Eye damage? Seeing my nose in vision?

[Barnabus97]

Over these past few weeks, I've started seeing my nose in the right side of my vision, it just came on all of a sudden, and it's causing me anxiety. I can also see the bridges of my nose when I look left and right.
I went to see on optometrist and opthamologist, I've had my eyes checked, all the tests and my eyes are 100% healthy.
I know it's not caused by anxiety since there have been days I've been really happy but I still notice it is there.
I'm only a 17 year old girl, and it's really distracting me and getting me down - I'm worried it's gonna give me more problems in the future such as stopping me learning to drive.
I've had a bad bout of labrynthitis these past few weeks, which has caused sickness and vertigo, it has been very distressing. The eye doctor I saw said it is not linked to this.
I'm just worried that the signals in my brains are messed up, or it could be nerve damage, all the doctors are doing is pinning this down on anxiety.

[Deena123]

Thank you for your comments, I did actually see an optometrist who stated since I was not wearing my distance glasses I was aware of the surroundings close to this area of my face, I also had a field vision test which was normal and an MRI which was unremarkable and normal, when I am busy and concentrating on other things I do not notice this as much, I have spoken to others who say they can also see the side shadows of their nose and ignore these images, I just seem to be fixated on this, I may have always seen these transparent images but am focusing on them now

[JohnHaganMD]

If you shut one eye and with the open eye you look towards your nose its normal to it. With both eyes open the eye looking to the left or right the eye looking towards the nose sees it but the brain normally "ignores" the image.

Since this came on your suddenly you would need to see an ophthalmologist or optometrist and you should also schedule yourself to have a "visual field exam" also known as a "peripheral vision test" at the same time.  It's more likely the "awareness" of this came on suddenly but to confirm this exam and a VF test need to be done.

JCH MD

[Moha1991]

Hello doctor, since 8 months my vision converges and I see my nose constantly on my field of vision. it’s very annoying. I live in Paris and I’ve been to ophthalmologists, they don’t know what the problem is. I would be willing to go all the way to the United States to be able to cure this problem. You know what the problem is?

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

The first think that needs to be done is to be sure what you are seeing is really your nose. Your nose doesn't suddenly change position or become bigger.  You need a dilated examination of your retina and a retina specialist/ or comprehensive ophthalmologist with good exam skills needs to be sure you don't have retinal detachment, or a blockage of retinal artery or vein. You need a 'visual field test' which should not show any loss of field due to nose. you need Amsler Grid test and macular OCT/nerve fiber to be sure you do not have a visual field defect due to glaucoma, or other retinal disease.     If all of these are normal and your nose really hasn't gotten bigger (say due to surgery, diseases of the nose such as acne rosacea, rhinophyma) then almost all of these are signs of anxiety/depression/obsessive-compulsive disease of the patient.     There are other postings here over the years.  Most fall into psychology/psychiatric causes.  Only a small part due to eye disease  

[Moha1991]

Thank you so much for your answer, doctor. I did the humphrey and orbital MRI and they found nothing. If I may clarify, it’s not that the nose is the problem, even when I put on glasses the vision converges on the frame of the internal glasses. the problem occurs on all objects near the central vision. such as the nose or glasses. I think normally the eyes should work together and binoculars. if the two eyes binoculars the vision helps to camouflage the nose.

[Moha1991]

Thank you so much for your answer, doctor. I did the humphrey and orbital MRI and they found nothing. If I may clarify, it’s not that the nose is the problem, even when I put on glasses the vision converges on the frame of the internal glasses. the problem occurs on all objects near the central vision. such as the nose or glasses. I think normally the eyes should work together and binoculars. if the two eyes binoculars the vision helps to camouflage the nose.

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

The the most likely diagnosis would be 'spasm of accommodation' and you need to see a neuro-ophthalmologist.

[Moha1991]

thank you doctor. I live in Paris, there are not many neuro ophthalmologists in France. can you advise me a great neuro ophthalmologist, in any country it does not bother me to move

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

There are several departments of ophthalmology in French medical schools. The basic components of most university dept of ophthalmology include neuro-ophthalmologists.  Also if you contact the ophthalmologists you have already seen and say you want to see a neuro-ophthalmologist it is standard for that Eye MD to help you make the consultation. A whole lot easier and less expensive than moving.

[Deena123]

I have had the same condition for a month now, came out of nowhere as well, I saw my eye doc and he also stated my eyes are healthy, when you close one eye your nose will obstruct your view from the opposite side and this is like a transparent image of this image, really strange how the brain will not let go of this for some reason, I do suffer from migraines and wonder if this has something to do with these strange visual disturbances, I do have a stigmatism which may also contribute to this, every doc seems stumped by this, but I do see others have posted about the same condition, if you do get an answer pls pass on your news!!

[Moha1991]

hello I read your story. since 8 months I also see my nose on my visual field. your problem has disappeared?