This week I’ve experienced flashes of light in my right eye and yesterday I have a dark spot in my vision that doesn’t seem to float in that area. Could it be a retina tear or the start of GCA?
My lumbar fusion is coming soon and I don’t want to overlook something.
I’m on 9mg of prednisone at this time. My PA requested the prednisone for my surgery and after surgery so I will not have an adrenal crisis.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Hi singingloud 😊
I don’t want to overreact, but I’d say never ignore visual problems! Who knows, it could be GCA, or a retinal tear, or something else. Get yourself to local optician or preferably to A & E today! It may not be serious, but please don’t risk your sight.
Good luck ☘️Nextoneplease xx
Just called my eye doctors office and they see patients on Saturday! Left a message and hope to get in this morning. Thanks
👍xx
Good!
Please let us know outcome...and good luck.
I will. Thanks so much.
update- No detachment of the retina! Encouraged to see the ophthalmologist as soon as I can.
Good news about retina - and do let us know how ophthalmologists’s appointment goes please.
..and breathe…🌸
Good - that is a good start!
Just checking in before bed here in the UK. Hope all’s well. Keep us posted and all the best to you xx
I don't think any of us can categorically say what it s is, but it does need checking -
We have this emergency eye system in UK - you may have similar where you live - unfortunately doesn't say on profile - so I can't look up for you -
healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...
But if you don't then a trip to ED would be very sensible.
I’ll echo what others have said. Sort it today.
Thanks for all your support. I’m in the USA so the ED or walk in clinic is my only option on the weekends.
G0 to the ED; it could be a stroke..
Ruled out stroke. Thanks
Hello singingloud, Best to get this checked out as any new changes in vision should be if only for reassurance that everything is ok. See here:
nhs.uk/conditions/floaters-....
I hope your surgery goes well and makes you a new woman.💐
In the UK I'd tell you to look up your local UES optician - in the US I suspect it needs to be an urgent care centre or the ER. I'd also say NEVER ignore new visual symptoms - vitreous detachment is probably more likely BUT it could be retinal detachment and that is a medical emergency so not to be messed with
asrs.org/patients/retinal-d...
mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...
Hope to hear from their office soon if not I will call at 9:30 when they open. So glad they have Saturday hours. Didn’t want to go to the ED before my back surgery.
Still preferable to going blind with retinal detachment!!!!
Yes! But the extreme pain in my lower back and legs has made me quite the invalid lately. Even laying down for any time and then getting up makes it worse. I do not want to lose my vision also on top of everything else. Praying it’s not a detached retina.
Sitting in the ED.
Hugs x
Fingers crossed xxxx
I had something similar—went to er who immediately sent me to an ophthalmology surgeon to rule out retinal detachment, er told me I had 20 minutes to get there, the surgeon was standing by. Turns out it was post vitreous detachment. Scary as could be but not so scary as other options. Fine now, that was 20 years ago.
When I was diagnosed and immediately treated for GCA by the doctor I saw in Eye Casualty (in the UK) I was told I had to return to Eye Casualty immediately if I had any vision problems at all. I left the hospital under no illusion that what I had was serious and that I’d dodged a bullet. Fortunately I live just a 20 min drive from the hospital.
I live 5 minutes from mine and 8 minutes from the eye doctor. Small town USA.
well singingloud, we can only guess and Google like you. You need a thorough eye examination from a well equipped optician at the very least and as soon as it can be arranged. PMRPro posted a list of opticians who are equipped to do this kind of examination. To my surprise, my own optician who has all the state of art equipment was on it. I hope she can send it to you.mWe have the additional worry of GCA either starting or flaring thereby putting our eyesight at risk of being lost. So you need to put all your energies towards getting these symptoms diagnosed pronto. Let us know what it is when you know please, all your theories are possible.x I have just learned that you are in the states, so a walk in opthalmologist is your next step. Good luck!
singingloud lives in the USA - the UK list doesn't reach that far ...
sorry, I just realised at the end of my post.
Dear singingloud,
I would recommend Booking an Appointment, with your Optician/ Ocularist/ Ophthalmic Clinic- whoever you are under- As Soon As Possible. Problems with your eyes can potentially, if left unchecked, Leave You BLIND!
I myself had 'Problems' with my eyes, only last week, and had them examined as soon as I possibly could (a Fully Exam, within two days). In my case there was No 'cause for alarm' and I was given Lubricating Drops. However there could have, very easily, been a Problem.
Do make the Appointment singingaloud, to coin a phrase, Just To Be Sure.
AndrewT
Yes do everything you are advised to do here. I have had a detached retina. I was in surgery within hours. My opthalmologist took me immediately. I had surgery in the middle of the night. My sight was saved. My final symptom was a shower of dots like pepper falling before my eyes when I looked into the light. This was 12 years ago and I still give thanks on any thought of my wonderful eye doctor. Good luck. Let us know more please.
Thinking of you singingloud, I know how frightening this can be. You can’t be too careful with this sort of thing.
