Strange visual disturbances

I have been getting strange visual disturbances in both eyes but more in the left eye that lasts 5-15 minutes in different  times of the day or morning, several times a year. It looks like cut, broken or shatterred glass: I can't describe it. I had been diagnosed (MRI)  many years ago with a benign pituitary tumor due to high prolactin levels and hormone inbalance and I took bromocriptine for it for over 30 years. When I was younger, I often had migraine headaches. I am 70 now, fit, not overweight, have high blood pressure but it is under control. I use glasses for reading, computer work and driving (especially at night). I sleep 6-7 hours using Ambien or Xanax. Recently, I was told that I had a beginning of a cataract. Can someone advise me what could be the cause of these disturbances and if I need to do anything about them?

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

I would suggest that you see an ophthalmologist for a dilated eye examination. The vision change could be a macula problem of the eye (i.e., macular degeneration). Is the vision disturbance different than what you experience from the cataract? Do you have headaches with this? If it is intermittent, more history is needed to determine if it is neurological or not. First, I would ensure that your eye is not the cause. If it is believed to be neurological and not from the eye itself, you will need to see a neurologist for further examination and history.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.