seeing prisms

[jimidi]

I occasionally see prisms all around my eyesight range except for the centre or focal point.  Whenever this occurs I try to figure out what I did that was different in my diet or activities to trigger such a symptom. I cannot narrow it down to a particular event or ingested substance. It is painless though somewhat unnerving, and seems to happen without any apparent cause, reason or circumstance. It occurs approximately once a month and only lasts about 5 to 15 minutes, but without any apparent link to a particular routine or pattern in my daily life. I am otherwise healthy, not overweight, and have a reasonably healthy diet.  Can someone enlighten me as to what this condition is, what causes it; what I can do to avoid it; and should I be worried?
Thank you,
jimidi


This discussion is related to Seeing through prisms.

[BigTime12]

I just had this for the first time today 05/10/2018...I worked a night shift, got home and was lying in bed, and started to notice a prism type line/squiggle mark, almost electric looking- in my peripheral vision.  I could see straight ahead/focal point in front of me, just had this weird colorful type stuff in my peripheral vision- No other pain or headache or other symptoms.

The only thing I can think of, is that I ate a bunch of sugar/carbs at work-1 Donut, 2 Brownies, 4 regular chocolate chip cookies, and a big handful of almonds and chocolate chip mix.  It lasted for about 15 minutes and then went away.  So I guess this is not an answer, but just someone else out there who had these similar symptoms.  Sounds like I will have to schedule an Eye Doctor appointment.

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

High blood sugar would not causes those but you need to work on a better diet.  You need to start with a medical eye exam by an Eye MD ophthalmologist.   Then you need to see your personal physician for a general physical with special attention to the cardiovascular and neurological symptom.   This could be eye disease,  heart/blood vessel/neurological disease or eye migraine.

[JohnHaganMD]

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[Micah147]

I used to get them all the every couple of weeks a couple of years ago, then they stooped. Now I just had one this morning. I don't think it is a big deal just annoying. Be careful though one time I was driving and I had to pull over for about a half hour.

[JohnHaganMD]

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[romie24]

I have the same symptoms, but they are very few and far apart.  When they first occurred the ophthemologist diagnosed it as optical migraines or ocular migraines.  It has been thirty years since they began and they have gotten better in the sense that they arre  fewer and further apart.  There is nothing to do for them but relax and wait it out.  But as the doctor before me advised, you should let an MDdagnos it.  Good luck.  

[hngthomas]

Definitely an occular migraine. I have Lupus and used to get them regularly. They disappeared when I eliminated food allergens, especially gluten, and I've been taking a prescription verdion of Singulair daily.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

See an ophthalmologist.  This may be migraine.

Dr. O.