"dizziness" when looking at fast moving text or objects

[momoftwo74]

Hi. About 3-4 months ago, I noticed something strange regarding my vision and motion. I first noticed it when I scrolled down a page on my computer (causing the text etc to move quickly upward). It is hard to explain, but I get a visual disturbance sort of feeling. I cant quite call it dizziness, but more like it seems that my eyes dont keep up with what is moving. I also began to notice this while watching television. Commercials and movies often have fast moving objects etc in and out of the sceen from different angles. Sometimes when this happens, I have to look away to kind of "get my bearings" for a second. Again, it is not dizziness like vertigo, it is not lightheadedness, nor is it dizziness related to syncope (fainting). It only happens for the second or two when a group of fast moving objects crosses my vision (like while watching television). I do not notice these symptoms any other time. I have no other neurological symptoms that I am aware of. No trouble with gait or balance. No blurred vision or mental status changes. I do not wear glasses. Is this sort of thing common, and is it something to really worry about, since I have no other symptoms? (I did have a head CT scan in 2005 for something different, and my CT scan there was normal, which isnt all that long ago). I am, trying to decide if I should see a doctor for this, as I am currently uninsured. I appreciate any advice that any of can give me. Thanks .
MM

[George7819]

I know the scrolling experience. I have it too, though less than when watching TV. It also happens when things or persons close to me are moving, or with movement of objects/people in weaker light.

I am still trying to figure out what is actually wrong with me so I can start looking for workarounds. So far I do not have anything useful for you.

Do you feel pressure on/in your eyes/neck/head as well?

I think I read somewhere about a link between ADD/ADHD and eye focus. Maybe this has something to do with it?
I will look it up and post here later.

Cheers

[bigredbob]

I too have similar discomfort.  In my case it is most pronounced when I see text scrolling on a screen.  If I am reading an article in a web browser and try to keep reading while scrolling down, I get a weird feeling of fogginess and lack of mental focus.  Reading text on a touchscreen as I scroll it produces the same effect.  Animated web advertisements are a big bother too.    

Recently looked at getting a smartphone and they all seemed so bright and uncomfortable since they all involve a lot of fast-moving images/scrolling between screens.

Anybody know of workarounds for these issues?  I have an eye doc appointment later this month.  Maybe he'll have an idea.  With the way phones and computing are moving towards touchscreens and tablets, I am worried that this problem will isolate me from widely-used technology.

Note: I was recently diagnosed with ADD; asked doctor if there could be some connection.  He didn't know.

[Valentinebleu]

So I know the cure to this. I KNOW THE CURE! I suffered from this twice, once so bad for 3 months I could barely drive. This last time I only suffered a day because I knew what to do. You have to see an UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTOR...NOT a regular chiropractor. This is different. No back-cracking. They will take X-rays of your head and atlas and skull, then send you home. They will carefully study them and determine the precise angle to adjust your atlas and then when you return they will adjust you. Your atlas is the only non-interlocking bone in your spine, the one on top. It houses the control box! When it gets out of whack it messes up your nerves in the form of back/neck pain, ear ringing, vision, vertigo, and everything thing else imaginable.
You might notice a positive change right away. You might after a few visits. Then you are done. It will give you your life back.
NUCCA-certified is preferable--UPPER CERVICAL CHIROPRACTOR!!!! I swear by it!

[George7819]

Hey, Amessha, I am curious about your appointment with your Doctor.
Did you get the referral?

[George7819]

Thanks for getting back. Did you go to an opthalmologist or to an optician? I wonder how he checks dilation and focusing. Can you tell more about that? I only went to an optician. He could not tell me anything, nor did he see anything out of the ordinary.

I am planning to make the appointment for the neurologist tomorrow.

What are the other symptoms you mentioned?

Tonight I was watching a scene of a movie and the images struck me as very dark and fast moving. I can't believe I was ever able to watch those scenes.

Unbelievable there is so little information available on our symptoms. It makes it so hard to get any doctor to understand what we are experiencing.

[amessha]

Well, my eye exam today was fairly uneventful. I had some minor prescription changes and he was concerned about the ways my eyes focus.

I guess my focusing (he used a few big words) us only about 40% of what it should be. So when I look from one thing to another it takes longer fory eyes to accept what I am looking at. He almost prescribed me multifocal lenses. Dilation showed nothing abnormal.

He isn't sure whether that has been causing the dizziness. I think it could explain it though. He said I shouldn't be having these problems and my age (27). However didn't off any suggestions as to what might be the cause. I'm afraid I've had a slew of other symptoms begin, and I fear it is something systemic. My next appointment is with my Dr. The 30th of Decemeber, Ill be asking for a referral to a neurologist.

[amessha]

I doubt the OP will wander in with any answers, but I have been having the exact same symptoms as you for a few weeks now. My PCP just encouraged me to better hydrate myself. I don't feel that it has made a difference. I made an eye appointment for the 22nd to rule out any issues with vision change as its been 2 years since my last exam.

I hope that you will come back and update as you rule out/in any causes. It sure is frustrating!

Good Luck!