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Glowing Dots in Vision

Hey. I've been having trouble with my vision for some time now. I'll give you the backstory and then hopefully you have some ideas about what this is.

About two years ago I started to notice more floaters in my vision. The floaters don't bother me so much as the other symptoms. After drinking alcohol in any quantity, I notice that my vision 'flashes' with a thousand bright dots if I quickly move my eyes to the top left or top right. This tends to go away over a few days and I have since stopped drinking alcohol because it seemed to be making it worse, but some other problems have persisted. I asked an optometrist about this and he sort of shrugged it off and said he couldn't find anything wrong with my eyes. In addition to this, I now have what appear to be a thousand bright glowing dots in my vision. They are easier to see against a bright surface like the sky, but I see them all the time to the point where it actually interferes with my ability to read and concentrate. They are glowing (like that grey that occurs when colours change very rapidly), small, seem to appear, squiggle, and then disappear into nothing. They are worse when I am tired or have anxiety. I went to an optometrist and they ran a few tests. She checked out my eyes and said the retina looked fine, corneal thickness was above normal, and I came back normal for a 'dot' test (I don't know what it was called, but I have to focus on a point and identify dots in my peripheral vision. I should note this was extremely hard to do because I couldn't easily tell what dots were there and which were just the glowing ones in my vision). I also have lost some of the brightness in my left eye. Things appear at about 80% saturation of my right eye. This does not appear to be getting worse.

In addition to all these things, I occasionally experience pain in both eyes. I can only describe this as someone yanking the back of my eyes. This usually lasts 1-2 days and fades like muscle soreness or inflammation. I have bouts of photophobia, but this comes and goes. However, even when it is not in full bloom, I notice it is more difficult to look at bright things.

Increased duration and sensitivity to 'tracers.' has been occurring.

I have had an MRI and it came back clean. I have also had an EEG. Both came back normal.

Blood work is normal, including B12.

Any ideas?
6 Responses
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711220 tn?1251891127
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No.  I would recommend that you see a neuro-ophthalmologist.

Dr. O.
Helpful - 0
397460 tn?1268533736
Hi. I have IIH and Papillodema in both eyes. I am not suggesting that you have this illness but , It took a long time for me to be diagnoses correctly.

The thing about papillodema, swelling of the optic nerve, is that it causes all kinds of visual effects and problems. I see silver balls rolling in the front line of my vision all the time. I have excess floaters, and see all kinds of things. I have because if my illness, high intracranial pressure which causes the swelling of the optic nerve.
I would also suggest that you see a neuro or an ophthalmologist. Some thing is wrong.In the presents of no findings , such as your test results, and the next step should be an lumbar pucture. Have you had one done yet?
I hope you get to the bottom of allthis. Cath278.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Papillodema is usually seen on a standard opthamologist exam - please cath, stop trying to scare people on the unnescessarily. This person's tests were fine. Maybe this is visual snow? which has a lot of causes.
Helpful - 0
397460 tn?1268533736
Jason,Hmmm.

As you pointed out, Papillodema, is "usually" seen on a eye exam, but... can be missed, mine was.
Also, I am not trying to scare anyone and doubt that anyone took it up this way, with the exception of you.
Do you also disagree with Dr.Oyakawa and my suggestion?
Heres hoping you add some thing a bit more productive, for the patient. Cath278
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It may be normal, and much of the symptoms you described may be due to underlying anxiety, also that eye muscle pain you describing happens to many people which usually go by its own after 1 or 2 days.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The pain does go away after a day or two, but it is recurring. I will try to speak to another ophthalmologist when I can. I also have to see what is/isn't covered by my medical insurance as some things can be expensive and are only partially covered.
Helpful - 0
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