flash of ring of light only with eye movement

[setarcos69]

When holding focus on anything, I don't see it.  When it's dark or lot of variable color in background, I don't see it.  Usually, when I move my eyes very slowly, I don't see it.  HOWEVER, when I move my eyes normally against a light background, like the sky or walls or ceiling or road pavement or back and forth reading on a wide computer screen, I see a small, momentary flash of a ring of light just as I move the eye.  Not a solid spot of light, but a ring. It's annoying and scary.  If I close one eye, the left eye shows nearly a full ring, more like side-by-side parenthesis ( ) of light while the right eye only shows a right parenthesis ) of light.  Have had floaters for 30 years, but whenever they've been more noticeable, taking some extra B2 seems to help clear them up.  But this flashing ring of light is totally new.
Only other problem lately has been noise sensitivity and occasional ringing in my right ear which ENT hasn't figured out yet.  No infection or perforation and CT showed no problems other than arthritis in my jaw.  Don't know that they are related.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No sorry I've gone as far as we can go in an internet health forum. You will need to work through this with your physicians. "bad flu shot" not at all likely to cause this.

JCH MD

[setarcos69]

Retinal specialist sees only a slight hemorrhage (sp?) in left eye.  Wants me to re-check in a month.
Filling in more of the health history the last 8 months raises another question.  I got a flu shot last Fall at Wallgreens, but the regular nurse was at lunch and a guy from the pharmacy gave it to me.  Have to wonder if I got the right shot cause in December I got the flu bad, possibly that h2n3 everyone was talking about.  Chills, body aches, fever of 103, and a dry cough lasting for a week.  Then the norovirus in January, then the flu again in late February as bad as the first round.  It was just a few weeks later the right ear problem started first with congestion and ringing, then the noise sensitivity and the talking-in-a-barrel effect with the sound of my own words booming in the right ear.  But I could also hear and feel it in my right sinus under the eye and in the upper nasal area when I talked or coughed.  Then flash of ring of light in eyes just started a couple weeks ago.  (I was laying out in the sun without eye protection, though only for 10 minutes a few times but doc said that the sun could cause problems with the vitreous gel creating more floaters.)  I know flu can cause complications including infections and even meningitis.  Is it possible that I have an upper nasal infection or viral, bacterial, or fungal meningitis that's hung on for over 3 months?  ENT only checked for ear and nose infection. CT would've presumably shown any lymphoma in the sinuses.  I see another ENT specialist in Indy next week.  Any suggestions?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I posted an answer to you on your home page
JCH MD

[Twiggymarie]

Hi, mostly my notice here is to let you know that I'm 57 yrs old, have had these terrible annoying but problem floaters that has me just shaking my head like as though I'm clearing the mess in my eyes, but after I do, it's still there, Well, I do not know why it started up in my right eye, as that was my good eye while my left eyes was noted to be the bad one, here now I am seeing those very dark large floaters in my right eye as I'm typing this to you, I hope you can help me understand what really causes floaters in the beginning?! I'm someone who usually has good eye sight, especially in my right eye, just that it bothers me so much, and it's interfering with a lot of my regular routine around the house and outside going places! I appreciate it your input on this! Sincerely, Twiggymarie :)  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[Twiggymarie]

Hi, I hope your eyes are ok, I read what you put here, I just had to comment on it, have to say that I you have the same situation as well as the ringing in both ears, am gonna see an eye Dr. on the 5th of July for both my eyes, only my left eye was bad, but since the strength of my right eye eye started to go bad, I'm seeing floaters, (large ones), and also seeing small dark and grey dots as well, and they look like they're racing across the roads when I'm in a car, (not driving of course), and when I look up to the sky, mostly they look like far away birds flying, I never had these in my right eye ever until after my surgeries for Ovarian Cancer (Stage 4, with having treatments), I' done with those now, my sister says I could very well have Cataracts and I know I should get that Laser Surgery done, she had that done, she says she sees really well now! Well, just thought I'd share my story about my eyes!! I truly hope your eyes get better, Thank You, Sincerely, Twiggymarie  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I doubt if one condition is causing all those symptoms. you do need to get in to see an eye MD for evaluation of your eye complaints.Ask your MD for a referral or if you live in USA go to www.geteyesmart.org to find an ophthalmologist near you

JCHMD