Twirling "fans" in periphery: Does anyone... - Macular Society

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Twirling "fans" in periphery

Ikansea profile image
17 Replies

Does anyone experience pulsating lights (dim) in their peripheral vision? Similar to a twirling fan?

I first experience this following cataract and vitreous replacement surgery last year.

It disappeared shortly after, but has returned recently . It is mostly in my lower vision and I notice it more in the mornings and when I look down. I have wet AMD in both eyes, but only experience this in the eye that had surgery.

I asked the retinologist about it when I had my Eylea injection. His only explanation was that he thought it was a phenomenon of my wet AMD.

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Ikansea profile image
Ikansea
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17 Replies
Eyesurprise profile image
Eyesurprise

Hi there. I get this from time to time when I am dehydrated and since I am prone to migraines I quickly drink a load of water and then that sees it off. I have eye issues but I don’t think that it is related to them.

Ikansea profile image
Ikansea in reply toEyesurprise

Good point, Eyesurprise. I'ts wise to stay hydrated.Thanks

rabanes profile image
rabanes

yes I have but it's in different shape, it's like flickering light. I have this after a month of central serous retinopathy. When I go outside I cannot see it but when inside the building that's the time I can see the flickering light, dark spot that pulsate. But after seven months and 2 lucentis injection I did not have it. slowly faded. Hope it will continue. As I understood from it on my research, this happen because your retina was disturbed.

Ikansea profile image
Ikansea in reply torabanes

Thanks , rabanes. I was thinking retina also. I know it's not retinal detachment, since that is described as BRIGHT, sharp flashes of light and mine is more a dark, then normal, flickering.Happy to hear yours faded!

rabanes profile image
rabanes in reply toIkansea

No retina detachment as what I heard is like a curtain of shadow, and flashes of light as what is like a stars on the vision. When I have this flickering before I was scared, I always ask the opthalmologist like 4 of them, since I jump from one to the other. They just are not concerned about it, since when they will have your eyes inspect they can see it, if its serious or not.

Ikansea profile image
Ikansea in reply torabanes

Thanks, rabanes

Torontoresident profile image
Torontoresident in reply torabanes

This is interesting - I have been diagnosed with CSR (chronic) and I notice some flickering sometimes to the side of the central vision. But in bright days I notice black dots that pulsate in the center of my vision and have always wondered what is causing that - I can only imagine it must be the fluid under the macula...

rabanes profile image
rabanes in reply toTorontoresident

for how many months or years your csr? what's the finding? can you see clearly now? I think the flickering is due to the retina that is in prolonged swelling.

Torontoresident profile image
Torontoresident in reply torabanes

Mine seems to be not much fluid and it doesn't seem to change so it was diagnosed as chronic. It was noticed a couple of years ago and hasn't really changed - several doctors have advised not to do anything just keep it under observation. It's my 'bad' eye and the vision corrected is about 70% of what it should be but I also have some distortion (not bad). Looks most likely that I will have to get used to it.

rabanes profile image
rabanes in reply toTorontoresident

Hope everything will be okay for us. Because the waiting game of this CSR when will be okay is quit frustrating. 😀🙏

dinahdough profile image
dinahdough

I get something similar too. It's a very small, perfect circle of light colours, goes round a bit like a windmill. I get it mostly when coming indoors from being outside for a while so it seems to be connected to a change in light levels. Never lasts very long. I did ask my optician about it but didn't really get a response so either he wasn't concerned or he has no idea what it is either!

Ikansea profile image
Ikansea in reply todinahdough

Yes, that is the response I get, too!

spke profile image
spke

I have a twirling light frequently in my right eye .Its not there right this minute ,.but it comes and goes . I don't know why.

Ikansea profile image
Ikansea in reply tospke

Thanks for reply, spke.

enopmar profile image
enopmar

Mine looks like a camera shutter flapping. My retinal specialist said it's the vitrious fluid pulling away from the retina.

Ikansea profile image
Ikansea in reply toenopmar

Thanks enopmar, yes, in what I have read my symptoms sound similar to the vitreous gel shrinking and pulling on the retina just as you specialist said. But my vitreous fluid was removed and replaced with saline following a cataract surgery gone bad. So I am at a loss. Wondering what else could cause it??Is there treatment for your camera shutter?

I thought mine improved for awhile after drinking a lot of water as Eyesurprise said, but it did comeback.

Rosalyn-helpline profile image
Rosalyn-helplinePartner

Hello Ikansea,

There is a possibility that you may be experiencing Charles Bonnet Visual hallucinations (CBS):

news-medical.net/news/20151...

"What do the CBS images look like? Do they tend to be unpleasant?

The hallucinations range from very simple dots, colored blobs, sparkles of light and Catherine wheels through to more formed images such as a brick wall, a geometrical pattern or a disembodied face that may loom up in front of you and be distorted, often with prominent or twisted features. People describe the latter as being similar to gargoyles or grotesque in some way.

People may also see figures that are usually in some form of elaborate costume such as a Napoleonic uniform, a knight’s shining armor, or a Victorian or Edwardian costume. The figures are also often wearing some form of head gear such as a hat, bonnet or an aristocratic wig.

Text and strings of letters are also commonly seen. These may look like words initially but, when looked at more carefully, the letters may not be real or they may be real but don't form words that make any sense so they can't be read. This also happens with musical notes. People may see crotchets and quavers, but those people who can understand music say that they can't actually read the music.

The list goes on, but those are the most common types of hallucination."

There is more information available on this via our CBS virtual clinic:

macularsociety.org/support/...

Kind regards,

Rosalyn

Macular Society Advice and Information Service 0300 3030 111.

help@macularsociety.org

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