What's wrong with my eyes?

[EvianBaby]

Every now and then I get this problem with my eyes and it's just happened again for no apparent reason.

My vision goes blurry in one or both eyes. When it happened today it was just my left eye and the vision in the left hand corner of my eye was distorted, almost like a scrambled TV image, it was like I could see black and white lines in my eye. The vision is beginning to return to normal now but it's left me with a funny (although not overly painful) headache.

I had an eye test last week and although I am mildly short sighted he didn't find any other problems.

What could it be? It's really quite unpleasant.

[boxtops]

I'd say migraine, if it's not your medication - migraine comes in 4 stages and you don't have to get all of them. Stand-alone visual disturbance is one of them, and as you have some head pain, I'd bet that might be what it is. My triggers were chocolate, onion, hard cheese - and almost inevitably, time of the month, too.

[EvianBaby]

Suppose it could be either of them then really. My diet is pretty limited but I am just coming to the end of my monthleys.

I'll keep an eye on it until I see the doc and mention it to her.

[pastafreak]

It does sound like an ocular or classic migraine. How long did the visual disturbance last? It's typically no more than 20 minutes.

[Ann]

Over the past 15 years, I get this occasionally, my doc says its a "visual migraine" In my case it starts when my central vision suddenly starts greying out and I can't read properly. Then the outside vision starts having patterns and flashing. I don't have a headache. I have learnt now what to do - immediately take a paracetemol and keep my eyes closed for 10 mins (I go into a loo if in town) and it gradually wears off. I haven't found anything which triggers it off and the doctor says its nothing to worry about.

[andres]

When my blood pressure drops I get a funny heavy feeling in my head. Then visual disturbances with ''zebra crossing lines at the outer edges of my eyes. I know then that it's time to take a Stemetil pill and take it easy for about an hour.Perhaps you should have your blood pressure checked. ?

[pastafreak]

Exactly what I get,Ann. The flashing lights are called a 'scintallating scotoma'.