visual disturbances?

[Scrabblefiend]

I’ve had a sort of aura thing - area of pulsing light in the middle of my field of vision, gradually extending and flashing, then stopping - every morning for three mornings. Got an appointment with local minor eye clinic on the recommendation of the local eye hospital. I had something less dramatic but similar a year ago which was posterior vitreous detachment and the hospital eye emergency dept said it is just something that happens. But as I’m endlessly panicking about the AF and the drugs I was wondering if it can be a side effect of either bisoprolol or ramipril? the leaflets don’t describe what I am having, though

[BobD Volunteer]

Common side effect of ablation due to transeptal puncture but usually stops after a few weeks. Othewise not common from drugs to my knowledge. Does sound like migraine aura. PVD usually presents as floaters with occasional flashing lights in corner of vision. Been there worn out the T shirt. Its an age thing! Funnily enough I just had some photos taken of the inside of my left eye due to sudden appearance of giant black floater but cleared after about 24 hours and nothing seen inside. Put it down to a very short night due to very early start.

[Scrabblefiend in reply to BobD]

Oh interesting - I had left atrial appendage occlusion not ablation but it involves the transeptal puncture so that would make sense. Thanks so much!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Scrabblefiend]

That would do it. Relax it will pass. Sadly few doctors understand this fact. It took me lots of emails and phone calls to find that out when I was preparing the fact sheet on recovery from ablation.

[Karendeena in reply to Scrabblefiend]

Mine was post ablation and lasted about 10 days, as Bob said a side effect doctors are not always aware of

[Autumn_Leaves]

It could be a migraine visual aura which last for about 20-30 minutes. I’ve had those for many years, way before I had AF or was troubled by ectopics. If that’s what you’re having, it’s a type of migraine.

However, you should always have any kind of new onset visual disturbance investigated. It might not be migraine. It could be one of the conditions mentioned. Better to have someone look at your eyes just to make sure.

If it’s a migraine visual aura, it’s unlikely to be connected with AF or your medication. Most people who have migraine/visual aura don’t have AF but as it’s quite common, you’re going to find a percentage of people with AF who do. Is there a connection? Maybe for some people, some of the time, but who knows? I wouldn’t overthink it. Migraines begin 24-36 hours before symptoms begin and nobody knows what causes them. They pass fairly quickly and predictably and they’re not a sign of anything gloom and doom — assuming that’s what it is, of course. Good luck with your appointment.

[Grmdwnsth in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Virtually identical experience and diagnosis with me too. Was on ramipril at the time but told not a side effect of that.

They happened after periods of long concentration (extended bike rides / stressful long work days) and usually after lack of sleep.

Haven’t had one while I’ve had AF.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Grmdwnsth]

Lack of sleep is probably one of my vulnerabilities too. Mine started around early perimenopause, as did my sister’s migraines, so there is likely a hormonal factor and possibly a genetic tendency too. Like all conditions, it’s probably multifactorial. It’s always worrying the first time it happens but once you know what it is, you know what to expect. It’s more of an inconvenience than anything, especially if you’re at home. Perhaps not a sensible idea to drive when it’s happening.

[Grmdwnsth in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Interesting. My daughter gets migraines, and docs said there was a hormonal element.

You’re so right about the first time. I was just finishing a long bike ride and it scared me to death. Nearly phoned 999. After checking online and seeing doc, all was good. A surprising number of friends were like ‘oh I get them all the time and work through them’., which I found a bit to blasé for my liking. Still quite disconcerting.

[Sixtyslidogirl]

I was warned that this was a side effect of ablation and indeed I had a couple on days 4/5 after my ablation. Gone now, in week 2.

[Nancy61 in reply to Sixtyslidogirl]

Me too! Wasn’t warned but when I rang up concerned was told it’s common!

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Sixtyslidogirl]

I’ve heard of that too.

[Genteel1]

Hi there. I've had the same symptoms over the years. I had my eyes checked at the opticians and all was ok.The doctor said they were silent migraines. They don't happen very often, but it's a little worrying. Now I know what they are I've accepted them. They generally last about 20 minutes. I have heart failure and I'm on several drugs a day, but there doesn't seem to be a connection.

