Vision loss in one eye

Three weeks ago, I started developing a gray spot in my right eye, that grew quite noticeable after about three days, when I called my ophthalmologist, who had been treating me for dry eye. They got me in that day.  Pupils were dilated and they immediately saw swollen optic nerve in my right eye. Blood tests ruled out AION, NAION consensus view of the ophthalmologist, neuro op and my internist was likely a small plaque in an artery feeding the optic nerve. I have a history of high cholesterol and extremely labile BP. Taking Crestor and Tekturna. EKG, carotid artery ultrasound, echo cardiogram all came back normal. At first the vision loss was minor with central vision still around 20/40. However, it has slowly gotten worse with a broadening area of blurriness top to bottom and side to side. Vision is almost gone in my right eye. Now three weeks out, it is still not stabilized.  Besides treating for atherosclerosis, is there any hope of dissolving this so-called plaque and my vision returning to normal? Is it worth seeing any other kid of specialist? The blind spot is not black, it's translucent and actually quite bright.

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear Neil200,

You might want to seek the care of a retinal specialist as well as a neuro-ophthalmologist.  If you are still not comfortable, seek a second opinion by visiting the AAO.org www site.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California