flashes followed by floaters and foggy vision

[99_pcter]

The night before last I woke up to use the bathroom and noticed flashing lights and a circle around perimeter of my vision in my left eye.  It seemed to occur when I moved my eye, and occurred even when my eye was closed.  In the morning the flashing was gone but replaced by floaters.  Later in the day, I went surfing and noticed what looked like hair or strings in the upper left of my vision range.  I tried brushing them away thinking it was some sort of seaweed on my wetsuit hood, but when they were still there I realized they were some sort of floaters or distortion in my vision (just the left eye).  They were very distinct black wispy, tangled lines that moved when I moved my eyes.  I was able to ignore them and continued surfing.  While changing out of my wetsuit a couple hours later I noticed the distinct black "strings" were gone but that my vision was now very foggy (again, only in the left eye).  My vision has been foggy in the 24 hours since.

I saw my optometrist about a week and a half ago because it seemed my vision had become more blurry and I was having a sensation like something was in/on my eye like a spec of dirt or an eye lash.  I am near-sighted.   She said my left eye vision had in fact changed a bit and that I would probably need to use my glasses when reading.  We ordered a new progressive lens for that eye. She also dilated my eyes, did the pressure test and took optical photos of my left eye but said everything checked out okay.

I plan to call for an appointment with an opthamologist tomorrow.  Does anyone have any idea what this might be?  I want to make sure I ask all the right questions when I see an opthamologist and that he/she considers all of the possibilities.  I'm finding it very difficult to focus or concentrate on anything else with this going on.  Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[MHVC]

Insist on being seen.  Do not let them put you off.  It it is a retinal detachment or tear the sooner you are treated the better.

Search this site for PVD.  It is a benign condition of aging but can have serious side effects.

[99_pcter]

Thanks for the quick response.  Although I must say that sounds scary.  Forgot today is a holiday so I'll have to wait till tomorrow to make an appointment.  If I can bother you with a couple more questions:

(1)  I live in a small community.  There is only one eye clinic, but it does have 3 opthamologists.  If I am unable to get in right away (say within a day or so) is this serious/urgent enough that I should consider traveling elsewhere for in order to have it checked immediately?

(2)  Should I avoid certain activities in the meantime?  Cover the eye?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I would be concerned about a retinal detachment.  Tell him your symptoms and he would do a complete exam with dilation.

Dr. O.