Vision problems

[Momto3]

I used to get occasinal ocular migraines (aura, but no headaches), but have not had an episode in a few years.  On Sunday, I was riding in a car when my vision became obscured with what appeared to be a black cloud.  The episode lasted about one minute and entirely blocked out a portion of my vision.  I had no pain, and when I closed my eyes the cloud was not apparent. I read somewhere (darn internet!) that it could be related to a heart/vascular problem....sigh.  Oh, with the ocular migraines, closing my eyes didn't help at all.  Has anyone else experienced a similar episode?  

Thanks for any inSIGHT!  

[winnt]

So momto3, what did you fnd out?  It has been over 4 years since your last post.  I've had ocular migraines for about 20 years.  Any luck on finding what was causing yours?  Did the bubble test show anything?  Thanks

[Momto3]

Thanks everyone!

JKJ, WOW, this eye stuff is weird!  I get occasional floaters, but they are small.  Yeah, "normal" but still weird!

Has anyone had an echocardiogram with a bubble test?  

[JKJ]

I'm near Dayton....my TIA was a dx by exclusion.  Mine wasn't like a cloud, the TIA was like I could only see the outer rim of things I looked at out of one eye...like a bullseye effect, the center of everything was blacked out.
I also have TONS of floaters all the time...some of then are huge!  But the eye doc tells me they are normal...still they are annoying as hell.

[Momto3]

Ireneo,

Thanks!!  I'm wondering if "blind spots" is what I had.  It was like if you drew a circle the size of a quarter and took a black crayon and put a big blot in one area, about 1/4 - 1/3 of the visual field.  Yeah, the doctor mentions an IV...UGH!!!  I'm going to try and have them use the vein at the crook of my elbow..it works best and I don't care if I have to keep my arm straight (hope I win that battle).  Saline solution to the heart...VERY WEIRD!!

DeeCee257,
So, when you get a "blind spot" is it like what I described to Ireneo?  Usually, I get the zig zag lines, flashing lights, wavy vision, VERY blurry, can't focus, last about 20 minutes and it's still there when I close my eyes.  This time, if I closed my eyes, I couldn't see the spot.  The doctor mentioned that something could have floated in/out of my visual field...WHAT?!!!  My first ocular migraine scared me to death too!!  Hope you are doing well despite all that you have on your plate.  Thanks for taking the time to answer.

Hi JKJ,
The ocular migraines are so bizarre!!  It's kind of like PVC's, you just can't believe that they're benign, but they are.  While I was trying to get out of the tests, I heard things like PFO and TIA....hmmm.  Did you see the black spot like I described above?  Was it gone when you closed your eyes?  Can they tell if you had a TIA, or is it a diagnosis by exclusion?  You lost your vision for over an hour??  That must have been scary!  Thanks for the help!!  Any chance you're in the Cleveland area?  Go Tribe!!

Connie

[JKJ]

Hi,
Just catching up here...I have these types of migraines also (as well as the regular migraines)...but one time I lost vision on one side for about 20 minutes (I could only see a small ring of light around everything, the middle of my vision was gone) and they determined that I had a TIA (mini-stroke)....they only figured it was this after ruling out other things.  But this was the military....so.........
I've only had it happen one other time since and I lost my vision for over an hour (both eyes--severe tunnel vision).  That the docs said was a migraine since it was in both eyes.

Good luck!

[DeeCee257]

Hi
I had ocular migraines - starting 28 years ago when I was pregnant with my son. It scared me to death - I had areas of large blind spots that lasted several minutes. When my son was born - I had toxemia.  They went away for many years  - but I was diagnosed with Lupus about 7 years after my son was born. I also have MVP and a chronic myocarditis.
I occasionally get large areas of blind spots - maybe only once a year or every other year.
None of my docs seem concerned - and my vision always comes back. I also get migraines - very rarely. I get the jagged lines, flashing lights with those.  Interestingly, my mother in law had a sudden occurrence of a blind spot that did not go away. It turned out that her carotid arteries are occluded pretty severely.

[ireneo]

I just read a blurb on Mayo Clinic site that says ocular migraines can present with flashing lights, zigzags, blind spots and one other thing (geez, my memory stinks). I checked out the bubble test too. They do an IV (yuck) and send in bubbly saline solution, watch how it flows through the heart. Apparently not dangerous at all. Sounds weird though.

[Momto3]

Update:  A crazy thing happened on the way to.......find out about the visual disturbance.  Bottom line is my local cardio and my out-of-town cardio agree on an echo with a bubble test, a carotid artery ultrasound and probably a neuro consult.  Apparently, I COULD have something called a patent foreman ovale (PFO) and it probably would not have been seen on prior exams...THAT was a surprise since I've had TEE, TTE's, EPS's and RFA's.  I didn't realize they were pretty much only looking for things associated with the valves.  I assumed (my mistake) they were looking at everything cardio.  If they find something of interest, then a TEE.  If not, maybe the neuro will decide it was an ocular migraine afterall.  And, I wasn't even going to have it checked out....I am not a happy camper   : (

Anyone familiar with a bubble test?  The doctor said because this episode was different and I said I had a total block of part of my vision, and then it dissipated, it needs to be evaluated....ho hum

Has anyone had an ocular migraine that presented differently?  Flycaster, you mentioned that several members have had the oc. migraines, anyone have a different type than the jagged line and flashing lights?

