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trof

(54,270 posts)

14. OK. Hold it! It could also be just opthalmic migraine.

Reply to cthulu2016 (Original post)

Sat Aug 17, 2013, 07:39 PM

Aug 2013

I've had this condition for about 20 years.
Yeah, the first time it happened it scared the hell out of me.
I thought I had a brain tumor.

I've consulted ophthalmologists about it.
They don't know what causes it.

I get flashers in my peripheral vision.
Sometimes (rarely) it goes to tunnel vision.
I usually don't get a headache, but sometimes a mild one.
Especially if I cough.

There are many theories as to what brings them on, but no one really knows.
I've been told 'stress, red wine, peanut butter, caffeine'.
I've cut those out with no effect.

I'll go months without one and then get 2 in one week.

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If you get flashes of light in one of your eyes (particularly if middle-aged or older)... [View all] cthulu2016 Aug 2013 OP

Also look for tunnelvision hootinholler Aug 2013 #1

Yes! Good warning. This happened to my husband when he was traveling pnwmom Aug 2013 #2

Thank you for posting this. I had that flashing thecrow Aug 2013 #3

Vitreous detachment virtually universal after 60 naturallyselected Aug 2013 #19

I agree. One should not assume the worst. cthulu2016 Aug 2013 #41

I take bright flashes of light in my vision seriously, especially blue and red nt populistdriven Aug 2013 #4

Ha! Control-Z Aug 2013 #6

lol darkangel218 Aug 2013 #28

Goods advice for people of all ages, really! PennsylvaniaMatt Aug 2013 #5

I had floaters at that age. That was a very long time ago. For me, it's never RKP5637 Aug 2013 #44

When I see flahes of light Control-Z Aug 2013 #7

I get ocular migraines. I see flashes but lucky so far not to get the headache. nm rhett o rick Aug 2013 #8

I get that too, the zig-zags. Sort of looks like a saw tooth, but vibrates and looks RKP5637 Aug 2013 #11

I get that too laundry_queen Aug 2013 #37

That, is an excellent description, "c-shaped animation of a kaleidoscope." Next time I get one I'll RKP5637 Aug 2013 #43

Mine are related to hormones laundry_queen Aug 2013 #48

Yeah, same here, it also starts for me with a small pin dot ... for me sort of a small RKP5637 Aug 2013 #49

Aspartame affects me.... thecrow Aug 2013 #67

It is called a scintillating scotoma. GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #63

Thanks! RKP5637 Aug 2013 #65

It is called a scintillating scotoma. GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #62

I get the zig-zags. Lugnut Aug 2013 #59

Whenever I get a hint of it starting, I take two 'CVS Migraine Relief' tablets and RKP5637 Aug 2013 #60

Those appear to be in *Both" eyes -- that's how you can tell cthulu2016 Aug 2013 #35

I also have ocular migraines! thecrow Aug 2013 #66

Me too Freddie Aug 2013 #10

You are likely seeing a Scintillating Scotoma GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #61

I've just had 2 retina surgeries safeinOhio Aug 2013 #9

To go with the hot flashes? PasadenaTrudy Aug 2013 #12

Yes--but another common cause of floaters is dehydration. tblue37 Aug 2013 #13

Oh, I am *so* glad to hear you say Delphinus Aug 2013 #21

Actually, it's pretty common--especially for women. tblue37 Aug 2013 #38

OK. Hold it! It could also be just opthalmic migraine. trof Aug 2013 #14

That is more likely the case. I started getting them when I was in my 30s. duffyduff Aug 2013 #15

Yes! Bright sunlight can bring one on for me. trof Aug 2013 #16

Does the bright sunlight make you sneeze? thecrow Aug 2013 #68

No. But it does for Miz t. Weird. trof Aug 2013 #71

opthalmic migraine appears to be in Both eyes cthulu2016 Aug 2013 #36

I had that newfie11 Aug 2013 #17

I got my eyes examined three months ago. oneshooter Aug 2013 #18

Mine said I had maybe a couple of years before needing surgery. I notice the difference steadily. Mnemosyne Aug 2013 #24

I have already noticed a difference when using peep sights oneshooter Aug 2013 #50

Stinks, doesn't it? Until a few years ago, I could thread a needle in near darkness, now cannot Mnemosyne Aug 2013 #55

I really don't feel any older. oneshooter Aug 2013 #56

There is some information that even if a person gets multifocal intraocular lenses‎, AnotherMcIntosh Aug 2013 #29

I just had carotid artery surgery -- indicated by optical symptoms. immoderate Aug 2013 #20

So glad Delphinus Aug 2013 #23

Sometimes you just luck out! Glad to hear you are doing well, imm! nt Mnemosyne Aug 2013 #31

YAY!! {{immoderate}} WinkyDink Aug 2013 #32

Wow, glad to hear you are way better now! n/t RKP5637 Aug 2013 #45

I started getting them at 30. Freaked me out. TxDemChem Aug 2013 #22

Corneal ulcers jeffrey_pdx Aug 2013 #25

You're absolutely correct. greatauntoftriplets Aug 2013 #26

Aww sh^t Phlem Aug 2013 #27

Opthalmologist would be my recommendation. :-) WinkyDink Aug 2013 #33

See! Phlem Aug 2013 #34

I know; happened to my now-blind-in-left-eye mother. AND I was in Amsterdam when I thought I saw WinkyDink Aug 2013 #30

FWIW - A torn retina, repaired, won't prevent you from getting LASIK surgery if you're interested... brooklynite Aug 2013 #39

I have had 8 eye surgeries since 2009 (sorry, longish) ashling Aug 2013 #40

OMG, it makes me cringe just reading about this. Scary stuff. n/t RKP5637 Aug 2013 #46

{{ashling}} I must ask: Were your post-cataract surgeries necessitated BY the cataract surgeries? I WinkyDink Aug 2013 #47

I feel your pain...I have had 5 surgeries in the left eye, now legally blind and rl6214 Aug 2013 #53

And to you ashling Aug 2013 #57

Opthalmic mgraines are usually one-sided and cause temporary blindness in that eye REP Aug 2013 #42

Do the flashes of light associated with this sometimes come with a headache? Jamastiene Aug 2013 #51

You are likely seeing a Scintillating Scotoma GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #64

K&r...excellent post rl6214 Aug 2013 #52

I used to have those flashes, but they are gone now. RebelOne Aug 2013 #54

floaters or flashes ridhithomas Aug 2013 #58

My doctor told me that the floaters thecrow Aug 2013 #69

My husband had a weird situation with his eye... a la izquierda Aug 2013 #70