Dark Shadow in Vision

[bicker]

This was no where near that bad. I was able to read, even work, and driving wouldn't have been a big deal.

I'm going to give it another few days, of course (and I'm going to get a second opinion from my regular opto), but if it doesn't come back, then I'm going to chalk this up to my original instinct: Sinus pressure affecting the retina. Sudafed to the rescue.

 

[Scurvy]

I really trust my opto... they've been in business for a very long time, they're very much top-notch AFAIC. I kind-of am puzzled about the idea that optos could actually be in a business that they're certified by the state to be in, but are unqualified to provide appropriate care. Even if the state would allow something, I'm sure that my long-term opto (the guy I'm seeing when he gets back from vacation a week from tomorrow) wouldn't run a practice offering services that they're not qualified to provide, nor would he brooke with people leading patients to believe that something is okay when they really don't know. Given that the sinus medication seems to have relieved the symptom, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that they wouldn't mess with me like that.

It's not that they aren't qualified to offer eye care. Optometrists go to school for their profession. They are great for annual exams while getting new glasses. They can check for glaucoma and do some tests. However, they aren't medical doctors. Opthamologists are. They are highly trained in the health of the eye, and know far more about various eye diseases and eye health in general than optometrists do. They can also perform surgery should that become necessary.

I see nothing wrong with optometrists -I'd certainly be willing to go to one for my routine checkups if I had to. And I can see why many people tend to prefer them - they tend to be less expensive than opthamologists, and more insurance covers routine care through an optometrist. However, given my experience with a family history of serious eye problems and blindness I tend to take eye health more seriously than most people do. I'd never visit an optometrist for help with a possibly serious problem, and it always surprises me when others are comfortable with that. That simply isn't their specialty.

But since you are satisfied with your optometrist, that's what's important here. I'm glad your problem seems to have been resolved!

 

[IDoDis]

What you are describing is also a symptom of Retinal Detachment which over time will cause sudden permanent blindness if not treated. Not to freak you out, but you need an opthamologist to do a full screening. It could very well be sinus pressure, but I would not risk my vision on a "maybe."

I have only partial vision in one eye, but this was not discovered until I was a teenager and went to a real eye doctor. Up until then, I'd only seen opticians and not one of them picked up on my problem which was congenital (I was born with it).

 

[bicker]

Opto says that there is absolutely nothing wrong; that my eyes are amazingly healthy for someone my age.

Don't worry: My opto checked for retinal detachment. I think a lot of folks have a very warped impression of what optos can and cannot do. There are good ones and bad ones. A fantastic opto with the right training and the right equipment can do a better job checking for medical conditions than a careless optho with a degree and not much more under the hood. I think y'all might want to meet my optos and review their qualifications and procedures before you decide what they are capable of. As I've already said, if they aren't sure and think I should go to someone else, I'm sure they'd tell me; that isn't a matter of maybe.

However, thank you for the concern.

 

[bicker]

In the OP I had a question about what this thing I was experiencing could be, and was looking for assistance in prompting me to go do something about it, and then preparing me for my visit to the opto by helping me understand what this could be, what to express as my potential concerns, etc., and I appreciate the folks who tried to help me be prepared (I asked the original question not just here on this forum). I've had that appointment now (see above), and have scheduled a follow-up appointment -- my plan is well set.

If there are any other things folks think I should ask my opto during my follow up appointment, please do let me know. Thanks!

 

[Scurvy]

A fantastic opto with the right training and the right equipment can do a better job checking for medical conditions than a careless optho with a degree and not much more under the hood.

You're absolutely right, and I apologize if I implied otherwise. I would definitely rather go to a fantastic optometrist than a careless opthomologist, if those were the only choices.

In the OP I had a question about what this thing I was experiencing could be, and was looking for assistance in prompting me to go do something about it, and then preparing me for my visit to the opto by helping me understand what this could be, what to express as my potential concerns, etc., and I appreciate the folks who tried to help me be prepared (I asked the original question not just here on this forum). I've had that appointment now (see above), and have scheduled a follow-up appointment -- my plan is well set.

If there are any other things folks think I should ask my opto during my follow up appointment, please do let me know. Thanks!

I see that you did only ask about things it could be, and I apologize for helping to derail the thread by suggesting an opthamologist. I see that you are quite confident in the abilities of your optometrist. I had assumed erroniously that you must have some doubts about their abilities, given that an excellent doctor would likely be able to diagnose your problem even if you weren't armed with information from folks online. I also know that most people don't know the difference in the two types of eye doctors and assumed you might not as well. I see now that I was wrong in those assumptions - which isn't surprising, after all they do say we should never assume. I also had concerns about an optometrist who wouldn't immediately suggest that you see an opthamologist when he was unable to diagnose your condition, but I see that you are satisfied with your own diagnosis.

I do apologize for questioning the capabilities of your optometrist, and I'm glad that your condition is apparently nothing serious.

 

[Andrea]

I do know that a lot of optometrist can also find a lot of the same finding an opthamologist can find. The optometrist I work for found a tumor in a 12 year old boy and had his mom rush him to his doctor. now my optometrist said it was a precaution and was not diagnosing with him with a tumor.

 

[phorsenuf]

While I don't have the same issue as you I do have eye issues. It's like I am looking through lace. Sometimes its mild other times its pretty bad. I haven't quite figured out any correlation with it.
I saw one of the best nuero-ophthalmologist in the country down at Mass General and he couldn't find a single thing wrong with me. No explanation for the spots. I don't even have floaters.

