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Should I call my opthamologist? Any advice?
Hi All,
I saw an opthamologist on Friday. While she expressed some concern about motion-incduced flashing/eye pain, she told me my retinas looked good and that ON (which she brought up) would not cause flashing. She asked me to come back in 6 weeks.
Before my appt, I was having some trouble reading because the letters look like they have shadows. (like there are two images but REALLY close together.) But I thought I was just nervous about my appt so I didn't mention it. But it kept happening off/on all wkend, and through today. Becuase of this, reading makes me a bit nauseaus and of course its a huge concentration buster!
My eye story has been going on for ~1 month. mild-to-moderate pain in BOTH eyes but not at the same time, esp. if I move them. Pain can last seconds to hours. Vision trails. Lights (like camera flashes) in corner of my eyes when I move them, both very noticeable in dim/dark but no always in well-lit surroundings. Once in a while I get the flashing in a lit room with my eyes forward/not moving. Now "shadow letters" for a few days.
Should I count my blessings that all of this is relatively mild, or should I call the opthamologist? She seemed really certain that this was neither retinal problems nor ON, but maybe I should call and press for other possibilities? Anyone know of other possiblities? I'm leaning towards putting it off for a day or two, and see what happens?
I've read that ON can heal without treatment, so hyptothetically speaking, if this is super-mild ON and the doc misses it, I should be OK anyway, right?
Answers to any of my Q's or general advice are always much appreciated in advance, and of course thanks for "listening"
I saw an opthamologist on Friday. While she expressed some concern about motion-incduced flashing/eye pain, she told me my retinas looked good and that ON (which she brought up) would not cause flashing. She asked me to come back in 6 weeks.
Before my appt, I was having some trouble reading because the letters look like they have shadows. (like there are two images but REALLY close together.) But I thought I was just nervous about my appt so I didn't mention it. But it kept happening off/on all wkend, and through today. Becuase of this, reading makes me a bit nauseaus and of course its a huge concentration buster!
My eye story has been going on for ~1 month. mild-to-moderate pain in BOTH eyes but not at the same time, esp. if I move them. Pain can last seconds to hours. Vision trails. Lights (like camera flashes) in corner of my eyes when I move them, both very noticeable in dim/dark but no always in well-lit surroundings. Once in a while I get the flashing in a lit room with my eyes forward/not moving. Now "shadow letters" for a few days.
Should I count my blessings that all of this is relatively mild, or should I call the opthamologist? She seemed really certain that this was neither retinal problems nor ON, but maybe I should call and press for other possibilities? Anyone know of other possiblities? I'm leaning towards putting it off for a day or two, and see what happens?
I've read that ON can heal without treatment, so hyptothetically speaking, if this is super-mild ON and the doc misses it, I should be OK anyway, right?
Answers to any of my Q's or general advice are always much appreciated in advance, and of course thanks for "listening"
Hi, I had all of the symptoms you describe - including the slight double vision with reading, but the retinal exam was normal, visual field mapping was ok, and VEP had mild changes.
They would not diagnose anything.
It has taken nearly a year, but the visual stuff is now pretty much resolved other than the odd flash, moving sensations when looking at some line patterns, and occasional what has now been called ocular migraine.
Not much help I guess, but does show that these things when they happen really do take a long time to repair.
Hope you can feel better soon.
Sally
They would not diagnose anything.
It has taken nearly a year, but the visual stuff is now pretty much resolved other than the odd flash, moving sensations when looking at some line patterns, and occasional what has now been called ocular migraine.
Not much help I guess, but does show that these things when they happen really do take a long time to repair.
Hope you can feel better soon.
Sally
Oh, I should have mentioned this too. My first case of ON was only confirmed for sure with an MRI and VEP because my nerve looked ok and my pupil was not reacting in a way the doctor would expect in a case of ON.
This time they could see the optic pallar and saw ON again on my MRI.
LA
This time they could see the optic pallar and saw ON again on my MRI.
LA
Me! Lots of flashes of lights and flicker of light when ON is starting to flare. Little stars when I move my eyes too. The light flashes so brightly it looks like a camera flash or lightning!
Like Quix said, when you move your eye is stretches the nerve and that causes the flash of light according to my eye doctor.
