Spontaneous Color Blindness

My 17 year old daughter at 2 o'clock in the afternoon (Aug 8) had an aura (spots with shimmery edges) that lasted for about a minute.  One hour later in the blink of the eyes, she could no longer see colors (states no headache),  Everything was in black and white. She was seen by an Ophthalmologist who said it was not due to the eye. He said  to take her home and have her rest and if it was not better the next day to call. The next day she still could only see in black and white, She was seen by our physician and the ophthalmologist again,  Blood work, MRI and further eye test were  performed. Every thing was normal. That evening she could see green this lasted through out the next day. Upon waking this morning the green is gone and she is back to black and white. They referred us to a neurologist, but we are not scheduled to see her until  Oct 3.  She has a history of migraines and has been treated. She has been migraine free for 3 months. Her neurologist is out on medical leave.  Do we wait or do we go somewhere else?  I have fear of some nerve problem.

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

While it is likely that these symptoms are migraine variants or equivilents, it would probably be  best to see a neurologist sooner. When physicians are sick or on vacation or at meetings etc it is customary to have another physician take their call. See if you can get a name from the physician on leave's office and see a neurologist sooner. Or you can also use the American Academy of Ophthalmology's website  www.aao.org and use the Find An Eye MD  feature to locate a neuro-ophthalmologist in your area.

If you daughter is on birth control pills that often will make migraines "go wild".

JCH III MD   Eye Physician & Surgeon

[Gimpette58]

She started on a birth control to regulate her cycle and decrease crampping about 3 months ago.  Have you ever heard of lossing color like this before?

I checked the AAO web site and found a neuro-ophthalmologist at the University of Minnesota Which is about 5 hours from us, and probably would make us feel better. I plan to call on Monday.

Thank you

[Gimpette58]

When you say that the brith control pill will make migraines "go wild" What do you mean?

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

Read the birth control pill (BCP) prescribing information or package insert. It will say that BCP should be used with caution in women that have migraine especially if they smoke.

BCP often make migraine worse or in women that have a tendency for migraine they can start to manifest themselves.

Women with BCP and migraines should discuss their options with their OB-Gyn or GP or FP. Women that smoke should strongly consider another method of contraception and of course STOP SMOKING.

JCH III MD FACS