Negative afterimages, ringing in ears, poor memory

[maxidog]

Hello,

For the past year I've been having trouble with negative afterimages. My eyes have been thoroughly tested by several opticians and are fine.

Initially the afterimages were only visible when using a computer; reading a page of text would result in horizontal bars across my vision interfering with reading and appearing on whatever else I looked at. This has become progressively worse. Light coloured objects result in a dark afterimage, so when the problem is at its worst my whole field of vision is quite dim. I now see negative afterimages most of the time. I was wondering why I could see an oval above the trees out of my window at the weekend, and it took a while to realise it was the outline of my father's head whom I was talking to when I wasn't looking out of the window. When I'm in a poorly-lit environment, the intensity of the afterimages can be greater than the intensity of what is really there, so that I can't see very well.

In the last month as it's got worse I've also developed a constant ringing in my ears. I've also had what I'd call a "hangover headache" every morning -- a mild all-over headache, though that's gone for the time being. My memory has got worse. Finally, a couple of months after this started I had what I believe is called an opthalmic migraine (ring of zigzags beginning in centre of vision and slowly working outwards; no headache).

I am someone who tends to develop odd symptoms in times of stress, and I have just moved countries and had a small personal problem which caused stress. However, I am not depressed at the moment and do not feel stressed apart from worrying a little about these symptoms.

Do you think these symptoms have a medical cause that could be investigated by a doctor? Or am I best off concentrating on being fit and happy and just getting on with it? Any opinions gratefully received.

[TvTipp]

Hi - just wondering if this ever went away for you.  For me, it is ongoing, but some days are much better than others.  Also have a ton of eye floaters.  Neurologist and ophthalmologist all say I'm fine.

The lines after reading drive me crazy!!

Anyone else with these issues?  The tinnitus/ringing *****, but I have gotten used to it.

[TvTipp]

Anyone else had similar symptoms resolve?  Still having issues here.

[maxidog]

Hi TvTipp, I wrote the original message in March and it peaked at the end of that month. During April, I had physical symptoms around my eyes like they were bulging and a juddering sensation  but from that moment onwards it started getting very gradually better.

Now I'm exactly back to the start point described in my original message - when using a computer, my vision fills up with horizontal bars of text. But it's no longer bad enough to stop me working and I presume it will keep getting better.

I got to see an eye specialist just a month ago and he didn't recognise these symptoms, though did suggest that at nearly 40 my eye muscles might be having a hard time and going through a period of adjustment.

What I would say is that I was having a harder time in my personal life than I admitted when I wrote the initial message. Perhaps it was stress.

Let me know how you get on.

[TvTipp]

Hi - suffering the exact same symptoms for the past few weeks.  How did you make out?  Any resolution?

[Ricobord]

I can't offer much except encouragement to go see a neurologist.  It doesn't sound like stress to me.