TITLE: EXPERIENCING VISION DISTURBANCES: LOOKING FOR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES
HI, EVERYONE. (I'm always serously nervous about posting about such things on forums because it's so easy for folk to say things that really succeed in only scaring me. I am aware that there are doctors, tests and hospitals, but, for this post, I just really want to hear from people about THEIR experiences of what I'm about to describe.)
I'm reaching out because I’ve been experiencing some unusual vision disturbances recently, and I’d love to hear from anyone who might be going through something similar, or who might have experienced them in the past. I wanted to describe exactly what happens to me when these episodes occur, in case it resonates with any of you. I’m hoping to connect with others who have similar experiences.
So! Throughout the last 50 years, or so, I've had, say, 4 or 5 of these vision disturbances during the typical year - more during years in which I've been extra stressed, it has to be said. My mother used to get a few of them per year and my sister still gets some of these, now and then.
DESCRIPTION OF MY VISION DISTURBANCES:
WHEN IT HAPPENS: Sometimes, these vision disturbances happen when I’m lying down, either (a) just before I fall asleep, (b) between periods of sleep, or (c) when I first wake up. Occasionally, I also experience them when I’m in a dark room, with my eyes closed. A fair few times in recent weeks/months, I've even had them come on while I'm at this computer, typing something or just browsing.
WHAT I SEE: It starts with a small and faint, curved line or zigzag pattern/patch - I never check whether it's in one eye or both. The pattern can look like trembling silver light in the form of a herringbone pattern, across my vision. That first patch grows over a few mintutes. It usually begins just to the side of my vision's center-field. Then, it spreads out, often in the visual shape of a crescent. The entire thing always then grows larger, and it can "feel like" it’s moving around, off to one side. I’ve noticed that it can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 60 minutes, but typically fades away slowly, eventually being completely gone.
INTENSITY: At its worst, it can feel like it's about to become overwhelming, making it difficult to see clearly or focus on anything, especially continuing to type or browse, or do most other things. There is no pressure and no real headache. There is no pain, but it’s very unnerving and can bring on a feeling of panic in me and I need to try to get a grip on this so that future episodes of it have the least possible control over me.
ASSOCIATED SENSATIONS: As I said, I get a very faint "headache" around my eye sockets or in the forehead and/or temple area, which may last for a while after the vision disturbance ends, but never becomes anything bad, thankfully.
HOW IT ENDS: The disturbance usually fades slowly, and the vision clears up completely. I often feel a bit shaky or panicked during the episode, believe me! When it's passed off, my eyesight seems to be "too sharp" and "too clear", for a while, then normalises. It's almost like I'm hunting for it, in case it's going to start again, which is very self-defeating. I try to carry on with my day, even though I can’t shake the feeling of it lingering in my mind for a while. Just occasionally, I get it back within 2 hours, again...that's only ever happened, in my life, twice, though...both of them were this year.
Since January of last year, I've had enough stress to have (June and July) put me in a psychiatric hospital, residential, voluntary, for 2 months.
But, it's what the medical profession did in January, of last year, that caused the year to be far worse than it needed to be. If you heard what it was that they did, you'd understand my position regarding trust in the medical profession. So, my current level of stress is savage beyond description!
My Questions:
- Has anyone else experienced these "Aura" (without headache) attacks, or any things similar?
- How do you cope with these episodes?
- Do people just learn to live with them?...can that be done pretty easily?
- Do you have any advice for managing the anxiety that comes with them, or tips to help with relaxing or handling the aftermath?
I’ve found them to be quite frightening, and I just want to know if this is something that other people go through, too.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has had these or knows more about them. Thank you for reading!
I have had exactly what you described over many years. Silent migraines. They can be very frightening until you know what they are.
AGAA4: Many thanks, for your reply. Yes, they can be very frightening, indeed!
Since I had the DCs I have not had a migraine (touch wood) but I used to get a sort of pre-migraine warning when I would see swirling black dots that seemed to fall from above. The dots would flash as they fell and I knew I was in for a blinding headache and awful nausea.
I think these attacks were related to stress but as I never had any investigations, I don't really know the cause.
You are walking about your home and then a sudden flash of reflected light hits your eyes before you can blink. That's all it takes. A sudden, unexpected ninja flash.
That's awful Magenta. The version I get is never as serious. Just the 'jazz eyes" for 45 minutes.
