I went to the eye doc today who took a photo and showed me that when dilated my puils are big and my upper lid is halfway coving the pupil, thus causing the streaks: I also have no streaks if I hold my eyes open. But she said if I had surgery to tighten my lids there is danger that my eyes will not close completely. I did not understand this comment „ This can be a real problem and is reason that a laser hole in the iris (iridotomy) has been moved to the 3 or 9 oclock position on the iris instead of 12 o'clock where it was found to cause ghosting, arcs of light and unwanted light reflexes (dysphotopsia)“ Can someone explain?
I have exactly the same problem and have been to 3 ophthalmologists but no one seems to take me seriously. All else is fine with my eyes. It only happens at night or when looking at white text on a black background on the TV – so maybe my pupils enlarge making the droopy eyelids cover vision more?
Excatly same problem and observations what you have. I am looking solution for this problem, but cant find it.
The upper tear meniscus acts as a base up prim and the lower lid meniscus acts as a base up prism. So your observations are plausible. This can be a real problem and is reason that a laser hole in the iris (iridotomy) has been moved to the 3 or 9 oclock position on the iris instead of 12 o'clock where it was found to cause ghosting, arcs of light and unwanted light reflexes (dysphotopsia)
Good luck with the consult and treatment if indicated
JCH MD
Hi Dr. Hagen,
Thanks for your help. I'm due a meeting with the oculoplastic surgeon of my hospital in a couple of weeks.
I think you actually hit the issue dead on with your tear meniscus suggestion.
Let me elaborate in an example. In the middle of the night I look at a street light. I get glare coming down from the light at me (top of pupil meets the upper tear meniscus due to eyelid position resulting from ptosis).
Now if I tilt my head back far enough (quite a tilt) while staying focused on the light I now get glare coming up instead of down at me from the light. That's where the bottom of my pupil is making contact with the lower tear meniscus isn't it? If I pull my lower eyelids down and thus move the lower tear meniscus away from the bottom of my pupil then the glare is gone!
I suppose it might be possible but not common. Not likely that the eyelids are so tight they are causing an induced astigmatism. Perhaps lowering the tear meniscus into the pupil might do this. Again not anything someone in my practice has noticed.
I suspect you will either need to put up with it or discuss with an oculoplastic surgeon about whether to correct the minor ptosis.
JCH MD