Glad to hear the retina was checked and not detached , but there are so many other options for this that need to be ruled out so please get yourself to ER or get seen by an Opthalmologist ASAP ( Mon latest). It was actually a very skilled opthalmologist whom spotted my GCA and sent me for the correct ultrasound out of area . If, or when , GCA is ruled out you may well benefit from an MRI if none of the usual suspects if the eye are found or a referral to a Neurologist. They can assess ongoing headache types and will usually be the ones to rule out other eye symptoms related to the brain rather than eye damage or establish a diagnosis of Migraine or Chronic Migraines.
It would be good to start a headache diary now , describing the amount of events , what type of vision issue happens , what side or part of the head the pain is in and the score you would give the pain between 1-10 , and what medication you take to help it and if it improves. This really helps them narrow down the possibilities.
If all other eye issues and GCA are ruled out it could well be that you are suffering from Cluster Migraines with Aura or Ocular Migraines. These are nothing to laugh about or dismiss , as I know , as a sufferer of Chronic Migraine Syndrome including episodes of both of these.
The Pain can be on one side or both, pain is sometimes constant and high , and if it effects the eye can feel like someone is trying to bore out of your skull through your eye socket with a hacksaw.
Sometimes there is little pain but constant numbness.
Aura can happen with or without pain , often the pain can happen 20-40 minutes after the Aura has stopped.
Aura can be flashing light , bright light, wigglies of light and lines, spots, tunnel or half vision , grey areas, and even a change which causes objects to be surrounded by lines of red, blue and yellow light. It can happen for short periods or off and on for days if your Aura is part of a Cluster event ( Migraine pattern that can last every day for days/ weeks/months with little or no relief from standard painkillers or current Migraine medication doses). Often an aura will not stop unless you manage to sit with eyes closed or nap.
Migraine can cause other symptoms too including, vertigo , loss of balance and coordination, palpitations, numbness or Neuropathy, increased pain in the neck and spine that can effect mobility , slurred speech , tremors , stroke like symptoms, nausea , dizziness , fainting , muscle weakness , tinnitus and phonophobia, as well as the vision issues and photophobia.
Chronic Migraines can be triggered at any time , to any person, at any age. So if you had migraines off and on in the past it is more likely that you can trigger different or regular migraines while taking steroids or other medications as a side effect but you can also have Migraines begin for the first time as a side effect of your steroid treatment , or because of the effect that a long term condition like PMR can have on your body. A combination of changes in medication and the stress of having another illness or surgery could also trigger Chronic Migraine.
I had Migraines before GCA , and although the GCA head pain was slightly different and in a less common spot for me , which is what sent me to the Opthalmologist , it was still very close to the Cluster Migraines I have, which come from a vascular cause , which meant working out which of these conditions is giving you the pain is very confusing.
If it turns out to be Migraine you are likely to need to try various medications to help control it. Self Help like rest and breathing exercises , warm compresses and diet changes, good hydration and regular eye tests and spectacle prescription changes can help but often a long term medication is required until such time as the trigger is eliminated ( if it can be ).
Please keep us updated on how you are doing , take care , Bee
Thank you for your clear description of a migraine. I haven’t had headaches associated with the flashes of light. Monday I will have my provider contact the ophthalmologist specialist that my husband sees to get me in as soon as is possible. Eye sight is very important to me. Thanks
Cindy
would not wait til Monday!
Actually this could be a separating retina. I had the same. A black spot appeared in one eye that moved when I moved my eye. In other worded it stayed in the same area in my field of vision. Ophthalmologist said a small piece of retina pulled away (can happen as we age). They monitored me closely for any further tearing and said if I see light more flashes to call immediately. I didn’t have any other issues and have gotten used to the little floater as they said it will be there forever. You should be seen by eye folks pronto!
I will see the specialist the day before my back surgery. So next Tuesday is the soonest they could get me in.
Glad you’ve got an appointment and that it’s before your surgery 👍Good luck with it all ☘️xx
This is what happened to me a few years ago and went to an ophthalmologist asap who diagnosed me with a vitreous hemorrhage. The dark spots I have acquired after the bright flashing light are called floaters and have been permanent since the initial incident.
It's a very serious condition that needs to be looked at right away in hope to stave off a retinal tear which can lead to vision loss.
Please make an appointment with an eye specialist asap.
Don't wait.
There are a number of possibilities. One of the most common, especially as we get older, is a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). Basically the vitreous jelly within the eye shrinks and pulls on the retina causing the flashing light effect. Mostly they are fairly harmless ( mine detached in both eyes at age 50ish) and are quickly diagnosed with an OCT scan. They often cause floaters. However, all visual symptoms should always be treated seriously and checked out asap!
During my exam, the doctor did not find any type of detachment. Thank goodness. I’m still waiting for my referral to the specialist. Thank for your input!
Still in some pain having had a flare- when is it safe to drop back down to a maintenance level of Pred. ?
Frequent Eye Prescription Changes and Cataract Surgery
Prednisone & Diverticulitis 
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