Weird eye problem

[Mark42]

A few days ago I'm reading iboats forum on my laptop in my family room. Suddenly I realize that the letters no longer look right. They are misshapened or pieces of the letters are missing, then it gets worse and I can't read anything at all. Just a dark shadow where the words should be.

I check each eye individually, and it was the same for both eyes. "Great" I think to myself, "I'm having a stroke." So I called to my wife and she came. Then I noticed that the dark area has grown to a donut shape, and I can see the words in the middle of the donut, and outside of the donut, but things are all distorted in the donut. Slowly the donut shape expands in size until it finally expanded right out of my field of vision. Whole event lasted maybe 5 minutes tops. Had a slight headache, and my wife said it was a common sign of a migrane headache. So I took ibuprophen and felt better.

Next day I went to see my eye doctor, and described the vision problem to him. He said it is the classic description of an Occular Migrain. For some reason, there is pressure on the optic nerve and you see what I saw.

As long as it doesn't happen again for a long time, I am fine. My eyes tested out great, no issues with the retina or optic nerve, and the air puff test for glycoma. Just a slightly stronger perscription for the reading glasses.

Anyway, I thought that was weird.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Weird eye problem

that is wierd

good job on going to see the doctor. it could have been something worse.

 

[JB]

Re: Weird eye problem

A Birthday reminder from Mom Nature, Mark. We are all getting older and more frail all the time.

Glad it was quickly diagnosed. I suggest you see a neurologist to get to the source of the migrane.

Belated Birthday wishes.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Weird eye problem

the air puff test for glycoma.

Oh I hate that part!!:redface:. From somebody that hasn't had any vision problems except for welder's burn, I wouldn't of been able to tell ya what the problem was. A stroke would have been bad, I have got a couple of family memebers who have suffered from a stroke. Although a full recovery is possible after a stroke, but it also depends on how drastic the stroke was. Glad it turned out alright.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Weird eye problem

Wow, weird and scary! Glad everything is ok.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Weird eye problem

I'm now 50 years old and most of the time I don't even use my reading glasses unless its small print (like medicine bottles, especially kids medicine bottles). Mostly I use them for seeing things I'm working on up close. Like working on slot cars, or electronics, or anything that has really small parts that need to be seen clearly. So my eye doctor set my reading glasses to work from 8" to 15" from my face, farther than than, and things are fuzzy with the glasses on. Like now, I'm not wearing them using the laptop on my lap sitting in a reclining chair, because things look fine. I think my eye doctor is cool for listening to my wants and setting up my glasses accordingly. Can't ask for more than that.

 

[mikeandronda]

Re: Weird eye problem

Let me start by saying I have had that happen for 20+ yrs.....Yes it real scary but now that I know what is happening I make it through without thinking Im dieing.........My headaches are unbelievable after the "Aura" stage but I manage......If you keep having them go to a headach specialist or a Doc who has dealt with this type of issue before. I got perscibed Relpax (Sp?) and when my vision goes wacky I take one and it makes everything a little more mellow. First Doc I went to suggested I needed to see a shrink.......I mean I do probably but not for the headaches. Migranes are no fun especialy Occular migranes. I have heard the Occular nerves are our most sensitive........I mean a piece of dust hurts, just think when for whatever reasons our body puts pressure on that nerve. Mine are also tied to my sinuses somehow. My sinuses will drain like a faucet just after the vision thing.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Weird eye problem

Mark smart move going to the Dr fast.

I have scaring on my retinas and I go for very intense exams every year which gives the entire optometry staff a chance to see a live person with the problem. I become a teaching example with every eye visit.

I had some pressure issues that would warp straight lines. As far as my perscription goes...... I have various glasses for various uses.

Interesting that you got the "puff of air" pressure test. Over the last 5 years the eye doctor has been using a mechanical point and has to touch it to my eye!

Hey ie7 is my friend with the ability to increase sizes with the touch of a button!

Hope everything works out for you.

 

[azlakes]

Re: Weird eye problem

A few days ago I'm reading iboats forum on my laptop in my family room. Suddenly I realize that the letters no longer look right. They are misshapened or pieces of the letters are missing, then it gets worse and I can't read anything at all. Just a dark shadow where the words should be.

hiya Mark...

yep been there. many folks will get a target headache soon after those symptoms that can be dibilatating. one thing that has worked for me is to make sure to eat regularly and taking in lots of fluids(water). those types of vision migraines can come at the worst times(like drivng a 30' rv with trailer in tow)

thanks for posting

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Weird eye problem

Direct tonometry on the surface of the front part of the eye is a much more accurate measurement of intraocular pressure. A sensor is placed gently on the surface of an anesthetized eye, and a very accurate IOP is measured.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Weird eye problem

A few days ago I'm reading iboats forum on my laptop in my family room.

See, another case of iboatitis. Mark, no use going to the doc, you are hooked. Just give in and go for the ride!

In all seriousness, glad you had it checked, my friend.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Weird eye problem

.....Mother nature is issueing a wake up call mark....that magic moment has arrived..

Apparently you were living under the premise that 25 lasts forever... Now watch your sodium intake...check your blood pressure...take a asprin a day....get your prostate checked yearly.......watch your chorestol intake and on and on and on....

Ive just arrived at that moment in life myself, it is a bit disturbing..:redface:

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Weird eye problem

I would of checked out the interior of the new ambulance of my town that night , stroke care need to be dealt with immeadeatly , glad everything worked out ok,

 

[mickarch]

Re: Weird eye problem

When I read the thread topic, I thought it was going to be a joke about taking a sick day:

Employee calling in: Boss, I'm not gonna be in today.
Boss: Why what's up?
Employee: I'm having a problem with my eyes.
Boss: Really, what's the matter?
Employee: I just can't see myself coming into work today!

badump tshhh...

Sorry, bad joke... Glad everything was ok.

 

[Frankhanhart]

Re: Weird eye problem

Hi, Mark.....the grim one's taking some bites out of you....I know at 62 (now) it goes at a pace of a little nibble now and then! Nothing a 80 HP won' cure though (still hoping I get the money together ) Best of wishes for 2009 for you and yr dear ones. Frank

 

[mike64]

Re: Weird eye problem

I get those too, but I get all the visual spectacle without the headache after. Lucky me, I guess. It was really freaky the first time it happened, and yeah, you think it's a stroke or something. I get a widening area of blurry vision with a sparkling, gold colored, zigzagging border around it. Lasts about a half hour. Bright sunshine seems to trigger it for me, but it only happens once every couple years. Also known as "scintillating scotoma" if anybody wants to Google medical info about it.

 

[gofish49]

Re: Weird eye problem

I started having the same problem after a motorcycle accident years ago. The vision aspect was the warning sign of some seriously painful headaches along with vomiting. It first happened while reading a book, the right side of every word went black and I could only see the leftside. Really weird stuff at first and scared the you know what out of me.

 

[mars bar]

Re: Weird eye problem

Diabetes is another eye issue. When my sugars off my eyes go blurry to where I can read a street sign till I'm on top of it.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Weird eye problem

Its been a few days and no more vision problems. Hope it doesn't happen again for a long time. Thanks to all who posted their experiences. Nice to know its not that uncommon. Anso good to know its not serious.

Keep well!

 

[lowkee]

Re: Weird eye problem

Oh man! I've heard of this happening to another boater. He had to get a brail monitor for reading iboats and a seeing eye dolphin.