Cobweb-like shadows in left eye

[Sarah22]

Hi,

Last Tuesday on my way to work I first noticed a shadow in my vision - initially I thought it was smoke, realised it wasn't, was a bit freaked out and thought no more of it. As the week went on it happened daily - usually walking to work/around town (anywhere outside) and whilst I was sat at my computer. At the same time I also noticed a lump on my cheek, which grew slightly but has remained the same since.

On Monday I went to the optician, she said she thought she saw a floater but wasn't sure. She dilated my pupil and had a look inside my eye, and then asked another optician to also have a look. They was confident they could see nothing but sent me to eye casualty at the hospital just to be on the safe side.

The doctor dilated my pupils and thoroughly examined my eyes, as did his colleague whom he'd asked for a second opinion. Neither of them could see anything untoward and both commented on how healthy my eyes are.

This, unfortunately, doesn't solve the problem - in that I'm still seeing these weird shadows and I have no explanation for what's causing them. Obviously, I'm delighted my eyes are healthy, but clearly there's something amiss that I'm seeing these shadows, and more frequently.

I mentioned at the start about the lump on my cheek - I was told it was a lymph node and that perhaps my body was fighting off an infection of some sort. I've had a bit of a fever and felt quite under the weather the past few days - is it possible there is some connection between that and my eye problem? What's the next thing I should do? My experience of the National Health Service in England is that if they can't see a reason for something being a problem, then the problem doesn't exist - But frankly I don't want to be stuck with weird shadows forever as it's alarming and distracting when working and driving! Am I just being paranoid?!

Sorry - but any advice/information would be gratefully welcome!

Many thanks

[Sarah22]

Hi, thanks for that I really do appreciate it :-)

I did the Amsler Grid thing, and that was all OK, they did a visual field exam on me on Tuesday which was OK apparently.

The shadows do move when I move my eyes - I'm I'm seeing one and I look somewhere else, then I keep seeing it where I'm looking until it floats off, if that makes sense?

The lump is still there but the glands under chin seem quite swollen and tender so I'm putting it down to just being a bit under the weather and am getting some rest.

Thanks again for your help

Sarah

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Hello Sarah,     I doubt there is any relationship between the lump on your cheek and your eye problem. Watch the lump carefully. If it is a swollen lymph node it should get better soon and start to regress in size. If it gets bigger see a General Practitioner or Ear/Nose/Throat doctor to determine if it needs a biopsy.

Us an internet search engine such as Google and search "Amsler Grid" it will tell you what the test is for, how to take it and you can print off a grid and test yourself. If the lines are distorted or missing it would indicate a macular problem and you may need a fluoroscene angiogram or macular OCT and a peripheral visual field examination.

If it's normal and the "shadows" move or float when you move your eyes you are probably seeing vitreous floaters and you may have sustained a poster vitreous detachment (PVD).

If they do not move or float then you may need a re-evaluation.

JCH III MD Eye Physician & Surgeon