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Hi everyone,

This is my first post. It's going to be a long because I want to provide as much info as possible.  Warning this one is long

Narrative:
My name is "Bob", Age mid 30's, Black American, 6'5", 350lbs-370lbs, my current blood pressure readings is 133/75 with 81 BPM. I currently take amplodipine/Valsa 10-160mg (sometimes 5-160mg). I also have a prior bilateral viral conjunctivitis in 2019.

On the week of 6/17 to 6/23 my vision in both eyes started to become slightly blurry while eating an apple pie in my car. When I stopped, my vision would return to normal, but when I would eat something sweet again, my vision would go slightly blurry again so I assumed this vision problem was pre diabetic in nature and would go away if I worked out and reduced sugars and bad foods. I still ate some sugars but not as much as before and on the week of June 26th to July 2nd I woke up to my vision being fully blurry for about 5-10 minutes. My vision looked something like the picture below

https://www.everlywell.com/blog/hba1c/why-do-i-have-blurry-vision/

Once this happened, I went to either my primary or an urgent care doctor and explained what happened. The doctor decided to have me blood tested and urine tested for diabetes. My blood test came back normal. But my Ketones Urinalysis showed a warning of diabetes. I continued eating clean and losing weight from 420 on the week of 6/17 to 6/23 to 355 as of 7/13. But during that period I had at least 3 more incidents of waking up with complete blurred vision for 5-10 minutes.

During the day my vision during has some slight blurriness on wording on signs that are further away, but for the most part I would say my vision was normal. At night I had and still have trouble seeing a signs and words at night and apparently I had trouble seeing wording inside of buildings as well unless I'm close in range. My night vision problems doesn't seem to be much of a factor with solid objects, but only lights(at night) and wording. Literally when I look at signs or letters that are lit up it looks like the color of the words or signs is running off. Also late at night I still have trouble making out peoples faces from far away. I also developed eye floaters and some flashes. But the flashes weren't a major problem and I didn't think the floaters were either(I was wrong). Below are some pictures off the internet to show how my vision looks

At night: https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/health/eye-opening-pictures-shine-light-on-symptoms-of-astigmatism-1.4360754?cache=

https://www.neurogroup.org/2017/02/01/misdiagnosis-and-what-to-do-about-it/

On 7/14, I saw my first Optometrist and she determined that I needed glasses based on my vision test. My left eye was 20/20 and my right eye was a 20/25 but with blurriness.  She did an exam was normal, the slit lamp was normal. She noted that the conjunctiva had mild injection OU. During this visit I didn't tell her about the floaters or small flashes because I thought it was part normal eye sight. I'd seen these things my entire life.

I got a second opinion with another Optometrist  on 7/15 and she determined that I didn't need glasses right away. My vision test was the same as the first one. She also said my retina looked healthy. Again I didn't tell her about the floaters and small flashes.

The 1st optometrist scheduled me for a 7/18 appointment to conduct more tests. On the morning of 7/18, I woke up at 6am with slightly blurred vision, I went back to sleep and I had no vision in my left eye.

This cleared up in about 3 to 5 mins and resulted in more pronounced flashes and sensitivity to light. The sensitivity to light went away, but the flashes were a little more noticeable. I went to the emergency room and told the doctor what happened. The doctor told me I had a small case of hypertensive retinopathy.

Later on I went to my Optomtrist later on 7/18 who wanted further testing and she conducted an ERG test and my eyes tested abnormally. She told me that the ERG could accurately predict future blindness in 5 years(Someone let me know if thats true). I told her what happened that morning and she advised that I go to the emergency room and get my carotid arteries imaged. She also suggested that what I had could have been amaurosis fugax.

The emergency room imaged my arteries and did an MRI on my brain and both images were normal. The MRI doctor still diagnosed me with amaurosis fugax based on what I described happened. The emergency room recommended that I see an Ophthalmologist.

I saw two ophthamologist. I saw the first one in late July. He did ask about the floaters and flashes, but I remember telling him no because again I thought it was part of my normal vision. I did a vision test and it was similiar to my the ones with my optometrist. He also dialated my eyes and did a slit lamp exam and determined nothing was wrong other than some eye dryness. He recommended taking artificial tears.

I saw the second ophthamologist on 8/3/2022 and he concluded the same as the first doctor. He advised that I used artificial tears and and retaine for a month and come back if my vision doesnt clear. I asked about the ERG abnormal result from my first Optometrist and he said ERG's aren't accurate.

So from 8/3 to about the end of August I stayed true to the regimine and since I started my diet I was taking vitimin A and eating food for vision. During August I fell off the wagon with my diet but continued exercising and taking my eye medicine. My weight stayed the same, but my blood pressure went up slightly.

