Blotch in one eye

DorsetDude

DorsetDude

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Keith
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Ive just had a weird pale lilac (against a white screen) blotch in my left eyes vision. Over the course of about ten minutes it has gradually shrank and now I can nearly see properly again as the blotch is small (and hopefully will disappear completely).

Anyone know wtf is going on?

cheers
 
How do you feel otherwise?
Could be a mild migraine. You don't have to have a history of migraines to get one.
 
viv1969 said:
How do you feel otherwise?
Could be a mild migraine. You don't have to have a history of migraines to get one.
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I do get the zig-zag squiggles things in that eye also quite regular which I assumed to be that. You could be right. Thanks.

Feel fine otherwise. Apart from a bad lower back Ive had a fortnight, dont think thats related. :)
 
Get yourself to a opticians asap
 
DorsetDude said:
Ive just had a weird pale lilac (against a white screen) blotch in my left eyes vision. Over the course of about ten minutes it has gradually shrank and now I can nearly see properly again as the blotch is small (and hopefully will disappear completely).

Anyone know wtf is going on?

cheers
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IMO needs high priority (urgent?) checking.

DorsetDude said:
I do get the zig-zag squiggles things in that eye also quite regular which I assumed to be that. You could be right. Thanks.
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I also get the 'broken glass" visual aura which for many is a migraine pre cursor. But thankfully not for me. Had it on and off for years and have been assured on the past by a neurologist that unless something changes it is nothing to worry about.
the black fox said:
Get yourself to a opticians asap
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Yes +1 plus!!!

Does not sound like an episode to be ignored = better to get a check now than regret not doing so later.

Having said that, I hope it will be nothing more than simply an odd episode of uncommon aura.
 
Opticians can tell you a lot about your heath generally by looking into your retina, it’s one of the few areas of the human body where it’s possible to view major blood vessels and arteries without using scans etc.
 
Was eye tested a month or two ago and nothing came up. i reckon its this weird "aura" stuff. Am picking up some glasses soon though, will ask when I go in if I remember.

Cheers all.
 
DorsetDude said:
Was eye tested a month or two ago and nothing came up. i reckon its this weird "aura" stuff. Am picking up some glasses soon though, will ask when I go in if I remember.

Cheers all.
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Were I you I would go now!

You seem to be describing something that is static, of defineable shape and isolated to one eye.....though diminishing slowly compared to the more floating broken glass/Ziggy lines, that to me would be unusual enough to be looked into (pun intended ;) ) for peace of mind if no other reason!
 
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Anything abnormal with vision, either see an optician or Minor Injuries/Walk in Centre etc. Some GP's can do a slit lamp, as can A&E.
I would always get things checked...10 mins is a while.
 
DorsetDude said:
Was eye tested a month or two ago and nothing came up. i reckon its this weird "aura" stuff. Am picking up some glasses soon though, will ask when I go in if I remember.

Cheers all.
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I had a check up with my docs thurs week ago , had a heart attack 3 days later ... not worth taking the chance get to docs/hosp/opticians a.s.a.p
 
I went to the opticians (Boots), they just said sorry mate we only really sell glasses here, go to the hospital eye unit. Once Ive saved up enough money to park there I might.
 
I think SpecSavers is the only place authorised to officially do Glaucoma testing for the DVLA i.e. they have all the gear and know what they are doing.

On a side note when I have had my eyes tested at Vision Express they AFAIK are fully equipped to examine the eyes ~ test for Glaucoma, Photograph the retina (important perhaps in your case!) , test the peripheral vision etc..........................so by the sound of it Boots only offer a very limited service and not related to "eye health" :(
 
I think what's concerning people is that there are eye conditions that can be a precursor to blindness, that present symptoms that aren't painful or alarming.
They're treatable if caught early, but if you wait until things do get serious, they're not.

A few years ago I was (pretty much literally) dragged to A&E by a friend after complaining of flashes in my left eye. Turns out it was posterior vitreous detachment (not that serious if you don't get complications), but the symptoms exactly match those of retinal detachment, which would have left me blind if untreated.
If the hospital isn't an option, please get down to SpecSavers/Vision Express.
 
