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Low blood pressure, retinal detachement, or lightening
Sep 14, 2009 07:04PM
- 2 comments
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I noticed that periodically I would see light flashes. Sometimes with my eyes open but more prominently when my eyes were shut. I went to see the doctor and he said that it was due to low blood pressure and that I should try and raise it.
A little later I noticed that the flashes were getting more prominent, and remembered a family friend who suffered from retinal detachment and he said that the first symptom was light flashes. I began to worry that I may be in the initial stages of the condition.
I then noticed that the flashes were getting much brighter and that after I had them I could swear I heard a rumbling sound. This happened a few times before I eventually woke up and realized that it we were in the middle of a thunder and lightening storm in SF in the middle of the night and that I had been dreaming. It is interesting how the mind combined some real life experiences into an interesting dream that was triggered by what was happening outside. I know I'll sleep better tonight.
A little later I noticed that the flashes were getting more prominent, and remembered a family friend who suffered from retinal detachment and he said that the first symptom was light flashes. I began to worry that I may be in the initial stages of the condition.
I then noticed that the flashes were getting much brighter and that after I had them I could swear I heard a rumbling sound. This happened a few times before I eventually woke up and realized that it we were in the middle of a thunder and lightening storm in SF in the middle of the night and that I had been dreaming. It is interesting how the mind combined some real life experiences into an interesting dream that was triggered by what was happening outside. I know I'll sleep better tonight.
Generally it is people with severe myopia who are at risk for retinal detachment.
When you get your eye exam and they give you the drops to enlarge your pupils they look inside your eye to examine
your retina.
You can ask your Optician or Ophthalmologist about your retinal health when you get your vision tested.
Make sure you tell them about the light flashes.
Good luck.
When you get your eye exam and they give you the drops to enlarge your pupils they look inside your eye to examine
your retina.
You can ask your Optician or Ophthalmologist about your retinal health when you get your vision tested.
Make sure you tell them about the light flashes.
Good luck.
The flashes of light can also be a symptom of a vitreous fluid leak, which is less serious than a retinal tear or detachment, and will usually resolve on its own over a period of months. (My partner and I both developed this problem, about six months apart.)
HOWEVER, the catch is that only an ophthlamologist can tell the difference, using his/her special equipment.(When my partner had the symptoms we waited in an ER for 7 hours, knowing that it must be dealt with on an emergengy basis if the retinal is detaching, only to be referred to an ophthalmologist the next day, because they didn't have the necessary equipment in the ER. So when I had similar symptoms, I called the opthalmologist's office as soon as it opened for an immediate appointment, to skip the whole ER step.)
If it's an impending retinal detachment it's very important to find that out beforehand, when it can be treated more easily than a detachment. And if the complete exam doesn't reveal a problem, you will at least have some peace of mind...
And maybe more sleep? ;->
HOWEVER, the catch is that only an ophthlamologist can tell the difference, using his/her special equipment.(When my partner had the symptoms we waited in an ER for 7 hours, knowing that it must be dealt with on an emergengy basis if the retinal is detaching, only to be referred to an ophthalmologist the next day, because they didn't have the necessary equipment in the ER. So when I had similar symptoms, I called the opthalmologist's office as soon as it opened for an immediate appointment, to skip the whole ER step.)
If it's an impending retinal detachment it's very important to find that out beforehand, when it can be treated more easily than a detachment. And if the complete exam doesn't reveal a problem, you will at least have some peace of mind...
And maybe more sleep? ;->
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