Some issues with color differentiation~~ - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Some issues with color differentiation~~

Grammy80 profile image
21 Replies

One of my pastimes...is playing games on my phone. About three weeks ago, I noticed I realized my brain was saying...Is that yellow? is that tan? The issue just cropped up every so often. My appointment with the neuro-opthalmologist (I see him every 3+4 months) was coming this week, so I waited. It wasn't a real problem and wouldn't even happen each day. One day, I wore two different color shoes all day. Since I don't look at my feet often...I only noticed it when I took them off. One shoe was taupe and the other grey.

The bottom line, the doctor said it was nothing to be worried about and not a sign of any issue progressing. At the onset of GCA, my right optic nerve was left a bit pale and with some white spots on it, plus I have optic neuritis. Now, it does not concern me and I thought I'd share it in case anyone is experiencing this intermittently. I'm all set and pleased it doesn't indicate an issue. I still win the game and I can certainly still paint. It goes away as fast as it comes.💞

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Grammy80
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21 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Hi,

Found this about a condition called transient achromatopsia that causes a temporary loss of colour vision.

It is caused by a temporary shortage of blood supply to the brain. It should be considered as possibly serious and you should seek medical care from your ophthalmologist, neurologist or nearby emergency room.

As you have seen neuro-opthalmologist and he doesn’t consider it an issue, I guess it’s just another thing you have live with… … just get your shoes colour coded when you aren’t having an episode… 😊

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Are all your shoes the same style then? I don't have enough shoes for it to be a problem!!!!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro

I had pair of navy and a pair of black courts same style when working -and did same thing - getting dressed in the dark!

Couldnt blame Pred nor GCA at the time… 😳

Grammy80 profile image
Grammy80 in reply to DorsetLady

👢👢 🤣😅 You can't blame them now, either~!!💞

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Grammy80

Nope -just age! 😉

Gimme profile image
Gimme in reply to DorsetLady

ha ha I have done that too, in the days when I worked in an office and had identical, but different coloured, court shoes for my office suits. It's fine until you notice and then you have to go through the rest of the day knowing that you are wearing odd shoes. 🙄🤣🤣🤣

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gimme

Yep!

Grammy80 profile image
Grammy80 in reply to PMRpro

Yep! All crocs now....summer and felt lined for winter. 🐊💞

Bcol profile image
Bcol

Hi Grammy, guess the only thing that you might need to be careful with, is if you have tablets of a similar size and shape but different colours. One of my grandsons regularly wears shoes of a different colour so nothing to worry about there.

Grammy80 profile image
Grammy80 in reply to Bcol

Ha ha.....thankfully, all pills except pred come in pill packs...labeled for morning, noon, and night.....thank heaven~!💞

Blearyeyed profile image
Blearyeyed

I'd keep a note of each time you notice this , or any other non visual neuro like symptoms happening. Also note what you were doing prior to the eventIt may not happen often but there could be a pattern to it which could be altered in a way that prevents it.

I get issues like this as part of my headache and migraine patterns. Often it is part of my Migraine with Aura , and the loss of colour differentiation or increase in colour can happen without pain . Sometimes I will have the pain symptoms about an hour later.

I more commonly get optical or aura migraines when I've had a busy day involving a lot of head movement or if I've been using my eyes too much on a screen or reading and they get tired.

But sometimes it is caused by my Vascular Migraine, and as Dorset Lady notes , that's caused by lower blood oxygen volumes reaching the brain so it does need proper monitoring not brushing off as you can find that you require medication to help dilate the blood vessels which are also used as Migraine treatments to improve it.

As I say , keep a good diary , and also consider noting other symptoms like nausea , vertigo, brain fog , loss of coordination, dizziness and other things that you may not link to the eyes but could account for the symptom like head movement , exercise, timing of episodes after medication, changes in circulation , body temperature and breathing.

It's surprising how many ways the eyes actually play tricks on us when we actually have an issue in other places.

Take care, Bee

Grammy80 profile image
Grammy80 in reply to Blearyeyed

Thanks so much, Bee, all good advice. I was using my eyes so much when it started. Went to the opthalmologist today and I can get some prescription eyeglasses and am going to get a tint; really sensitive to light. Thanks so very much!💞

Stills profile image
Stills

Maybe a new fashion trend , mix and unmatched shoes 😉

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Stills

Could be… stranger things have been! 😳

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Stills

My daughter's graduation shoes: she liked the physiology and anatomy theme ...

Graduation shoes
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro

Not quite sure I’d go that far -but very appropriate in her case!! 😊

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to DorsetLady

That was her point!

Stills profile image
Stills in reply to PMRpro

Yes something in that vein 😉

Grammy80 profile image
Grammy80 in reply to Stills

😂🤣Maybe I'll get a different color tint in each lens~~and match my shoes~!💞

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Grammy80

Now that would be scary…🤔

Gimme profile image
Gimme

I think you were right to be cautious and I am glad that you had it checked out, as the ophthalmologist told me that one of the early signs of the onset of GCA can be that reds become less bright. When I had a problem with my eyes in May, the first thing they did was a colour blindness test after I told them I have PMR. That's not meant to alarm you as you have already had it checked out, but I think that the suggestion to monitor it and keep a record is a good one. We can't be too careful with our precious eyes.

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