Eyes/mind playing tricks on me?

[wonko]

Hello everyone,

I was about to go to bed when something weirded me out.  I am pretty sure my mind is playing tricks on me, if so sorry to sound so silly!
I turned out the lights but as I turned to lie down, I saw weird flashes in the corner of my eye.  But there was no light.  As I was in bed, I moved my eyes side to side and saw the flashing some more, but then it stopped.  I didn't drink or do anything out of the ordinary tonight.
I got up again because I felt jarred by this.  I had just convinced myself that I just look at too many computers all day at work, but then I went into the bathroom with the lights out and it happened again:  moving my eyes side to side caused an effect, it looked like camera flashes going off, but far enough away so I could only see it in the edge of my eyes, when I moved my eyes to the side.  It happens on the outer side of both eyes.  I did it a couple more times: came back into the light for a few moments, went in the bathroom.  OK, not the hippest way to spend Friday night, I know!

A couple of weeks ago, I was seeing "trails" out of one eye, but again assumed it was just my starting at monitors so much and it only lasted about 2 days.  Does this all sound just silly?  Could my mind be tricking me or something?

Anyway, I think I am just going a bit looney, I've had so many strange sensations the last few months!  Sorry if this sounds silly, but if nothing else you can giggle at the idea of me testing this new phenomenon in my apartment.


Brief bio:  no diagnosis, 1 month long episode of lots of paresthesias starting in late Jan, 1 month back to normal, then since late march, more paresthesias and weird stuff.  All my tests are good, MRI's in Feb all clear.

[Darien_Renai]

My name is Darien, I am 22. Everything in your column describes my experiences over the past few months. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) when I was 13 years old. I would rather believe I am looney, sometimes, but these reoccurring "phenomenons" have had me stumped. You said your tests came back all clear -congrats- so I am left with my same, square one, questions. Did you ever find resolve to these oddities? I no longer participate in treatment; being injection or pill. If you have found some other explanation my dig free decision will remain. However if you've stumbled upon your very own MS diagnosis I need to reconsider. Thank you, and I wish you well!

[pennst8r]

I also have these flashes in the dark or very dim light. I also have optic neuritis. Time to have those peepers checked!

Penn

[santana8]

My symptoms of Retoubular neuritis was in this order, and separated either by days or weeks.

Distorted vision
Numb eyes
Photophobia
Flashing flickering lights( especially with eye movement)
Blured vision( grey mistcovering vision field)
Dimmed vision( color washout)
Visual field cut ( inferior harmonious quadrantopsia)
Pain and pressure behind eyes
Pressure in head
Sore tender eyes
Floaters( when looking at light background)
Gradual slow improvement over two years

I am still dealing with some of these symptoms two years later. Visual field defect though improved is not all the way gone. photophobia, eye pain, and floaters still remain but not as sevier as at onset.I did not receive any steriod treatment and have healed naturally to this point. My eye exam was and still is completely normal except for the visual field defect, dry eye , ( blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction all surface symptoms). My VA  was 20/20 and now is 20/25 in both eyes. Doctors say that all vision symptoms are not related to my eyes, but rather are caused by the 10 white matter lesions in my brain.

Hope this helps!
Santana

[OuterHebrides]

Hi again,

Yes for me ON started with pain above the eye and if you touched your eyeball through the eyelid it was tender. This pain can be for a couple or three weeks before the disturbance to your vision occurs. This is like a grey mist ( in my case) in the lower half of the vision of my left eye and out to the left ( peripheral.) This phase lasted maybe 8 weeks in my case and the phosphenes seemed to start around that time. The ON then cleared up mostly but the phosphenes are still with me!

When I first had the ON I went to to doc and then Neuro and that's when I heard about its link to MS and why I'm on here! Got MRI done which showed three spots in my brain and a possibility of demylinating inflamation etc etc.

Limbo land! The Phosphenes are strange - not painful but weird!

[mschvusangel]

Hi,
I have had this problem as well, and it sounds exactly as you described.  The first time I experienced it, I thought my daughter was playing with a flashlight or something shining it through the crack in my bedroom door.  It really makes you think your seeing things...LOL  Mine didn't start until I started taking Diamox for Intracranial hypertension.  I read many articles about flashes of light and most say it could be a retinal detachment, so I had mine checked out and was told that it was the pressure on my optic nerve behind my eyes causing mine.  I still notice it even when I'm not taking my medication, but it didn't start until I first took it, I don't know, maybe it was a coincidence.

I have gotten used to it, but it sometimes still gets annoying.  Mine does it day and night, but night time is when you really notice it. I also have eye pain occasionally.  I have just given up on doctors though, they all seem to ignore your symptoms.  The only way I got a dx of the intracranial hypertension is because my optometrist noticed my optic nerve being extremely compressed along with swollen blood vessels during my ROUTINE EYE EXAM!!  She sent me back to my neuro w/this info and he finally decided to take a good look in my eyes.  He commented that he didn't remember seeing it before, but it was because he never looked before.  I have no faith in doctors anymore.

Hope you get to feeling better.  Go have it checked out though to be on the safe side.

Take care,
Miranda

[cjacks]

Wonko

This could also be vitreous separation... Google it for a good explanation  .  Do see an opthamologist to be on the safe side .  I've had it a little . comes and goes. My doc didn't say much when I told him . Its common, I guess.

Jo

[wonko]

Wow, thank you for the name of what this is!  I started a google, but since you have 1st hand experience, I have a Q.  I thought ON was something that came on suddenly, and there was no question if you had it, it is painful and/or damaging enough to vision that you'll KNOW you have it.  So, should I really worry about this?  I've had VERY MINOR eye pain the last couple of weeks, but it can be in either eye and I think it could just be from regular eye strain.  After the last few months, I don't want to see another doctor unless there is really good reason!

Can ON even onset slowly?  If not, I think this could be a more benign issue.
Either way, thanks so much for letting me know this!

[OuterHebrides]

What you described is EXACTLY as it is for me. I described it somewhaere on this forum as being like a glow out of the side of my eye when I move it. It lasst for a couple of seconds. Just as you describe it....

[OuterHebrides]

Hi,

I have this too. Its called "phosphenes" and it goes along with Optic Neuritis( ON) which I've just had. Google it and you'll get the whole picture!

You should indeed see an optho/Neuro.

[wonko]

Thanks guys.  I guess I'll cancel my order for rubber wallpaper (for now....)

Well, after a good night's sleep, I can still get the flashes.  I'm going to see if this persists through the long weekend.  If so, maybe I'll call my PCP, I can usually get in the same or next day.  Maybe she'll know if this is worth an opthamologist (sp?) visit.

Glad my testing made you laugh.  Reproducibility is key to the scientific method!

Thanks again, hope everyone enjoys the long weekend (if you're lucky enough like me to get it!)
  

[ohwild]

I agree with fluffysmom you should go and get those eyes checked out ASAP, just in case , better to err on the side of caution with eyes, your eye doc can check you out for glucoma, retinal detatchment etc. eyes are important so make an appointment soon ,
good luck
CJ

[Fluffysmom]

I don't think you're silly or looney at all.  I think it's time to call and ophthamologist.

When I was waiting for my last appointment, I read a flier that said that any time you see flashes or suddenly have new "floaters" appear in your vision, to call your eye doctor.

OK, it does sound a little funny, you partying with your eyes in your dark apartment on a Friday night :o)  

It could be nothing much, but it could have something to do with the retina or something like that, and nothing to laugh at for too long.  I think you should at least call and discuss it with your eye doctor; ophthamologist prefered.

My opinion.  Take care of those eyes!  And all of you, of course.

Kathy