Visual Field Testing, and drugs

Posted by Sue on August 08, 1999 at 16:33:39
I wrote several weeks ago complaining off flickering, snow, vibration, pain in and around my right eye. There has been no improvement. I have been to see my opthomolgist twice and he basically felt I was malingering as all the test results were coming back normal ( skull xray for sinusitus, ctscan just for the eyes, glaucoma, pink eye ).
Weeks after the pain in my right eye  I started seeing all sorts of weird things from rapidly darting lines, undulating shapes, flickering purple/blues spots when I close my eyes. At night, my night vision is not right I seem to see small light greyish areas in my vision that move as I move my eyes and even when I close my eyes I can still 'see' them; if I concentrate on looking at them I notice they seem to slowly change shape in both eyes!! During the day, I find it uncomfortable to watch TV, between the glare and I feel as if my vision was not right in my right eye. I still see the snow/vibration, flickering. Sometimes in dim light I can see three colorless 'ball' like shapes that rotate rapidly which last for a few minutes then disappear.
Recently seeking a second opinion I saw an optomitrist and he wanted to do a Visual Field Test and maybe send me to a Neuro-opthomlogist ( exactly what you recommended to me ) which my previous opthomologist never suggested!!
My questions are: what eye conditions are they looking for with a Visual Field test? What can a Neuro-opthomologist do for me?
I am also on drugs prescribed by my Family Doctor for the pain and stress and I wondered if any of them can cause eye problems and if so what are they? How long does it take to get them out of my system if they are causing my vision problems, so my vision returns to normal?
Amitriptyline
zopiclone
tylenol # 3
ativan.    
Thanks for any information.

Posted by HFHS MD-JL on August 09, 1999 at 09:09:20
A visual field test is a way to check you peripheral vision.  A neuro-ophthalmologist is a specialist who treats conditions of the optic nerve and visual pathways in the brain.  He may or may not be able to do anything for what you are describing.  The medicines you are on may cause some visual blurring but not likely to explain the symptoms you are having.
This information was provided for educational purposes only.
HFHS MD-JL