Another thing I have and am not sure if others have it is flashes of light with loud sounds. It is especially noticeable in the dark or when my eyes are closed.
I am not sure if that is an ON thing or more related to MS. Hope this helps.
LA
Like Quix said, when you move your eye is stretches the nerve and that causes the flash of light according to my eye doctor.
Another thing I have and am not sure if others have it is flashes of light with loud sounds. It is especially noticeable in the dark or when my eyes are closed.
I am not sure if that is an ON thing or more related to MS. Hope this helps.
LA
As I said in my note to your other post, I have doubts about this ophtho's knowledge about ON. Many people here, I think, with ON have reported flashes of light with eye movement. And a normal fundoscopic exam (where they look at your retina) DOES NOT rule out ON. 50% of cases of optic neuritis have normal exams!!
Just for the record. Would anyone here who has had flickers or flashes of light with ON speak up?
Also, it would make sense that you could have bilateral ON and have the pain on eye movement at different times. The attacks on the two optic nerves would be in different places (having happened at different times) and it would take differing eye movements to cause the pain. When you look around the movement of the eye put a slight stretch on the nerve. The stretch occurs at different places with each eye.
Quix
Just for the record. Would anyone here who has had flickers or flashes of light with ON speak up?
Also, it would make sense that you could have bilateral ON and have the pain on eye movement at different times. The attacks on the two optic nerves would be in different places (having happened at different times) and it would take differing eye movements to cause the pain. When you look around the movement of the eye put a slight stretch on the nerve. The stretch occurs at different places with each eye.
Quix
Does it get equally better when you cover either eye? Or is one eye better with the other one covered?
Either way, make sure you tell her that it goes away when you cover one eye...this is an important detail. Hopefully she would know to ask but since she may not, it's important that this be noted.
Either way, make sure you tell her that it goes away when you cover one eye...this is an important detail. Hopefully she would know to ask but since she may not, it's important that this be noted.
Hi,
I did call! She did not get back to me today, but that's ok. I was just scared to call and sound stupid, and got over that part!
It does get better when I cover one eye.
I got new glasses not too long ago, but the problem presents in my old glasses and also without glasses. .
When I speak to her, I will ask again about possible causes of motion-induced flashes, since it seems I've heard conflicting opinions about if there is a connection with ON.
Thanks for the support and ideas!
I did call! She did not get back to me today, but that's ok. I was just scared to call and sound stupid, and got over that part!
It does get better when I cover one eye.
I got new glasses not too long ago, but the problem presents in my old glasses and also without glasses. .
When I speak to her, I will ask again about possible causes of motion-induced flashes, since it seems I've heard conflicting opinions about if there is a connection with ON.
Thanks for the support and ideas!
You certaintly should follow up with doctor.
Have you had a recent change in glasses / contact lenses. Sometimes when there is a refractive error esp. caused by astigmatism there can be a "ghost" image that may be produced on objects.
Have you had a recent change in glasses / contact lenses. Sometimes when there is a refractive error esp. caused by astigmatism there can be a "ghost" image that may be produced on objects.
When you cover one eye or the other, does the shadow image disappear? This would seem to indicate that it is mild binocular double vision.
If your eye tests are all normal but your symptoms continue, the underlying cause could be neurological as was earlier stated. In this case, a neuro-ophthalmologist and/or a neurologist would be the appropriate professional to see.
I agree it is a good idea to go back to this first doc and explain all of your symptoms. This will help her to put it all together and perhaps she can refer you to another specialist.
db
If your eye tests are all normal but your symptoms continue, the underlying cause could be neurological as was earlier stated. In this case, a neuro-ophthalmologist and/or a neurologist would be the appropriate professional to see.
I agree it is a good idea to go back to this first doc and explain all of your symptoms. This will help her to put it all together and perhaps she can refer you to another specialist.
db
The shadow letters are almost certainly a problem with double vision. I have that in my right eye, just about permanently now. I don't notice it unless I'm looking at something that reflects light, like guitar strings or the red LED display on the coffeemaker.
Thanks.
Her office phone line does have an option to leave her a message. I just stated that I've had some trouble with reading, and asked if I should move up my appt, currently scheduled for 6 weeks from now.
