Seeing spots...

October 25, 2008 12:25 PM

I woke up this morning and noticed a darkish, donut-shaped spot almost in the middle of the field of view of my left eye.

It's exactly like seeing a spot after looking at a bright light -dark when looking at a light surface but when I shut my eyes it's lighter against the dark background. It's been there all day. I've made an opthamologist appointment for Monday, but was wondering if anybody here had ever experienced this.

My grandparents have had cataracts and glaucoma.

posted by bonobothegreat to health & fitness (16 comments total)

If you think you may have any of the symptoms of a detatched retina, you need to go to the ER immediately to avoid permanent vision loss.
posted by Comrade_robot at 12:36 PM on October 25, 2008

I had a partially detached retina after getting nailed with a hockey stick and I had an almost totally dark spot in the corresponding place in my field of view.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 12:37 PM on October 25, 2008

You should not wait until Monday.
posted by Class Goat at 12:39 PM on October 25, 2008

Detached retina is considered an emergency, if that's what it is. Get thyself to the nearest ER STAT!
posted by 6:1 at 12:40 PM on October 25, 2008

I too think that you should get it checked out - but I had something similar happen to me last year - it wasn't donut shaped, but it was just like I had looked at a bright light too long, with an afterimage when i closed my eyes. I spent 2 hours at the hospital while they looked at my retina and ran all sorts of tests....and then it went away. We never found out what it was.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 12:49 PM on October 25, 2008

ER now!!
posted by pearlybob at 1:07 PM on October 25, 2008

ER.
posted by tristeza at 1:08 PM on October 25, 2008

Hmmm,.. not what I wanted to hear but I'll give Tele-Health a call and describe the symptoms to them. It's a faint brown spot that is only noticeable against a pale background (or when my eyes are shut). Thanks for the links and advice. I'll check back in if I find out anything.
posted by bonobothegreat at 1:17 PM on October 25, 2008

Nthing the detached retina.

It also sounds very similar to the symptoms I have during the visual stage of my migraines. However, it usually passes within a half hour (followed by extreme pain.) Any eye-related issue should be checked out by a doc, stat. It's a quick check - they can take a look at the back a yo eyeball johnny on da spot. Painless.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:35 PM on October 25, 2008

I'm going to nth the emergency room. The last time I hurt myself seriously, I called the nurse hotline for my insurance company, and they assured me it wasn't broken.

It was broken. I'm STILL dealing with the aftermath of not taking myself to the emergency room pronto and being seen by experts immediately. Don't do that here. I don't trust these hotlines any more and would never call one again. This is your eyesight.
posted by micawber at 2:04 PM on October 25, 2008

Your description reminds of what I see when I'm having an episode of CSR. Often, I first notice its onset in the morning upon waking, looking at my white ceiling. I usually see an oval-shaped, grayish spot, but I've had donut shaped ones as well.
posted by namret at 2:05 PM on October 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

You do not want a detached retina to go untreated any longer than it has to, nor do you want an episode of CSR to go undiagnosed. Screw the phone nurse, go to the ER.

I had a major retinal tear in 2003, still impaired of vision in that eye, had hardcore surgical treatment. don't fuck around with it, bonobo, please.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 5:16 PM on October 25, 2008

Have someone BRING you to the ER. Keep all movement to a minimum. Do NOT be looking things up on the internet.
posted by Raybun at 7:13 PM on October 25, 2008

I went to the ER and was told that there was nothing that looked wrong (ie. - attached retina) but the doctor will be setting up an appointment with a specialist for tomorrow.

Thanks again, everybody.
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:28 PM on October 25, 2008

This happened to me over 20 years ago and the opthamologist found nothing and it went away on its own. However, I was diagnosed with glaucoma last year. I don't know if there's a relationship but you should get checked for glaucoma yearly from now on. Glaucoma can cause visual disturbances - I saw light blobs when my eyes were closed. Other symptoms are cloudy vision and red vision.

Summary: I don't know if there is a relationship but I'd like to share my experience.
posted by andreap at 3:47 PM on October 26, 2008 [1 favorite]

Yep, CSR seems to be the diagnosis. A tiny ring of swelling on the retina. Probably the result of too many days of deadline crunch-time storyboarding. It's expected to go away without treatment.
posted by bonobothegreat at 4:02 PM on October 26, 2008