Shimmering patches in the eyes

[Lutra2]

Is this a known symptom of GCA/PMR, or the sign of something else? Occasionally I get a narrow crescent, usually towards the periphery of vision, which looks as though it is made up of triangles and squares that flicker from light to dark several times a second. Each episode lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, then fades away. I've had about one a week for the last four weeks. I have an appointment with an ophthalmologist this week.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Can’t say for sure, but at least you have an appointment- but obviously if they escalate you may need to treat as emergency-see tis link-

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Did this coincided with the return of aches and pains you posted about last week?

Did you mention it to your doctor when they prescribed the Pred thinking it might be PMR? ..and is that why you made appointment with ophthalmologist?

Have you ever suffered from migraines?

[SnazzyD]

It could well be or some other unrelated eye issue and needs an urgent opinion. Was your ophthalmologist appointment made on the strength of these symptoms or was it coming anyway?

[scrambledegg]

Sounds like what I know to be visual migraine. I have it very occasionally, both before and since PMR and prednisolone. I do not and never have had GCA.

[Downtime]

Sounds like the sort of migraines I get these days. A shimmering zig zag which enlarges then goes after 15 to 20 minutes . Worth mentioning to your doctor. Some drugs can bring on migraines.

[Brantuk]

If you know you have GCA then get your eyes checked immediately today, now, in hospital as an emergency. The patterns you describe, flickering shimmering trianglar arcs on the periphery of your vision, were described to me by my rheumatologist as a sign that my eyesight could be on the verge of irreversible failure. If you have GCA then you do need to be on prednisalone immediately to save your eyesight. If it all turns out to be migraine then fine, no harm done. But if you have GCA then it is an emergency and should be treated as such by the hospital to save your eyesight. If you leave it then you are risking total irreversible loss of vision. So better to be safe than sorry.

[JanetRosslyn]

Sounds exactly like my visual migraines... I get blank patches in my vision sometimes too... but no pain. I keep my rheumy aware. Had three in the last month, each brought on by sunlight bouncing off wet surfaces. Checked blood markers 'just in case' as I have GCA and these showed ESR/CRP normal. I carry my sunglasses with me everywhere now. 😎

[christine2715]

I have had GCA for 6 years and periodically get that shimmering zigzags. I had always thought it was due to Pred.

[43tripandskip]

I am no longer officially suffering from PMR but I continue to get frames of light around both eyes. It looks like the bevelled edges of a mirror and it interferes with my reading. I told my Rheumy about it and he said he didn't know what it was and he didn't appear interested. So I continue to get this interference but even my optician doesn't seem to be bothered by it. I still think you should check it out. You might get someone who knows what it is!

[calibriel]

I’m no expert and I’m sure you’re right to get it checked out, but sounds like a visual migraine to me. I started getting them for the first time after treatment for an aneurysm. I was really alarmed and took myself off to A&E - they can be frightening - but I was throughly checked over and assured that was what it was. I now get them quite frequently - not every day - especially if I’m on screen a lot. The quickest way to deal with it, I find, is to rest your eyes. Turn off any screens, don’t watch TV, until it’s gone

[Woodbegolfer]

I have had GCA since last August and had similar episodes with dancing haloes - but no lasting vision problems thank goodness!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There are various things it could be but one is simply due to aging - posterior vitreous detachment

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

But some of the others are less benign and we can't really tell which is which.

In the UK you can access the MECS or UES services via a local optician

primaryeyecare.co.uk/servic...

primaryeyecare.co.uk/servic...

Instructions for Scotland

eyes.scot/for-the-public/wh...

Information for Wales

nhs.wales/sa/eye-care-wales/

These services provide quick access to an optometrist who will triage your symptoms, first on the phone and then f2f with an examination and refer you on appropriately, as an emergenc is that is what is needed. It saves waiting for an ophthalmologist as the opticans in the schemes all have all the necessary equipment.

[agingfeminist]

Get to an ophthalmologist asap. These are your eyes...no guessing games please.

[pilgarlick]

I've had these 30 minute episodes - which seem to be called scintillating scotoma - for about fifteen years and they started before my GCA/PMR. Sometimes I get two in two days and then nothing for several months. They are apparently generally harmless. The 30 minute "dazzles" are no problem but are invariably followed by a headache which lasts all day.

[Lutra2]

Many thanks everyone. I made an appointment with my optician because of these symptoms, so hopefully they will deal with it under MECS or UES as PMRpro suggests. My symptoms to seem to fit in with those of you who have mentioned visual migraine. I know I have vitreous detachment to some degree in the left eye - that happened a couple of years before GCA - and my optician reassured me that it was extremely common in people of my age (72 at the time).

[Purple-Owl]

This is a classic migraine aura. A semicircle of scintilating silver triangles which migrates to the edge of the visual field and disappears over it in about 20 minutes. It originates in the visual field at the back of the brain and not the eyes themselves. I had severe migraines without this aura for many years, and now occasionally have the aura without a migraine. Guess which I prefer!

[Lutra2]

Thank you Purple Owl - and to everyone else who said similar things. I have never had a classic migraine, and had never experienced this 'aura' till recently. My wife gets a migraine very occasionally, and I can see how painful and debilitating it can be, so my sympathies to all of you who suffer from them.