strange vision issue after drinking/hangover - colour blobs in vision

[Laticeyes]

Hi, recently after (particularly heavy) drinking sessions I've woken up and seen what appear to be the remnants of someone shining a torch in my eyes or looking at the sun.  This has lasted anywhere from 20 minutes to a full day.  These can be large blobs, circles, streaks etc and the shapes can be different in each eye.  They can be fairly central, on the periphery and several have been there at once when it was at its worst.  Its happened several times, always after drinking.  

I can see through the blobs but they are a different colour.  For example if looking at a white wall it would be a red spot, or when closing my eyes they would be green.  As i said, its like my eyes adjusting to a bright light being shone in them (retinal bleaching).  

I've had numerous in depth eye exams for other issues (see "for those with the bright spot when blinking thread) and they have all come back completely clear.  I went to the doctor after the last time this happened and he wasnt sure what it was.  

I need to say, I get migraines and I'm familiar with the symptoms of regular and ocular migraines because I get both.  You can't see through a migraine visual aura.  the blobs dont tend to flicker like a migraine aura either.  

I'm intrigued if anyone else has had similar thing, either after drinking or not.  I haven't found any discussion of anything like it online.

(before you ask, I have cut back on drinking significantly but am intrigued what might cause this)

Thanks

[mehblor12]

I get this exact thing. Weird splotches in my vision that appear sort of like an afterimage. Mostly after a night of moderate-heavy drinking that slowly go away throughout the day. I’ve yet to figure out what causes it but commenting in the hopes that someone does.

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

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[Slappy72vs5fnm]

I notice that if I remain sober for a considerable period, this problem is less evident the next time I drink. Although I am not a doctor, I would presume that this would indicate there is a cumulative depletion of something with each event of alcohol consumption. As hydration is quickly remedied, this would not appear to me to be a likely cause of the problem without another confounding variable. (This is just an anecdotal, personal observation and not medical advice.)

[Slappy72vs5fnm]

On second thought, there is no reason to assume it would be a cumulative depletion of something. It could also be a cumulative buildup of something or a cumulative reaction to something related to alcohol. The point is that it seems to me to be more than a hydration problem alone.

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

Dehydration both acute and chronic do not stimulate the retina or produce visual images. On the other hand all sorts of weird things can be visualied with high blood alcohol levels, especially since alcohol use is frequently used with a wide and growing number of other recreational drugs.

[mehblor12]

No other drugs were used or mixed in my case ever, so it would have to be something solely related to alcohol consumption.

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

yes something related to your metabolism of alcohol  Good luck. I have no further comments

[Slappy72vs5fnm]

Dear Laticeyes, I don’t have an answer, but I share your affliction. Although I’m sorry you suffer from this, I’m happy to find someone else with this problem. Perhaps we can discover the cause of this together. I’ve been trying to figure this out for years. Doctors I’ve seen don’t know what this is, even ophthalmologists. The closest I’ve come to understanding this is that it may be that the retinal cells become dehydrated first, then overcompensate by over hydrating the cells, which then causes leakage. I’m not a doctor. This is just what I’ve read on the internet. If you learn anything I’d like to know. Good luck.

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

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

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[Slappy72vs5fnm]

What is the purpose of the above comments? Are they advertisements?

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

It means I have read the comments and have no further comments. It is how I keep track of postings.

[Slappy72vs5fnm]

Okay. Thank you. I didn’t see anything relevant to the topic, and became suspicious it might be shameless self-promotion at the expense of a legitimate medical concern. But, you’re okay. I appreciate your help.

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

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[Bsmbi7945]

Hi - I've been searching for an answer to this for years and have found the same thing - that it doesn't seem to be anywhere online! I get exactly the same symptom with hangovers and always have done. I wake up the next day with splodges in front of my eyes that look like the afterimage of having looked at a bright light for too long. For me it generally lasts for the day i have the hangover, and that's it. I read that other than dehydration it could also be high blood sugar content. Other than that i have no idea what causes it. I'm fascinated to finally find someone other than me who experiences the same thing! If you find out what causes it i would love to know!

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

This is not characteristic of an only alcohol hangover, but it is common among mixed drug users: marijuana, meth, opioids, shatter, vaping of these drugs, snorting,  needle injection, etc.  

[Bsmbi7945]

Well in my case is only ever alcohol, i don't use drugs. I also don't drink that much alcohol, it happens after around 3 drinks in an evening for me. I've had it for over 10 years and can't drink anywhere near as much as I used to be able to nowadays. It does an to be getting more acute with age. Years ago I would have to have a proper binge for it to happen, now it's only a couple of drinks. No one send to know what this is.

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

If you are concerned enough you can go to a near-by medical center department of ophthalmology and see a neuro-ophthalmologist. They specialize in difficult diagnosis.

[chrisky]

I usually have the same things (blobs  as you named them). After doing a bit of research on the web I came to the conclusion that it is related to dehydration of the brain probably so I decided to check that out. Well it is working! After finishing a bottle with a mate of mine I got these stains on my eyes the next morning. I started drinking water - around 700ml. After half an hour they were gone. Doing this every time I get them (the blobs). To prevent them from happening drink more water with the alcohol if you can and remember that this kind of stuff could potentially lead to permanent damage on the brain.  

[JohnHaganMD]

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[JohnHaganMD]

I don't drink so that I don't have any personal experience. It is important that you rule out atypical seizure disorder, transient ischemic attacks due to disease of heart, brain, blood vessels (and eye).

Might dial back on the alcohol also

JCH MD