Magenta: What are "the DCs"? When would that have been?
Maremia: Oh. Thanks, for that explanation - yes, I've experienced those and they're pretty horrible. I tend to "jump" at them, now, just in case they trigger one of these horrid things.
IanMcKlatchie The DCs are nothing sinister or symptom related it is just an abbreviation for dear children.
Magenta: Oh, I see! Thanks, for that!
GP and Optician need to be consulted to rule out any urgent, I’ve had something similar, it comes and goes, had eyes checked and on BP medication.
Yes, silent migraines, bright patterns which fade after about 20 mins.Usually caused, to me, by walking from a sunny day into a darker environment, shop or house.No pains.
Oreo: Many thanks, for your reply. The Sunny day thing seems to crop up in mentions quite a lot.
Yes... I have had a few thought I was having a stroke the first time, I had one.
At that time I was driving to work, (I worked in a Hospital) it frightened the life out of me, but I was OK to drive had no idea what was happening?
Once in work as I knew a few members of staff in the Eye Dept, I got one of the eye Doctor's to check me out, by then it had gone... Had a check out nothing odd going on, told its a Migraine just take a couple of paracetamols and it should go quickly. It does go quickly within half an hour it's gone. Absolutely no idea what brings them on?
I funnily enough had one recently, first one for years.
VisGirl: Thanks, for that reply. I've been told it's a neurological thing and that my eyes don't even know that it's happening, during them. Weird things.
First time I had one I was terrified. Thought that, if it didn’t go away I wouldn’t be able to live a normal life ever again. Ran outside into the dark thinking it would go away but the prisms were still there. Of course, after 20 minutes or so it went away so next time it happened I didn’t panic. Rarely get them these days but do seem to have a slight prism effect on sunny days.
I suffered with migraines regularly from my early thirties, usually with dazzles as you describe before the headache struck. Since retiring in 2011, they've become very infrequent.
In 2022, I had open heart surgery to repair my mitral valve which led to dazzles on a daily basis but no headaches. Altough I wasn't recovering as well as I'd expected, I ignored the dazzles which occurred for several months.
A routine ophthalmology dept visual field test revealed issues that suggested I'd suffered a small stroke! In early 2024, a brain scan confirmed this and my medication was adjusted accordingly which saw an end to the dazzles.
My advice to the OP woud be to seek help from your GP and optician to establish a cause for the dazzles, if possible.
MayBee70: Many thanks, for your reply. That must've been scary for you. I fully understand.
Ashcombe: Thanks.
Definitely migraine. I have had migraine since I was a small child and over time it has kept changing.
Only had these 'silent migraines since I passed the menopause.
For some reason the menopause completely changed the nature of my migraine from regular and the form predictable to highly irregular and completely unpredictable. I now have more silent migraines, I have had vestibular migraines, others with extreme vomiting and diarrhea, cluster migraines, the lot.
M0nica: Thanks, for your reply.
Yes silent migrain. Nothing to worry about.
I have had the auras for decades, every few months. Usually followed by a headache, but not so often over the past few years. About 20 years ago I had an episofe when I was unable to express any words, really frightening, eased off after about half an hour, and one time I lost half my vision completely. Since my husband's severe stroke I have become his sole carer, and the stress has made the come every other day. After having had a trip to A and E following another episode of speech loss, for a suspected TIA, but all investigations normal, I paid for a consultation with the Migraine Trust. Best thing I ever did, prescribed a new class of drugs with no sude effects, change in HRT, and vitamins and Coenzyme-Q10, I hope I am finally beginning to get a handle on them. Do talk to the Migraine Trust Ian, Good Luck!
Gran 22Boys: Very many thanks to you, for your reply.
B9Exchange: You've really been over the coals with them, haven't you? Thanks, for your reply.
I have had this since I was in my teens and I am now 83! Sometimes this is accompanied by tunnel vision or a sensation that there are bits missing from whatever I am looking at. I often get a very mild headache. Fluorescent lights / flashing sunlight often start this off. I too was told silent migraine. One full strength aspirin as soon as the flashes appear followed by eyes closed and quiet for 10 minutes works every time for me.
nnel vision or a sensation that bits of what I am looking at are missing.
ROMILO: TEN MINUTES? You've done incredibly well, there, to make them last only 10 minutes! I must brush up on my aspirin supply! Thanks, for the reply.
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