmological center.
Next day (Aug 9) the frequency of flashes diminished, but in the same spot I started seeing "falling snow".
Aug 10, check-up, including Goldmann lens. Visual acuity OD=OS=20/20, IOP OS=OD=16. Pupils dilated maximally, anterior chamber, corpus vitreous, fundus -- everything is fine. Doctor checked very thoroughly, I went home calm.
Nothing special happened during the following week: I almost stopped seeing flashes, in addition to transparent "snow" I started seeing smallish gray "flies", moving with eye movement, in quite bearable amount and size.
On Aug 17 I discovered that the visual field of left eye is covered by "absent" little spots -- well, little negative scotomas, especially noticeable they were on text or Amsler grid. No metamorphopsia, no color vision changes, at least apparent. "Spots" didn't respect neither vertical, nor horizontal meridian (although they were more concentrated in the lower part of the field, but not exclusively). Funny thing: when I pressed on my eye or screwed my eyes up, they changed color to dark. Mild headache in the left eyebrow and temple region.
Aug 17, check-up. Visual acuity: OD=20/20, OS=20/40, not correctable by lenses (I could see letters, but to see them all I needed to move my head to change the position of these scotomas. IOP OS=12, OD=11.Pupils maximally dilated, anterior chamber, corpus vitreous are fine. Blunt reflex from macula, otherwise fundus is fine.
OCT: macular thickness OD=333, OS=218, nothing pathological, except maybe tiny tiny triangular-shaped strengthening of the signal from the very fovea OS. If you feel like looking at pictures, I have them scanned.
DS: Oedema maculae OS. Prescribed: acetazolamide 250 mg once daily (3 days), Diclophenac eye drops 3-5 times daily, control check-up on 21th of Aug.
Vision rapidly improved during these 3 days, scotomas became relative -- ie I could see through them, just like through small bits of parchment paper.
Aug 21, check-up. Visual acuity OD=20/20, OS=20/30-20/25. Reflex from macula improved.
MRI with contrast -- no apparent white matter lesions, optic nerves are symmetrical, no signs of inflammation.
In the beginning of Sep --  I still had floaters, both kinds, dark and "snow", few days Amsler's grid looked curvy, plus I have noticed the change in color perception. I cannot define which scale, or is it color vision at all and not contrast/brightness perception, but "it" is still with me. Amsler grid now looks identical with OS and OD. And tadaaa -- now I also have dark floaters in my right eye + I had some similar headaches but on the right side.

I plan to have another check-up, but it won't happen earlier than at the end of September. I would be grateful for any advice and recommendation, as well as for clues -- since I'm totally puzzled. What was (or is) that?
ON -- then why floaters?
Uveitis -- why two doctors didn't see it?
Some white dot syndrome -- again why two doctors didn't see it?
Something else?

PS. I have had second injection of Hep B vaccine on Aug 2. I do not smoke, I drink occasionally. I take oral contraceptives regularly for about 3 years, without any noticed side effects. I have never had problems with refraction, vision acuity always was normal, OS=OD. I don't know about any members of my family who has had similar problems with vision, although my father and my sister have myopia, if that matters.
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
And again thank you,

I am pleased and honored to receive your expert opinion, especially given the limitations of such consultation.
I am not sure if it is appropriate to continue torturing you and your colleagues with my curiosity, but if I dare to ask -- what could inflict binocular vitreomacular traction in otherwise healthy person? What would be appropriate follow-up?
Helpful - 0
711220 tn?1251891127
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The diagnosis is macular edema OS. However,  the OCT is 218 is on the thin side.  The floaters are consistent with vitreomacular traction.

Dr. O.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you doctor,

I totally intend to do so, but it will be possible only in the end of september (insurance thing). As I understand my current doctor, he also thinks about vitreomacular traction, and I was satisfied with that explanation until i developed floaters in the right eye.
Yes I am sure about OCT numbers. I can attach scanned results if it helps.
Helpful - 0
711220 tn?1251891127
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Part of this is a macular problem in the left eye.  See a retinal specialist.  This may be due to vitreomacular traction.  Are your sure of the number for the OCT OS?

Dr. O.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Aha, sorry, forgot to mention that now I don't have these dark multiple floaters in my left eye but "snow" is still there. In my right eye floaters are dark.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Community

Top General Health Answerers
177275 tn?1511755244
Kansas City, MO
Avatar universal
Grand Prairie, TX
Avatar universal
San Diego, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.