[Frances123]

I had one 2 weeks ago and it came out of the blue. Although it’s called a migraine or visual aura they can come with or without a headache. I didn’t have the headache thankfully. Managed to get an eye health check with specsavers who were excellent. I had every test possible and they were very thorough. Everything was completely normal. I was told I may never have another one again, may get the odd one now and then or have them on a semi regular basis. I said I guess it’s another age thing and was told no and in fact they saw more younger people with them than older people. Well that put a smile on my face. So use to being told these days it’s an age thing or at your age etc.

[fairgo45]

Im agreement, no connection to ablation I had this happen some years ago this strange aura arrived lasted about 30 minutes I briefly had no sight in one eye it was scary.

Next day I saw my GP and also the optometrist I thought it might have been a Tia

but no thankfully I was cleared of that but diognosed with a migraine it never has happened again so just one of those things.

Even so always play safe and get checked out

[mesally]

Are you taming g digoxin? That can cause eye disturbances

[Scrabblefiend in reply to mesally]

No not on that

[Jajarunner]

It could be a detaching retina. If so, it needs urgent care. Call 111 for advice in the UK. My husband has had this. Hopefully it's not, but better safe than sorry 🙏🙏

[Scrabblefiend in reply to Jajarunner]

Yes, I know of this risk but it seems unlikely. The hospital phone line for eye emergencies was very thorough and said I should go to a local emergency eye clinic which I am doing. If it’s a retina then you are likely to have more of a spiders web pattern, a net - I know this from a previous problem which was a posterior vitreous detachment

[Jajarunner in reply to Scrabblefiend]

Sorry, I didn't realise you'd spoken to the eye clinic this time. Just trying to help.

[Scrabblefiend in reply to Jajarunner]

Appreciated!

[Scrabblefiend in reply to Jajarunner]

And apparently you can have retinal detachment even without the ‘net’/‘web’ effect on your vision so I did the right thing having it checked

[Jenmay]

I had an ablation last Friday and had an episode of double and blurred vision. Lasted a few minutes. Was a bit scary so this has put my mind at rest.

[Crumbling]

Hi there, by coincidence I had a visual migraine attack last night, I’ve been having them since I was a teenager but still find them very disturbing. I took paracetamol to stave off a headache. They can make you feel a bit queasy and unsettled for a day or two. I did think my AF meds had stopped them as I’ve not had one since starting the meds a year ago but alas it seems it’s not to be. I do find if I have one I then get visual symptoms on and off for a few days, hopefully then they disappear. Hope you’re sorted quickly and reassured it’s nothing serious.

[Scrabblefiend]

report back from my trip to SpecSavers (in an area of UK where emergency eye care is done by local hubs and they are one): very thorough check and reassuring. The optician reckons any surgery disturbs circulation and this is why the auras and things have been happening. Nothing dodgy discovered, phew!

[Astrojupiter]

I had this happen to me yesterday for second time. I just verified it was in both eyes. I figured was ocular migraine when I saw both eyes saw the lines. I closed one eye then the other to make sure.

[Bunkular]

Visual disturbances can also occur because of a spinal impingement of nerves in the neck region - as in my case. I know when my posture is out of whack when I have auras or flashing lights or even when I get a blurred area of my upper or lower visual area. In that case I do some stretching, some straightening of posture and if it's really bad as when I start to feel nauseas I take an acetaminephen or ibuprofen as well all with success. I see a physiotherapist a few times a year too which helps me.

[WildIris]

I've had these nearly every day for about 30 years. To me, they're kind of pretty, tho it is sometimes difficult to keep reading when parts of the text disappear under the aura.

[BevCynfelyn]

I had a mitral valve repair done 6 weeks ago, and part of that procedure involved crossing through the barrier between the two atria. Cue dramatic aura most days since the operation, usually black and white flying diamonds sometimes black and silver shooting stars, occasionally red spiders' webs. Thought I'd escaped it today, nothing at all.... Until one spinning diamond appeared, at 5 minutes to midnight!!

[Scrabblefiend]

so here is an update from my cardiologist which reinforces what BobD said and adds in the mechanism: ‘It sounds typical of “migraine with aura”. It’s a transient phenomenon that sometimes occurs after an invasive procedure that involves a transseptal puncture into the left atrium. It is due to slight mixing of right atrial and left atrial blood through the needle hole, with a chemical produced by the liver crossing into the left atrium and then being circulated around the arterial system. This chemical is normally filtered by the lungs, so doesn’t reach the left side of the heart – unless there is a septal puncture.’

[BobD Volunteer]

He does know his stuff!