Need help understanding eye issues. Pinwheel effect.

[japple]

For the past couple of years, I've been having a pinwheel effect in my eyes. It's usually in the morning after I wake up, and I see it both with my eyes opened or closed. I've had two episodes of retinal detachment in my right eye, as well as cataract surgery. My brother has recently had the same eye issues and he is seeing pinwheels as well. I can never remember to ask my doctor about them, because we're always discussing the other areas of my eye health, but I do have an appointment with him on the 22nd and will write myself a note to ask him about it.

I have searched the internets, and the only thing that came close to describing this effect was in a forum for people with multiple sclerosis. One poster said her neurologist told her that it is a form of migraine but without the pain.

Anyone else seeing pinwheels? Does anyone have any suggestions on websites or seach terms I can use that will provide more useful information.

I know this is probably not the best place to post this, but I didn't know where else to post it.

[Why Syzygy]

1. I'm glad you will make a note

to ask him. I have to do that when I do doctor visits. Sorry, I have never heard of this. I'll do a Google cruise later when I'm settled in and let you know if I find anything.

Is it every day?

[hermetic]

2. Used to get them myself

every couple of months. They would start small, on the periphery of my vision, then get larger. And then I would get a headache I could easily describe as migraine. This went on for several years and no doctor could ever find anything wrong with me or my eyes. But I did learn after a while that if I took Tylenol right at the outset, it would go away with no pain. And now I don't get them at all anymore.

Sorry that wasn't very helpful, just my experience. Hope yours works out okay, too, just be sure and ask your doctor.

[LaurenG]

3. Sometimes I get "auras" that are connected with migraines

I see spots that are very bright, jagged and faceted, they reflect colors from around the room. THey are still there when I close my eyes just not as colorful. The first time I had one I wondered if I had somehow ingested some "acid" (which I have never tried, but have heard descriptions about :rofl:)

I have noticed that allergy and sinus problems are usually a contributing factor for me. I don't always get a headache, and auras without headache are also more common than I thought.

I don't know if this is what you have but it sounds similar to auras without headache.


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-aura/MM00659

[japple]

4. Yes, I have allergy and sinus problems and just recently

started allergy shots. I almost never get headaches, except occasionally from sinus pressure. My blood pressure is always great, as is my occular pressure. Thanks for the link. I will check it out.

Edited to add: I've used acid (long, long ago) as well as other hallucinogenics and never experienced this effect!

[MorningGlow]

5. I agree with Hermetic, Lauren, and your friend--could be migraines

It's true here is such a thing as a migraine that only manifests in weird eye effects (no headaches/pain)--I used to get them fairly frequently. I'd recommend having your eyes checked, and if there's nothing wrong with them, ask your doctor about migraines.

[Celebration]

6. you don't use aspartame, do you?

Or monosodium glutamate? When I ingest those two things my vision does some really strange stuff.

[japple]

7. No to both. I use sugar or honey for sweetening, and would

never knowingly eat MSG or artificial sweeteners. I just had my eyes checked last week prior to having a laser treatment to correct post-cataract blurring, but this issue has been going on for quite awhile. I think it started after I had the first surgery for retinal detachment, but have noticed that it sometimes occurs in both eyes, though usually not at the same time.

[shraby]

8. My husband has it too. Probably the last couple of

years and about a month or two ago he had a stroke. Told the doctor about the "waterfalls" and the doc didn't say what caused it but seemed familiar with the waterfalls. The doctor was a neurologist. Hope this helps. Found out he had blocked arteries that go to the brain, but after extensive tests they found his body had created other pathways for the blood to get to the brain.

[Cleita]

9. Although I have had cataract surgery, I have never had pinwheels, sometimes

light flashing around the edges, but that always sends me to my eye doctor right away to rule out a retinal detachment. I wouldn't wait to ask. Call your eye doctor's office and tell his receptionist what you are experiencing. They are trained to recognize the gravity of various symptoms patients might describe. If she can't help you or doesn't have the doc call you back, get another opinion. With your eye medical history, you can't afford to be casual about it.

[Why Syzygy]

10. What did your doctor say? nt

[japple]

11. Sorry for not posting a followup. My dr. thinks this effect

is probably a result of the surgeries I've had and by the scar tissue on my retina. He did a thorough exam and says that my retina is intact, with no signs of detachment. The other people I know who have this pinwheel effect have also had retinal surgery to correct detachments, so I'm not going to worry about it unless I start having pain or worse. It usually only happens in the early morning after my first exposure to sunlight.

[LaurenG]

12. Thanks for the update - that was a puzzling description

I am very happy all is well!