"Kaleidoscope eye"

[morgar]

Hi - I am a 58yo male and wear multifocal specs and use computers a lot in my work. For several years I have experienced bouts of a particular disturbance in both eyes at the same time. It starts out as a small prism like effect which gradually spirals in my vision - then after a few minutes it slowly dissipates. The effect really isnt in my eyesight as it is still there when I close my eyes and cannot be blocked out. I sit quietly, avoid light and have a drink of water during the episodes. I dont experience any especial pains such as migraines etc and seem to fully recover. I think it may be related to lack of electrolytes and mild dehydration but would like some guidance onthe possible causes. I know of only one other person who has the same symptoms but hers goes on to be a migraine. Any thoughts please?

[rswan2351]

I have been told by my friend who is a nurse that the Kaleidoscope-eye effect as described above by many folks is caused in the intestines when some type of oil or a element to which we might be allergic to goes to a certain part in the intestines which has a spasm creating a blood vessel to raise its blood pressure to the optical apparatus causing this kaleidoscope in our eyes, in my case followed by a severe headache, stomach irritation which can take several days to cure, when I experience this situation I drink a lot of water and try to relieve myself doing a number 2, by trial en error it allways happens about a day or 2 after I ate a meal that may have ingretients that Im alergic to, I will further research this topic.

[SheriC59]

This is all very interesting. I've had migraines for years. Usually I have sudden onset type of migraine. I've had auras, too, when younger. I've had this before... but it's been awhile. Today, I was in front of my smaller laptop and could hear my heartbeat in my head... bp, I guess. I don't usually have high bp either. Almost as I was increasingly becoming aware of this 'beating sound' in my head, I thought I had something in my eye. Maybe a floater, is what I was thinking. Then my Left eye first started seeing a zig-zag, squiggly lines, that looked like prisms appear across my eye, then moved to the outter rim of my eye... then the same appeared in my right eye. I thought I needed a break.. washed my eyes... went outside for a few minutes... came back inside and the prisms were just 'twinkling and annoying as heck'. I couldn't rub them away or blink them away. I decided to Google 'squiggly prism vision' and found this page. Calming myself down after reading all of these responses, I took a 100mg imitrex and waited this thing out. It's take about 25 minutes... but it's ebbed away. I don't hear my bp, but I do feel pressure like I'm going to be sick. I ate part of a pork chop last night that I didn't really like and felt nauseous. Never got sick. I know the meat was good, it just didn't agree with me. It's been a long time since this has happened, yet it is disconcerting, to say the least. I'll bookmark this site if anyone has any insight. I see a neurologist regularly for occipital nerve blocks for migraines. I'll ask him about this the next time I go into the office. It'll be a few months unless something else happens. Thanks for posting. (I'm feeling very nauseous... but no real headache to speak of.)

[ellen2013]

Sunny169, have you had your optic nerves checked? I had got bumped in the eye with a tree branch while gardening. First symptoms were pain for days, edema in eye, iritis and then they said my optic nerve head was swollen and sent me for a brain scan to be sure a tumor wasn't pressing on it.   The test was okay, the doctor decided my optic nerve was damaged with a pale palor! Irreversible. I have a blind spot in the lower part of my right eye.  I too see these geometric patterns with black in between and orange background when I close my eyes at night laying in bed. I expect them now after over a month! They go away  in about 10 minutes. I have asked the specialist but not sure his reply as it is so hard to explain my right eye is like a kaleidoscope!!!

[pomonabill221]

THAT'S IT!!!!   Thanks for the link!
Finally a (crude) animation of what this looks like!  Mine is in dazzling color as well and in both eyes at the same time, so it really isn't in the eye.
I am type 1 diabetic, quit smoking in 2010 (yeah!!!), unemployed (stress)... so these don't help with the triggers.
I do get a mild headache about 1 day later after this happens.

[mhknee]

This is the only answer that makes sense so far to me. I've had this problem off and on. No pain, just the kaleidoscopic lights. No migraine. I'm in perfect health, no stress (retired), do spend some time on the computer every day, but that does not seem to be related.
I do make an interesting smoothie most every day, with all kinds of ingredients (at least 24, whatever I can get my hands on). The 'lights' happened in the last 2 days again, shortly after drinking the smoothie. An allergic reaction might be the problem. I'll have to replace and delete ingredients until I find out which one is bothering my system.
Yesterday it happened while playing competitive tennis. I played right through it. No weakness, no problems. Just a little harder tracking the ball. It took about 2 games (which I won). Focus is the thing to do, not feeling like a victim.
Bodily functions are all interrelated. Intestinal problems may trigger reactions anywhere in your system, look at acupuncture for example to see that interrelatedness. A lot goes on in your guts, they are the center of your immune system, and a whole lot more.

[romseygirl1977]

I am having withdraw headaches which my doctors are watching me but i had black and white snowflake patterns  when my eyes was closed no pain is it something to worry about