The only people authorised to carry out eye tests are optometrists and medical practitioners. They are trained and qualified to recognise eye diseases/injuries/abnormalities.
https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-conten...-and-contact-lens-fitting-FINAL-June-2015.pdf

When you go for an eye test the optometrist will do a pressure test (glaucoma check) and a number of other tests with very sophisticated equipment (including retinal photography to permit results to be compared every time you go for a test)

https://www.aop.org.uk/advice-and-support/for-patients/sight-test-explained

BTW "I went to the opticians (Boots), they just said sorry mate we only really sell glasses here ". I don't buy that. Boots are registered with the General Optical Council and are listed on the Optical Register.
 
arclight said:
The only people authorised to carry out eye tests are optometrists and medical practitioners. They are trained and qualified to recognise eye diseases/injuries/abnormalities.
https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-conten...-and-contact-lens-fitting-FINAL-June-2015.pdf

When you go for an eye test the optometrist will do a pressure test (glaucoma check) and a number of other tests with very sophisticated equipment (including retinal photography to permit results to be compared every time you go for a test)

https://www.aop.org.uk/advice-and-support/for-patients/sight-test-explained

BTW "I went to the opticians (Boots), they just said sorry mate we only really sell glasses here ". I don't buy that. Boots are registered with the General Optical Council and are listed on the Optical Register.
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Good point ~ with the best will in the world we have no way of knowing who in the opticians he approached & what was asked or said. By asking to please see the Optometrist as a matter of concern to discuss would be the approach I would take. Sadly, with some front of house (reception) types I feel that rather than saying "I don't know...I will get someone to help you...." it is bit like dealing with the 'greasy rag with aspirations and not the engineer'.

Keith @DorsetDude I can understand your reluctance because either a) you don't want to make a fuss and/or b) your sub-consciously concerned about what you might find out....or any other reason personal to you.

But it will cost you nothing but some time to have your mind put at ease and if something does need treatment it can be organised now (soon as?) before any potential issue gets worse.

This is afteral a good friendly photography forum and eyes are important ;)
 
I presume you drive if god forbid you happen to have a accident and someone gets hurt will you be able to forgive yourself . It’s more than taking a few photos involved . Get to the nearest eye hospital a.s.ap no more excuses
 
's now Friday evening - done anything sensible about your eye yet ?

I have had attacks of a nasty form of Migraine in the past - total loss of vision for about 3 hours - scared me witless it did .

I had vision back in one eye after about 3 hours and then over a period of about 3 weeks got complete vision back in the other one. It was very very thoroughly investigated - both by Neurologists and Ophthalmologists.

I think the last time I had an attack was about 5 years ago - just as frightening then as it was the first time.

You cannot afford to mess about with your eyes
 
I get regular migraines, mainly the zig zag thing and blank, grey patches in my vision. This usually passes in an hour or so. I've never experienced colour aura.

Did you get a headache, facial pain, tingling in fingers, tongue etc afterwards? That's a typical migraine for me.

You have to go to the optician though.
 
Last seen at 1.30pm yesterday (Thursday).
 
All been absolutely fine since I first mentioned it. Pretty sure its mild migraine related. If I get it again I will think about going to the hospital eye place.
Thanks for the concern all.
 
DorsetDude said:
All been absolutely fine since I first mentioned it. Pretty sure its mild migraine related. If I get it again I will think about going to the hospital eye place.
Thanks for the concern all.
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Obviously everyone else is more concerned than you....:-)
 
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This thread has hit a chord with me!

I too have noticed a cloudy/hazy patch in my left eye...for a few weeks now, though there is no colour, and I have no history of migraines either.
I went to an 'optician'.... actually it was my local Specsavers, and they were no use at all!
Since my prescription in my left eye had changed too, at about the same time I started noticing the 'misty' patch, I thought it best to act quickly.
I asked the Specsavers person why my short-sightedness had improved in my left eye.
His response was "I don't know!":banghead:

High street chains of 'opticians' are virtually useless for diagnosing serious vision issues in my opinion (their primary goal is spectacles retail), and advice from either a GP or a good, independent optician should be sought.
I now have an appointment with my GP tomorrow, and I hope to have it looked at by a specialist sooner rather then later.
I suspect that my problem is a cataract, since I have some strange haziness when looking at bright lights etc.

