I noticed yesterday, on looking at a bright sky, that there was a rhythmic “pulsing” of thin veinlike shapes (described in more detail below) synchronised with my heartbeat. They were in both eyes-although more prominent in the left eye. The shapes were thin, almost transparent , horizontal and rather like floaters or thin veins. They didn’t significantly obstruct vision; there were two in the left eye and one in the right. The effect isn’t noticeable unless looking at a bright background such as sky. As AF can , apparently, affect the eyes and as the pulsing was in synch with the heart, I wondered if anyone had experienced this or knows what it is? I’ve booked an appointment with ophthalmologist for next week. I’m hoping it’s an ordinary phenomenon rather than something sinister.
Odd “pulsing” in eye in rhythm with h... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Odd “pulsing” in eye in rhythm with heartbeat.
I used to often see feather like shapes agains a pale blue sky especially when I was laying in a dentist chair. Didn't have AF back then.
It might indeed be nothing to do with AF-it’s just that I read AF can affect eyes and it’s in sync with the heartbeat.
Probably some form of 'floaters'. As you age ... for many they get worse.
Thanks for this reply. I don’t think it’s floaters as I am familiar with that phenomenon and have had them for many years.
I have sometimes had that. I think it is a slightly dilated blood vessel pressing on the optic nerve. Maybe a sign of slight stress.
I had those thin veins and they were caused by something called macular pucker when the epiretinal layer thickens. After visiting Specsavers a year ago I had one of their ultrasounds which showed it to be quite thick and had an op to remove it last November.
It might be worth getting it checked out somewhere with an OCT scanner as I think I had left mine too long.
specsavers.co.uk/eye-health...
I will have a check on Tuesday. I’ve also noticed that, particularly in low light, vision has a sort of grainy or very fine static appearance. I hope it’s not something sinister- I might have had it for a long time without noticing it. I take Sotalol which can apparently cause some visual effects, but I don’t know what those are. I was also told a few years ago that I have the first signs of cataracts, so I suppose it could be that. Was your condition diagnosed as macular degeneration or it is something different? Also, have you ever noticed the grainy or fine static effect?
No, I didn't have macular degeneration, not at all. I first noticed it about 15 years ago and it was called cellophane maculopathy because the epiretinal membrane looks like a film of cellophane. I looked it up on Google over the years but an epiretinal peel which I had last year was not recommended at the time because there were not the modern tools available.
You probably are not suffering from that but it is worth getting it checked out at an optician with an OCT machine.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by a grainy appearance but when I blinked my eye sometimes I could see the blood vessels quite clearly.
It’s like very fine static or visual “noise”-a bit like on an old analog television (but not as coarse as that). Particularly noticeable in low lighting or on a plain background.
If you go to the optician first and then they refer you to the Opthalmology dept at the hospital, they should be able to diagnose what is wrong. There are, I'm sure, lots of things it could be. I am often surprised by how many diseases can affect different parts of the body. At least it is easy to look into the eye.
Indeed. Although I have an appointment on Tuesday, it’s very difficult to get appointments at the moment. Boots don’t have any sight tests until June where I live!
That's normal. If you look at the sky or a white page you see it as moving little specs? Normal. Everyone sees that if they bother to notice.... You're probably just bothering to notice for the first time in your life. All kids adults evrryoen I've ever met sees that and seems to be common knowledge that that's normal. Guess you were out that day too. Lol.
That pulsing .....is your pulse...those vein like structure are your eyes vascular system... You can see them in very bright light when you close your eyes. That's perfectly normal..... You should be able to feel your pulse all over your body...you can hear it in your ears see it in your eyes and sense it everywhere else.... That's perfectly normal for anyone with a heart who is alive. You must have been out sick that day at kindergarten.. Lol.
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