Very bizarre. It's annoying but I have learned to live with it. Maybe you too have just one of those things.

 

[bicker]

... given that an excellent doctor would likely be able to diagnose your problem even if you weren't armed with information ...

This is a bit of a tangent, but I think even the most self-confident of doctors want their patients to be interested in their own care, and not rely completely on the doctor to inquire about every possible situation that could possibly have bearing on the situation. I think we really need to take some personal responsibility for our own care. The more we think about, before-hand; the more we probe for answers; the more we volunteer information about seemingly unrelated (but perhaps only seemingly) information about what's going on in our lives, the better job any doctor can do.

 

[bicker]

Maybe you too have just one of those things.

The good news, so far, is that it's been over 48 hours since I've noticed anything. I've been taking Sudafed pretty consistently since then. I'm going to take Sudafed for another day or so, at least (I do feel a little bit of pressure, still, in my sinuses.)

 

[Disney Doll]

Is it a dark shadow or like a shade coming down over you eye?

Any kind of shadwoing could be indicative of carotid stenosis, temporal arteritis or optic neuritis.

I would urge you to glance at this link

http://books.google.com/books?id=Vj...esult&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=&f=false

In my practice as a nurse, I have not heard of sinus probelms causing a visual disturbance. I would also urge an opthamologist as opposed to an optometrist.

Sinusitis signs & symptoms:

From Web MD:Symptoms
Pain and pressure in the face along with a stuffy or runny nose are the main symptoms of sinusitis. You also may have a yellow or greenish discharge from your nose. Leaning forward or moving your head often increases facial pain and pressure. The location of pain and tenderness may depend on which sinus is affected.

Pain over the cheeks and upper teeth is often caused by maxillary sinus inflammation.
Pain in the forehead, above the eyebrow, may be caused by frontal sinus inflammation.
Pain behind the eyes, on top of the head, or in both temples may be caused by sphenoid sinus inflammation.
Pain around or behind the eyes is caused by ethmoid sinus inflammation.
See a picture of the location of normal facial sinuses.
Other common symptoms of sinusitis include:

Headache.
Yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat.
Bad breath.
Stuffy nose.
Cough that produces mucus.
Fever.
Tooth pain.
Reduced sense of taste or smell.
Acute (sudden) sinusitis is usually caused by a viral infection and often develops rapidly. It usually lasts for 4 weeks or less, and the symptoms often begin to clear up within a week without any treatment. Acute sinusitis caused by a bacterial infection is less likely to clear up on its own and may lead to chronic sinusitis or to complications in which the infection spreads beyond the sinuses. Nasal discharge that contains pus and worsens after 5 days or persists for more than 10 days is usually a strong sign of acute sinusitis caused by a bacterial infection.

Chronic (long-term) sinusitis is usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. These infections may be difficult to treat. If chronic sinusitis is not cured after trying two or more different antibiotics, you may want to talk with your health professional about surgery or allergy testing. Chronic sinusitis can lead to permanent changes in the mucous membranes that line the sinuses and may make you more prone to sinus infections.

Symptoms of sinusitis in children include coughing, nasal discharge that lasts more than 7 to 10 days, and complaints of headache and facial pain. Many children age 2 or older with chronic sinusitis may also have allergies and frequent ear infections. Some immunizations, particularly pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), may help prevent ear and sinus infections.

Other conditions that have symptoms similar to sinusitis may include allergies, toothaches, and colds or other upper respiratory infections. But if you've had a cold that returns or gets worse after 7 days (called double sickening), you probably have a sinus infection rather than a cold or other upper respiratory infection.


From the Mayo Clinic website
Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff

Acute sinusitis symptoms often include:

Drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat
Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose
Pain, tenderness, swelling and pressure around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
Reduced sense of smell and taste
Cough, which may be worse at night
Other signs and symptoms can include:

Ear pain
Sore throat
Bad breath (halitosis)
Fatigue
Irritability
Fever
Nausea
When to see a doctor
If you have mild symptoms of sinusitis, try self-care. Contact your doctor if you have any of the following:

Symptoms that don't improve within a few days or symptoms that get worse
A fever over 100.5 F (38.1 C)
A history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis
See a doctor immediately if you have signs or symptoms that may indicate a serious infection:

Pain or swelling around your eyes
A swollen forehead
Severe headache
Confusion
Double vision or other vision changes
Stiff neck
Shortness of breath

Best of luck.

 

[DawnCt1]

Not it comes and goes. Three out of the last four days. Stayed about an hour or three.

Yeah, I hope that's not what it is for me.

I'll be sure that the next doctor checks for retina problems, just like the one today did.

With regard to "it comes and goes". Perhaps you should see an neuro-opthalmologist. You could have an optic neuritis and not a 'tear' or a problem with your retina. Retinal problems don't usually come and go. Just to be clear, you aren't referring to "floaters", which are like 'dark spots' that float in the vitreous humor? Those come with aging, particularly in nearsighted individuals. The vitreous dries a bit and pulls away from the back of the eye ball causing floaters. What you are describing sounds different from that. FYI. Neuro-opthalmologists are a sub speciality and there aren't a lot of them. There certainly should be some available in your "neck of the woods" however.