I urge the you Keith @DorsetDude to get it looked at by a proper, independent optician or get a referral by a GP as soon as possible.

Any symptoms left unchecked could get worse, and considering we are all photographers here, the last thing any of us want is loss of vision!
 
GarethB said:
High street chains of 'opticians' are virtually useless for diagnosing serious vision issues in my opinion (their primary goal is spectacles retail), and advice from either a GP or a good, independent optician should be sought.
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Having worked a number of years for Specsavers myself as well as having worked for Boots and other independent opticians over the years (in audiology/hearing aids), I would rate SS as highly as any of them on the whole and better than most really. SS are run as 'joint venture partnerships' which are almost franchises. Standards seem to vary tremendously between individual branches as well as between individual optometrists working within those same branches.

The important thing is that you need to find a good optometrist with time to spend with you, regardless of who they work for, but the likes of bigger branches SS and Boots are generally very well equipped with the expensive kit you won’t find in smaller opticians.
 
Cartus said:
Having worked a number of years for Specsavers myself as well as having worked for Boots and other independent opticians over the years (in audiology/hearing aids), I would rate SS as highly as any of them on the whole and better than most really. SS are run as 'joint venture partnerships' which are almost franchises. Standards seem to vary tremendously between individual branches as well as between individual optometrists working within those same branches.

The important thing is that you need to find a good optometrist with time to spend with you, regardless of who they work for, but the likes of bigger branches SS and Boots are generally very well equipped with the expensive kit you won’t find in smaller opticians.
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Fair enough, I certainly didn't want to offend anyone....perhaps my personal experience with Specsavers is an anomaly, and I don't doubt there are many experienced and skilled practitioners.
You're right, however, the most important thing is to address it quickly and with a qualified optometrist you can trust.
 
GarethB said:
I too have noticed a cloudy/hazy patch in my left eye...for a few weeks now, though there is no colour, and I have no history of migraines either.
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That sounds like a cataract developing (easily fixed) though obviously it could be more serious.
 
ancient_mariner said:
That sounds like a cataract developing (easily fixed) though obviously it could be more serious.
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From the laypersons googling research I have done, it does indeed seem to point towards a cataract.
I'll hopefully have a plan of action when I see my GP tomorrow....and (fingers crossed) a timely referral to a specialist.

As I understand, it is indeed a simple out-patient procedure, and I also get to choose what 'type' of vision I will thenceforth have, viz-a-viz shortsighted or long - due to the insertion of a fixed focal lens!
And from then on, no more prescription changes....in one eye at least....for the time being!!;)
 
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GarethB said:
From the laypersons googling research I have done, it does indeed seem to point towards a cataract.
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My wife has extreme short-sightedness (-10.5/-11) more recently glaucoma and has now begun developing cataracts. The symptom you described sounded like her cataract too. She is due for lens replacement (among other things) some time this year at the J Arthur in Oxford, but they plan to try to improve drainage in the the eyeball & hopefully slow the glaucoma at the same time.
 
ancient_mariner said:
My wife has extreme short-sightedness (-10.5/-11) more recently glaucoma and has now begun developing cataracts. The symptom you described sounded like her cataract too. She is due for lens replacement (among other things) some time this year at the J Arthur in Oxford, but they plan to try to improve drainage in the the eyeball & hopefully slow the glaucoma at the same time.
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I'm sorry to hear that Toni, glaucoma is frightening!
May I offer my best wishes to you and your wife.
 
GarethB said:
I'm sorry to hear that Toni, glaucoma is frightening!
May I offer my best wishes to you and your wife.
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Thanks Gareth - she's been discovered early, so hopefully it can be held back for a long time.
 
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