I stopped taking my eye medicine because I didn't think it was working and was planning to reschedule with the doctor. My vision was still like I stated above with blurrness, night vision issues, floaters, some flashes etc. I think it was on the week of 9/3/2022 where I ate some sweets and starting experiencing pulsating in my head around the middle ridge and right side. It also drove up my BP, but by going back to my diet and exercising the symptoms went away. But now the flashes I had before were more pronounced. But now when I turn off the lights it looks like a fire work show. But I was thinking that's what happens with headaches or migraines.

Last week I ate sweets on Turesday, Wed, Thurs and started experiencing a a sensation between the middle of my eye brows that goes down to the ridge of my nose and to my right eyebrow area. The sensation can be dull and sometimes have pain. But here's the kicker, now I can't ignore the flashes, the floaters. My DIA number was higher and when I tried to go for a walk(work down the high BP), I felt so woozy that I thought I was going to pass out. So I called the ambulance. They didn't take me to the hospital just back home to rest. Since then, I've felt additional symtoms. My peripheal vision is there, but it feels like something is there, this might be psychological, but I can feel it. Another symptom I noticed was when I look at white screens or back drops. Its never just solid white or whatever bright color. I describe it as looking at a flag where there's various but very subtle light dark spots. Its gotten better but its still there. One last thing I noticed is sometimes I like to nod off and borderline sleep. But when I wake up, my eyes adjust from double vision into being normal.

I have an appointment with the doctor on 10/2022 but I'm going to get it moved up as an emergency. Here's why I put all of my symptoms and the top results was a migraine(which is weird migraines don't last 3 months or shouldn't last 3 months), Retinal Detatchment, Open Angle Glacoma, Cataracts, Open Angle Glaucoma.

But what do you guys and gals think? Opinions on what it might be?

Anyone has any advice on how to persuade docs not to dismiss something that's potentially serious.
2 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi Doc,

Lol I knew this one would entertain you (I read your answers before posting).

I live in Sacramento, CA. I can email you directly if you need me to. I have images of my eyes. They keep saying my eye looks healthy but it doesn't play out like that in real life life.

I have never done an illegal drug. I've maybe smoked between 15-20 times my entire 30+ year life.

In terms of neurological disease like brain tumors, seizure disorders,  aneurysms-I have a cousin who used to have seizures as a child. Other than that, I haven't heard of anything

In terms of eye disease: My grandfather lost his vision due to diabetic retinopathy. My mother and aunt have retinopathy but they managed it better than my grandfather and have their vision.  

The Ophthalmologist I saw was a generalist and not specialist.

Doc I appreciate the help. This entire experience has been very frustrating. I just want something resembling normal eye health




Helpful - 0
3 Comments
The rules of MedHelp.com doe not permit direct contact with posters, or interpretation of tests.  This is what I would recommend. Get all your tests, copies of your office exams with optoms, and ophthalmologists. Then make an appointment with a 'neuro-ophthalmologist" in the Dept of Ophthalmology a U Cal Davis or Stanford or UCBerkely. It is not possible to diagnose your problem from the information you posted. You need to move up to a tertiary medical center.
Dr. I have another question. Today I went into a retinal specialist and he said other than a small amount of lattice degeneration in my left eye my eyes seem perfectly healthy.  I know you said to see a neuro ophthalmologist but I wanted to eliminate any possible retina problems as the culprit first. In the last 3 months I have felt my night vision in particular degrade. I couldn't see light bounce off street signs that had lights under them and the state capitol(Sacramento) looked dimmer compared to my iphone 6 visual. Our eyes are supposed to be better. In my story above, I talk about how an optometrist gave me an ERG which test light against the retina. The test came back abnormal which means my retina isn't responding to light normally.

My question: How can my retinas look perfect in the images and examinations, but read abnormal in a ERG?

Reference for ERG: https://retinamaculainstitute.com/electrophysiology-testing
1. The ERG was possibly not done properly. Very few 'eye doctors' do ERG in their office because to do it right usually requires a dedicated labratory. Our office refers all ERG and VER to a university hospital
2. The retina can look normal on the surface but have a problem under the surface where surface exam cannot see. That is very common. Think about looking at the  surface of your lawn, you can't fell where water pipes and power lines are.  Utility companies have to come and use special equipment to find and mark them.
233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I will answer this tomorrow but need to know where you live so I might suggest a referral center that has the expertise you need.  Any eye diseases (not glasses) in your family? Any neurological disease like brain tumors, seizure disorders,  aneurysms, etc?   Do you do illegal drugs or marijuana where it is legal? Do you use tobacco?  Are the ophthalmologists (Eye MDs) you saw general ophthalmologists? Or did your see a retina/vitreous specialist?
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