Stationary Spots in Vision

[kgroff]

Around November of last year I suddenly noticed that I had a weird spot in the visual field of my left eye. At first it looked a bit like the artifacts you get after looking at a bright light except that inside the spot there were little black specs and lines that moved through it (almost like an old movie), eventually it settled into the swirling pattern that it has now. I had my eyes dilated and the doctor said he could not see anything except a few small floaters but he didn't think those were the cause of my single spot. This spot has always stayed in one place to the left and slightly above the center of my vision.
Over the last week or so this spot seemed to suddenly be bothering me again after I thought my brain had finally gotten used to it. Then today I realized that I have a new spot right below the original spot which looks almost the same as the first one did when it first started. I have not had any kind of physical injuries to my head or face, this just came out of nowhere. It is very distracting and frankly freaks me out a little.
My right eye also has spots but they are not stationary they flash around my visual field and come and go. I also have flashes when I turn my eyes a certain way but I only notice this if I'm in a dark room. Also when I turn my "too far" which sometimes is only far enough to look at the collar of my shirt, I see stars in my vision.
Most of the information I've found so far says these things are caused by the break down of the gel in the eye and that sometimes it pulls on the retina (causing the flashes). They say it's a normal part of aging and that's fine except that I'm only in my early 20s, they also say it can be caused by nearsightedness, and I am nearsighted but only moderately, my Dad and Sister are much more nearsighted than I. I'm wondering if there is something else that could be causing this and what kind of doctor I should see about it.

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

I would suggest you see an Eye MD ophthalmologist that specializes in retina disease. If you live in the USA find one at www.aao.org    You need a macular OCT from the nature of your symptoms.


JCH MD

[ddb88220]

Please post an update once you've seen the Retinal expert.  You are the 1st person I've found so far that has something similar to me.

Thanks

[kgroff]

OCT showed nothing and still no sign of any eye problems. I have a spot in my right eye too now. I also am having other visual distortions (shakey visual field where stantionary thing looks like they are moving) and after looking online about those I think they are caused by my bad neck. I am hoping that the swirly spots will go away too once I'm finally able to loosen up my neck, shoulder, and jaw muscles. Until then I'm just trying to ignore them as best I can.

[FayeX]

I have exactly these symptoms! What did you find out?

[kgroff]

lines look straight but have a blind spot where the one spot is in my left eye that's been there for months. It's that one spot that has concerned/intrigued my eye doctor enough that he's going to refer me to the best retinal expert in my area.  Since writing my first post the new spot and another like it have come and gone. the new ones tend to last about two days then fade. The original spot however hasn't changed at all.

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

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[ddb88220]

Hi.  

Not sure if I'm experiencing something exactly like you, but similar.  I've had floaters for years, since I was a kid.  Just turned 31.  My right eye, however, has this new thing where it's like a mild blind spot or distortion.  I've been to the eye Dr., the Retina Specialist, the Neurologist, MRI checking for MS which was negative (thank Jesus), back to Retina Specialist who said she can't find anything wrong with my eye.  Macula perfect, etc.  Google "amsler grid".  follow the instructions and let me know if you the lines appear straight or if some are bent or curvy or missing pieces.  my left eye is fine, but my right eye sees the grid as slightly curvy.