periph. vision loss only in low light

[dcmeserve]

Three days ago, I had a blunt trauma to my left eye.  I went to the emergency room right away, and the doctor there pronounced it as merely some hemorrhaging around the whites of the eye.  Her inspection of my retina seemed rather quick, though.  When I got home, I started noticing that there was a portion of my peripheral vision, from about the 9 'oclock position down to about 6 'oclock, where:

  - In low light, I couldn't make out my fingers wiggling.

  - In complete darkness, or eyes closed w/ my hands covering my eyes as well, the same region looks bright.

  - In bright light, I seem to be able to see just fine there.

  - Immediately after the incident, for about 5 or 10 minutes, that same region was completely dark, even in very bright light.

This doesn't extend all the way to the edge of my field of vision; in low light, if I start my hand at the center of field,  and move it farther away (while wiggling my fingers), my hand disappears when it gets maybe 45 degrees from center, and then reappears when it gets to the very edge of my peripheral vision.

Any ideas as to what this is?  I am planning to schedule a doctor visit to address it, but if this is benign, it would give me some piece of mind if I knew.  Thank you!

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

Glad the exam went well.
JCH MD

[dcmeserve]

Thanks Dr. Hagan!

Right after I saw your message, I was able to schedule an apptmt at 11:45am.  He gave it a good long look, and didn't see any problems in the retina at all.  Said the visual impairment is due to some inflammation in the retina, and should go away in a week.

The bright region when I'm in complete darkness has been getting fainter, and I think the level of light is having to be increasingly darker in order for me to not be able to see my fingers wiggling.

Thanks again!

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

I would see an Eye MD opthalmologist, ideally a retina specialist,  as soon as possible. I would try and get in today. Tell them about your peripheral vision being missing. It is very important to rule out a retinal detachment.

Find an Eye MD near you at www.aao.org

JCH MD