Thanks all!
Connie  

[firemedic818]

Im glad to see that the doctors are on top of things, Hopefully tests will show nothing serious my thoughts go with you hopefully all goes well God Bless! ;)

[Momto3]

Hey firemedic818,

Thanks for the response.  No history of seizures.  My cardio thinks it may have been another ocular migraine (the visual aura, but no headache), but she suggested a sed rate test to rule out some sort of imflammatory problem.  I'll see my local cardio next week and go from there...which I hope is just back home with no tests : )

How are you doing?

Connie

[firemedic818]

Sorry been so long! Ummmm? Have you ever had a seizure? Aura but with no seizure maybe doc would recommend an EEG on your head just to rule out, and what about an MRI on your head also? God bless

[Momto3]

I heard back from my out-of-town cardio and she suggested I have a sed rate blood test (ESR) to check for inflammation.  She thinks I am too young (haven't heard that in a few years..lol) for the type of things it tests for; nonetheless, she feels I should have it checked.  I have an appointment with my local cardio on Wednesday....If the ESR is normal, I'm supposed to ask him about aspirin therapy....Any of you guys on aspirin/day?  

She also said it could have still been an ocular migraine.  

[Momto3]

Just one eye, it covered 1/3 to 1/2 of one eye.  It was smoky, then dark and then slowly dissipated.  I emailed my cardio to see if she thinks I need to follow up at all.  Have you heard of a connection between MVP and/or MR and visual disturbances?  The eye doctor said something about floating bits of something or other......

[ireneo]

Just backing up for a moment - did the cloud affect both eyes or just one?

[Momto3]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for recommending I get the "cloud" checked out.  I went to see my Optometrist yesterday and he said everything checked out fine.  BUT, he suggested I touch base with my cardio -- something about a correlation between visual problems and valve problems!  UGH!!  He mentioned the possibility that it could have been a bit of plaque that broke off and traveled through my bloodstream.  My cholesterol is OK, so I'm not inclined to think that's a problem.  He also said he remembered something in his medical training about MVP and visual disturbances.  Said I may want to have ultrasound on carotid arteries.  Help! Have you guys heard anything similar?

[Flycaster305]

I have them also, they seem to run in the family.  My mother, brother, sister, and at least two cousins get them, not a headache amongst us. Also, I'm the only one in the family with heart troubles, including family that has past on (for other reasons).  One cousin did gain a very large floater after a persistent session with a ocular migraine that is apparently permanent, I can't recall what the medical reason for it.  I hope you get it checked.

[ireneo]

Yes, if it was related to a clot or vessel problem, they can still see it. I waited a week before I went in. As for a partially detached retina, yes, it would still be bothering you. And they're easy to see with the scope as well. I'm not an ophthalmologist but even I can see blood in the eye, a partial tear of the retina and a few other things. If you explain what happened they can probably squeeze you in today. Like I said, it just takes a couple minutes to look into your eye.

[Momto3]

Hi Dawn,

Thanks.  That's what happened to me with the ocular migraine.  Scared the daylights outta me and when the doctor said "ocular migraines" I was shocked b/c no headache.  

This one was different, but I'm kinda waiting to see if it happens one more time.  Not sure what they can tell since it only happened so briefly.

Hi to Amber : )

[ddavey]

i had an issue with ocular migraines a few years ago,   was so bizarre when the eye doctor told me it was migraine because i didn't have a headache, just strange things in my eyes   they were like halos, started out as small circles and got larger in dimension until they left  took about five to ten minutes   closing my eyes didn't help    he said it can be caused by stress, and i have only had one other incident since then     when i did have this it came about every day for about a month.   i have no heart issues though,  not sure what really caused it and why they haven't occured again       hope all else is well with you,,   take care   dawn

[Momto3]

No chest pain, no SOB.

No floaters or ALOC. no smoking.

The incident on Sunday was with one grayed/blacked out area that lasted about 1 minute.  I have had visual auras (jagged, flashing lights that significantly skew vision and last about 20 minutes) without a headache (ocular migrains),  

[firemedic818]

Do you get Chest Pain? Shortness Of Breath?  

Do you see floaters in your vision? (Little Black Spots throughout the day)
Do you, or have you ever had an ALOC? Altered Level Of Consciousness?
Only Black Spots or Large Black spots seen no headache? Is it truly a migraine then?
Do you Smoke?

Retinal Detachment Maybe? Would Definately see the doctor about vision problems.

[Momto3]

Thanks.  I don't have afib or any other arrythmias anymore.  No high BP, no dizziness, etc.  At first I thought it was one of the auras (jagged, flashing lights), but this time my vision was just gone from part of one eye.  Maybe I'll give the optometrist or my interest in the morning.  But, I'm sure that will result in an appointment...YUK!  Do you think they can tell anything since it was a couple days ago?  

I am a teeny bit concerned about the possibility of a clot.  I had chest pains years and years ago and the doctor said no more BC pills.  Then, a couple years ago the doctor tried me on a low dose BC pill to regulate my cycles and that resulted in more ocular migraines.  So, I've been told hormones are out.  UGH!  Thanks for the infomation....

Oh, one last thing....with a detatched retina, the symptoms would last, right?  My dad had one of those about a year ago....Man, getting older is tough : )

Thanks again.

[ireneo]

Are you thinking a possible small clot formed by arrhythmias (usually folks with a-fib)? You could go in to have your eyes checked. I had something similar a few years ago - my vision in one eye just blurred out and took about 10 minutes to clear up. They can look into the back of the eye and check the blood vessels to see if there's a problem. Only takes a couple of minutes.