vision blackout w/ peripheral sparkles

[cb97138]

Hi this is my first time posting to this site, I posted this question in the support community also.
I am 38, 5'1", 103 lbs.  Recently I've been diagnosed as prehypertensive & was put on a really low dose of beta blocker. I've been having arrhythmia, PAC's, and dizzy spells for about 8 mos before going to see the dr.  I've always had a floater and  astigmatism, and I wear reading glasses.  Several nights ago, I was walking in my house from one room to the next, and my vision went completely black, except for rings of sparkly lightning in my far peripheral vision.  It lasted maybe a minute. There was no pain, but I did (and still do) feel disoriented a bit, and dizzy, both come in small unpredictable tiny little waves. Admittedly, I can't be sure if it was one eye or both. The next morning I called the pharmacy to ask if the medicine could do that (which they said no, and they urged me to call the eye dr.) and I didn't call my regular doc b/c it didn't sound like I needed to.
I have noticed a definite change in my vision since.  I have grey areas in my vision, more noticeable when I stare at white wall. Vision is blurry and my head feels like there's a vise around it.  Alot more floaters too, as if I have a bunch of dirty stuff floating around.  I've always had some sparkles in my vision but lately it's been more noticeable.
I am seeing my optometrist tomorrow morning, although after reading some of the posts, I feel like maybe I should've made an appointment that day to have myself examined by the regular doc and an eye specialist instead of the regular eye doctor.  

[cb97138]

My appt with the eye doctor went well. He did all the tests within his capabilities, also a field vision test and dilation exam, his only findings were that I indeed have more floaters but everything else looked excellent.  He wanted me to go back to my doctor to follow up, his concern was it could be an ocular migraine or a temporary blockage of blood flow to the eye. So my doctor wants to do a brain scan now and some blood tests partly because my dizzy spells are increasing and all my other symptoms are the same..My doctor took me off the 1.25 mg bystolic temporarily and put me on low 2mg Valium for the dizzy to see where the symptom is coming from (but honestly, I've been dizzy for well over a month now, before any medicines) I'm probably stressing myself more by thinking about it- my handwriting is messy(er than usual), I'm mistyping words badly, I get winded easily and I'm so tired, I have uncomfortable tingling around my mouth and cheeks and my neck has this ache in it, and when I talk to another person, I have to stand there and think for that word I can't remember (which was really bad last night but better today).  I've always been a diz, but that's ridiculous.. :) Last night I hadn't had any medicines at all and I appeared tipsy and out of it, and my legs had to think about walking when I wanted them to.  Like I said though, I am sure I'm over-stressing and making things worse.  And like you suggested, it could be the Bystolic.  Maybe my fibromyalgia is coming out of remission.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

It's OK to start with the optometrist since you already have the appointment.  Make sure you have a complete dilated exam and express your concerns about all your symptoms.  If anything is out of the ordinary, the optometrist should refer you to an ophthalmologist specialist and of course it never hurts to have a complete exam with an ophthalmologist later.  I wonder if you might have had a hypotensive episose (low blood pressure) or another side effect from the beta blocker.  Let us know how your appointment goes and please repost with any more questions. A good eye exam should answer a lot of questions and of course seeing your medical doctor for the blood pressure issues and medication side effects.

MJK MD