Flickering Vision in One Eye

[Patc46]

About a year ago I started noticing blank holes in the vision of my left eye when reading, that seemed like examples I had found of macular degeneraton.  My opthamologist did not find anything significant, although I was diagnosed in the past with pigment dispersion.  I subsequently saw another opthamologist who also found nothing and was then referred to a retinologist and a neurologist.  Had complete workups, including brain MRI and Doppler.  All tests revealed nothing.  I am still having the problem.  Lately I have noticed that when looking at things at a distance, i.e., people's faces, features fade in out.  The only medication I take is Synthroid, which I have been on for 18-20 years for hypothyroidism.  

[Patc46]

Thank you so much for your reply. The holes are not present in my right and are always present in my left eye.  I first started noticing the problem about 12 years ago, usually after bending over and sometimes after being out hiking.  If I looked down, textured surfaces would appear to have some smooth holes in them.  At that time, I really thought it was eaecting both eyes. This would originally only last 10-15 minutes and then my vision would return to normal, although I could not read while it was happening.  Now this problem affects my left eye only, but all of the time, 24/7.

I have a history of migraines approximately 13-14 years ago, which only lasted for several years and then went away.  I did have some symptoms in my right eye about 9 years ago of a long, narrow wedge appearing in my vision and a kind of a kaleidoscope effect towards the outside of the eye.  However, this only happened several times.  When I mentioned this as various eye exams, these symptoms were referred to as silent migraines.

As I had mentioned, I saw my regular opthamologist 9/09, and she dialated my pupils but did not find anything wrong.  Shortly thereafter, a visual test was normal.  Early this year, I saw another opthamologist in the same office because I was still having symptoms and had also experienced flashing/flickering lights in my left eye on several occasions.  He dialiated my pupils and did not find anything, so he referred me to the retinalogist in the same office for further testing.  (He referred to the flashing lights as silent migraines). The retinalogist did a fluroscope with dye and "pictures".  He said everything was normal and then referred me to the neurologist.  In March, I had the brain MRI and transcranial doppler - 368.10 - subjective visual disturbance.  Neurologist said everything was normal and that he thought the problem was with my eye.

It may be just a coincidence, but I first noticed the permanent problem with my left eye about the time I got a new computer with a 21" monitor.  The shiny screen was bothering my eyes so much that I had to get a view guard to cut down on the glare.  Of possible significance, I had at that time been playing computer games daily and also doing a lot of reading, sometimes without my glasses.  

Almost 1 year later, I am still having the problem, and I really don't know where to turn.  Unfortunately, none of the specialists I saw seemed to have any interest in trying to find out what the problem is, and I really don't know where to turn.  I am worried about it developing in my right eye and not being able to read.  

Sorry this is so long, but you did say I had not provided enough information previously.

Any answers you might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated!  Thank you.

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

You don't provide enough information about your symptoms. The major questions are whether these black holes are never present in your right eye, always present in your left eye when you read, always in the same spot and the same number, do you ever notice them at other times, or what?  Why you had this enormous evaluation if your symptoms were in one eye only is incomprehensible.  What reasons where you given for the brain MRI and Doppler evaluation?  Either you have left symptoms out of your description or your doctors found something on examination that prompted this additional testing.  I don't think the hypothyroidism is connected.