I feel silly now for not mentioning the "shadow letters" at the appt. When she mentioned ON, I also did not mention that I've had other, non-vision, unexplained symtpoms since Jan. I was worried if I told her I had an MRI in Feb, she'd just think I was a hypocondriac. I was hoping she'd see something without me prodding in any direction. But I ya'll are right. I should not let this go. Maybe this will lead me somewhere, as I've been stuck, without diagnosis, and perhaps worse, without symptom treatment, for about 6 months.
I'm sure lots of you can relate to wanting to get somewhere, but also being scared! There are two possibilities" I'll be told its nothing, or I'll be told its something. I'm so mixed up, I'm not sure of which I'm more scared!
Oh, to answer SB: I'd say it is like double vision where the second image has strong overlap with the 1st image, if that makes a lick of sense :-) If you had a misaligned photocopy of text, and you help it up with the original to light. That is another way to describe it. Subtle? Sure. Annoying? Totally!
Thanks, everyone.
Her office phone line does have an option to leave her a message. I just stated that I've had some trouble with reading, and asked if I should move up my appt, currently scheduled for 6 weeks from now.
I feel silly now for not mentioning the "shadow letters" at the appt. When she mentioned ON, I also did not mention that I've had other, non-vision, unexplained symtpoms since Jan. I was worried if I told her I had an MRI in Feb, she'd just think I was a hypocondriac. I was hoping she'd see something without me prodding in any direction. But I ya'll are right. I should not let this go. Maybe this will lead me somewhere, as I've been stuck, without diagnosis, and perhaps worse, without symptom treatment, for about 6 months.
I'm sure lots of you can relate to wanting to get somewhere, but also being scared! There are two possibilities" I'll be told its nothing, or I'll be told its something. I'm so mixed up, I'm not sure of which I'm more scared!
Oh, to answer SB: I'd say it is like double vision where the second image has strong overlap with the 1st image, if that makes a lick of sense :-) If you had a misaligned photocopy of text, and you help it up with the original to light. That is another way to describe it. Subtle? Sure. Annoying? Totally!
Thanks, everyone.
If you have a concern about a symptom that you didn't mention, I would call back. Especially if it's making you nauseaus. This could be something that might give her a clue to what's going on.
I've also read that about the ON and treatment, but it's your eyesight. Nothing I'd really want to mess with, KWIM?
Take care! Pat :)
I've also read that about the ON and treatment, but it's your eyesight. Nothing I'd really want to mess with, KWIM?
Take care! Pat :)
Hi..I had/have the same type of problem with my vision and saw an eye Dr...not a Opthomologist.. she said mine was not ON.. but was neurological...what that means I don't know.
She did not refer me to an Opthamologist as I went to one a couple of years ago for double vision, I didn't have the flashing lights or pain then though...I will most likely see another Optho soon.
Sorry, can't help...but I know I get the same thing and it did last for a few months..then slowed down...now I get pain, double/blurry vision... not too many flashing lights now, but see things wiggle on the side of my vision alot??
hang in there
andie
She did not refer me to an Opthamologist as I went to one a couple of years ago for double vision, I didn't have the flashing lights or pain then though...I will most likely see another Optho soon.
Sorry, can't help...but I know I get the same thing and it did last for a few months..then slowed down...now I get pain, double/blurry vision... not too many flashing lights now, but see things wiggle on the side of my vision alot??
hang in there
andie
Hi wonka
When it comes to the eyes, I wouldn't put it off if your having problems. ON can still occur further back on the nerve where the opthamologist can't see. If I'm not mistaken it can be picked up by MRI. I think your correct that ON can heal on it's own but if your having problems or if your problems are getting worse I wouldn't hesitate to contact the doctor.
Is this shadowing like a double vision of the lettering? Just wondering.
When it comes to the eyes, I wouldn't put it off if your having problems. ON can still occur further back on the nerve where the opthamologist can't see. If I'm not mistaken it can be picked up by MRI. I think your correct that ON can heal on it's own but if your having problems or if your problems are getting worse I wouldn't hesitate to contact the doctor.
Is this shadowing like a double vision of the lettering? Just wondering.
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