vision lost for few seconds

[cyberdust]

Hi,
I had a strange experience some months ago, and I am now searching what that might be, before I consult a physician.

I came to a bus station, and when I entered the row, I had a sudden dizzy feeling and my vision disappeared. All I could see was red color. No people, no cars, nothing. I was not moving then. After few seconds, I got my vision back as if nothing happened. Also the dizzy feeling was gone. The same experience I can now recall that happened in my youth, when I was about 16 years (now I am 56 years old). But I did not pay any attention then. The only thing that I can associate with that is that all the years I felt always dizzy when I was kneeling and suddenly got up right. But I thought this was quite normal and it was due the my sudden standing up from the kneeling position, but I did not lose my sight. Only in my back of my head I felt a tickling feeling, like this is happening when you try to use your leg after it has become numb. The same feeling happened in the last experience with my vision lost, and I can recall that it happened also in my previous experience from my youth.

Aside from that experience, I am quite a healthy person. I can me not remember ever to have visited a doctor in the last 30 years (no, I am not exaggerating!), no catarrh, no grippe. Only the dentist.

I appreciate if you can give me a help what that might be.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Perhaps the problem is that you should have visited the physician every year since at least age 40. Your symptom can be a sign of high blood pressure, heart trouble, cerebral circulation problems, blood clots to the brain, etc. etc. etc.

You need to find a personal physician (MD family doctor, general practioner or internal medicine specialist) for a complete physical including blood work, EKG etc.  If male you need a prostate exam and PSA test, if female mammogram, and pap smear or the newer HPV test.

You need to see an ophthalmologist Eye MD for a baseline eye exam.

Hopefully everything will turn out okay. You would never take care of your automobile the way you are neglecting your own body.

JCH III MD

[kindredspirit2]

Hi cyberdust,

The doctor is right. I had the same experience several times. Did you also see stars? It sounds like you almost fainted. Probably because your blood pressure dropped suddenly as you stood. If so, there is no problem with your eyes. The body has a priority system. As you are passing out and the energy levels are dropping, the body shuts down the energy to the ears and channels all the remaining energy to the ears.  

The regular doctor you see should take your blood pressure as you sit and then as you stand. Good luck and let us know what happens!
kindrespirit2blue

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

It's now 2-0 for you having a thorough medical exam.

JCH III MD

[cyberdust]

I thank you all for the answers. I really appreciate it. To answer your questions, I did not faint. Nothing of that kind. I was just standing upright wondering what was happening to me, and recalling my forgotten, lost memory of my youth. I had a yearly check-up in the last 4 years, just for prevention, and the results were all perfect (Though I did not have prostate exam). My blood pressure was always low, 70 and 110, but all the doctors said I should not worry about that. On contrary, they emphasized, I should be happy for that ‘luckiness’.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Low blood pressure does reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke but it increases the risk of orthostatic hypotension when standing up, sitting up or jumping up after being flat for a period of time.

JCH III MD

[Me896]

I had the same sympotms, have your doctor check your eye pressure.  I was taking eye drops with steroids that were causing my pressure to be really high.  Hasn't happen to me after I stopped taking them.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

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