Retinal pigmentation

[navyguitar]

I have been having visual disturbances on and off for years. My ophthalmologist says there is something going on with my macula. He said that there my retina has discoloration. My visual disturbances consist of a dark circle in my vision. It is located in my central vision. It looks like I have shaded vision (almost like sunglasses) in that area. My peripheral vision has normal light. Sometimes it is extremely difficult to read anything, unless I am in direct sunlight or viewing a computer.

My visual field test has improved significantly since February. My vision also improved 3 lines on the eye chart since that time. At the time of my followup visit, the spot was no longer present. It has since returned this week. My ophthalmologist thinks that something with my general health is causing the acute inflammation of my eyes. He wanted my general physician to run tests to see if it they could figure out what is causing my health issues.

I experience the following health issues:

-Visual disturbances
-Cognitive disorders (brain fog)
-fatigue
-excessive thirst/ frequent urination

I was tested for the following:

-CBC Blood test
-Metabolic Panel
-ANA
-Sed Rate Test
-A1C 3 month blood glucose
-Cardiac stress test
-Echo
-EKG

The only things that came back abnormal were:

-Elevated Hemoglobin
-Elevated Hematocrit
-Low Carbon Dioxide
-Borderline High AM Cortisol
-Low blood sugar occasionally (in the 50 range)

I feel like my issues are related to food or hydration, but my PCP doesn't want to check for food allergies. Water also seems to just go right through me. I don't seem to be able to retain much water. Is there anything else that I can be tested for?

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

Good luck
JCH MD

[navyguitar]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have an appointment scheduled with a retinal specialist next week. Hopefully, he will run some tests.

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

Your eye should be tested with a macular OCT and perhaps fluorosceine angiogram. If that is normal then you should consider seeing a neuroophthalmologist.

The most common macular consition that might cause something like this is central serous maculopahthy but that's not too difficult to diagnose.

JCH MD

[navyguitar]

I forgot to mention that I am fairly young, so I don't think I have age related macular degeneration.