Daily Spots and Halos = Fun, Fun, Fun!

[Hypnotoad]

Greetings all,

I am a 29 yr old caucasian male. I have had multiple retinal detachments in both eyes. Both were repaired with vitrectomy, laser, gas, and scleral buckles. Due to complications during surgery (hematoma), I had a lensectomy in my left eye, which in turn caused me to lose iris function in that eye. I am now pseudophakic in my left eye, and the iris has been surgically reconstructed. I have an ongoing problem in my left eye with cystoid macular edema, and my vision in that eye is quite poor (about 20/100). Over the past year, a cataract has formed in the center of the natural lens in my right eye due to prolonged use of prednisolone drops. My Rx in that eye is also quite poor with a substantial astigmatism (-6.0 spherical, -5.75 cylinder). To further complicate things, I was diagnosed 6 months ago with hypothyroidism, for which I am being treated in an ongoing manner. In the past few months, I have developed daily visual disturbances in my right eye, which may be symptomatic of ocular migraine. These disturbances seem to be triggered by bright light, and manifest themselves initially as spots in my central vision. After an hour or so, these spots disappear and the vision in my right eye becomes very cloudy. During this time, bright light sources appear to be surrounded by rainbow-colored halos. This cloudiness lasts for 6 to 10 hours before finally resolving. Again, these symptoms now occur every day. Due to the combination of these symptoms and my cataract, I can no longer drive, and am having difficulty teaching (I am a university professor). Aside from these issues, I am otherwise healthy and in good shape. My ophthalmologist assures me that my retinas are stable and are not causing these visual disturbances. My interocular pressure is normal in both eyes. I recently saw a neuro-ophthalmologist, who gave me a diagnosis of "migraine equivalent", and referred me to a regular neurologist for further evaluation (whom I will be seeing next week). I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced similar visual symptoms in conjunction with hypothyroidism or cataract? Could the cataract be causing these ocular migraine symptoms? Could my hypothyroidism be causing these ocular migraine symptoms? I have searched extensively and cannot find any solid evidence that associates cataract or hypothyroidism with ocular migraine, however it seems remarkably coincidental that all of these problems occurred at nearly the same time. Any insight? Advice? Similar experiences? Please?? I am very frustrated, and no one seems to be able to help me. Anyhow, thanks for listening!  :-)

[barby33]

sorry you have to go through this; i have air bubbles that float in front of me had 3 avastin injections the 1st 2 they went away in a day; and this has been going on for 4 and 1/2 months; they are clearing up like water now and the nurse says they are going away finally.  This is frustrating when you have something in your vision; i am getting used to them but want them gone; sorry that you have tp go through this; ***@**** maybe could you get a new cornea transplant?  just wondering

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

You have a handfull of eye problems. I think it not likely that your migraine equivalents are due to cataracts and/or thyroid disorder. You are on the right trail by seeing the neurologist.

JCH III MD

[Hypnotoad]

FOLLOW UP: After an EEG and an MRI both came back negative, it was finally determined that my symptoms were being caused by severe glaucoma, which was manifesting itself daily in the afternoons. When the glaucoma was finally detected, the IOP in my right eye was 58. Since this went undetected by my eye doctors for over six months, I've now lost between 80 - 90% of the optic nerve fibers in my right eye -- damage that is both permanent and irreversible. I can no longer drive nor read books without a magnifier. I am posting this follow-up in the hopes that it will help someone to save their vision if they are experiencing similar symptoms -- it's already too late for me!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

My interocular pressure is normal in both eyes.