Type of flashes, Type of floaters,Eye pressure

Posted by Jan on July 04, 1999 at 17:29:32
Dear Doctors, wonder if you could clarify flwg.
Type of flashes.
Understand that typical flashes related to vitreous detachment
(collaps) with and without retina tears/holes are everything
from camera flashlike lights through starbursts and lighting
and minimal twinkles, and others. However common for
above is that it lasts for only few seconds.
Own History:: ( 52 years, 20/20 vision)
The "FLASHES" starts as am small illuminated dot in the midst
of the eye . Increases to a half circled figure zig zag line.
twinkeling its way to the edge of the eye end disapeare.
The whole schenario last from 15 to 20 minutes.
Does not people with silent migraine have more or less
same symtoms (symptoms), however on both eyes on the same time.
Expierence above flashes in 1991 (a couple of times only)
thence in 1994 (after completed a maraton run). then nothing
before June ,October 1999, thence more frequently in January
1999 then last time in Mai ( sometimes in left and sometimes in
the right eye)
Floaters.
Did not observe any mentionable floaters before March 1999.
An appointment with an ophthalmologist came out with a small round hole in 7 o,clock, and lattice degeneration
in 9 and 12 o.clock in the right eye.....and latticedegen in
left eye at 11 o.clock. Also viitrerous (corpus) detatchment.
Another story is when visited Retina surgeon he found
the hole in one o.clock and nothing else...The hole lasered
nice and easy....wonder why one o.clock in stead of 7 o.clock.
unless the degen in 12 o.clock (finding of the first doctor) had
developed to a hole ( 12 and 1 o.clock is close)..
Now who have best eye-sight the first ophthalmologist
(young energitic female) or the mature expierenced laser
specialist, is unknown...but the first one dilated  more than the
other one...knowing small holes in the edges could be hard to
find.
Assume the floaters are on account of the vitreous detachm.
and the long lasting flashes from the hole in retina or both.
Then why did it take years before any floaters appeared.
and why the flashes alternating on both eyes..and one hole
in right eye.
Questions
Is there any difference in shapes and forms in vitreous
floaters and tear-film floaters (debree from retina)
Nature of my floaters as follows: 3 black dots, several more
greyish dots. one vertical hair (is it cob web) and several
horizontal look like hairs. some colourless small round dots. and
from time to time sees some colourless bended lines (like  a
worm).....do not have any problems with either of them...but
should be interesting to know if those figures orginated from
the gel..or some of them are from the retina...then again why
should it be particles from the retina since   lattice degeneration
often developes round (atropic) holes without floaters...
When talking vitreous detachement, does that mean all
or partly of the gel have divorced itself  from the retina.
if all. is that not a risk factor less.(tears other damages)
Does people with above average pressure on their eyes
18-19 -20 have higher risk for retina problems than others.
or is the pressure related to above mention at all.
Monitoring of lattice degeneration, what schedule is
adviseable. 6 months and 12 months.
BRGDS
And thanks for your reply in advance.

Posted by HFHS MD - NI on July 04, 1999 at 18:23:13
The long lasting flashing lights you describe sound more like ophthalmic migranes (migraines).
It is not uncommon for people to have lattice degneration and for there to be some holes in the lattice.  These holes do not necessary correlate with vitreous separations as the vitreous is not the real cause of these hole, it is the thin retina.  For this reason, you could have a hole with no symptoms.
The vitreous slowly detaches from the retina and can take several months to complete.  There is increased risk of retinal tears until the vitreous is completely detached although the risk is small.
Generally eye pressure unless very high is not related to retinal problems and 18 - 20 would be considered statistically normal range.
Lattice degeneration monitering depends upon the extent of lattice and the number of holes.
For more information and specific answers to your condition, you should discuss all of these questions with your ophthalmologist.
This information is for educational purposes only.