feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
I have just had extensive eye testing as a baseline before beginning Plaquinel. I have had eye testing in the past by a LL neuro-opthalmologist, but this new opthalmologist did tests that I have never encountered.
My first appt was 2 1/2 hours long and entailed the basic testing plus dilation. Some pictures, optic nerve exam etc. all was good.
He wanted me back for another appt for some tests that I have NEVER had, I don't even know the name of them, or what they are looking for.
But.....
I swear I went bling a few times temporarily during these tests. I could only see darkness and the blood vessels in my eye.
The test entailed looking into a deep globe like thing with my chin on a rest. I had one eye covered and was to stare at a dot and click a button whenever I saw a red light anywhere in my vision. My right eye went totally black. I freaked. I had a HA before the appt and it felt like my head would blow off now as well.
When testing my left eye, sx were not as bad, but still weird....now I am seeing yellow hazy vision this evening.
Anyone have this test? My eyes and brain are obviously messed up. I have had the occular auras for years.....this test took the cake.
I thought I was going blind. I have severe head pressure too after the test.
THOUGHTS?
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I think what you are describing is a visual field test. Hubby has had these in the past. You should get a copy of a nice little chart showing where your blind spots are in each eye -- everyone has blind spots.
If they dilated your eyes -- then they probably used an anticholinergic med. This used to make hubby feel better -- would stop tremors and G.I. spasms much the same as Benadryl does.
You might want to consider supplementing with bilberry. See the link I posted in the thread below.
Surprisingly hubby's eyesight has improved (less near sighted) over the last 2 years. I think this is due to getting rid of babesia. He does have small cataracts on both eyes though which is probably a result of oxidative stress. Still has eye pain from time to time which seems to be due to bart or mycoplasma.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
that's it Bea it was called a 'visual field test'
I swear that I went temporarily blind in my right eye more than once...my head hurt like heck and I kept saying that I needed to stop.
They obviously had not had anyone react like this before and were very perplexed....me too.
No dilation this time, just looking at that light in the globe.
Thanks for your input Bea, always appreciated.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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Starfall1969
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17353
posted
I had one of those visual field tests too. They are weird!
Then they decided to redo it because something was a bit odd in my left eye--well, I had been complaining about losing vision in that eye.
Then after the second test they said everything was within normal range.
Yeah, whatever.
Posts: 1682 | From Dillsburg, PA | Registered: Sep 2008
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2roads
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4409
posted
Yeah...it is a visual field test.
My son of 7 had one of those. He sat still pretty well.
You can cheat on these though. But the nurse said she didn't catch him peaking outside of the little white light.
You should have gotten a picture of what was a normal blind spot for each eye, and hopefully, nothing else.
These are vision therapy tests and in my opinion, should be accessable through a regular Optometrist. OT's today need to learn this field which is up and coming.
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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feelfit
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Member # 12770
posted
I have a follow-up with the doctor next week. He was not in yesterday. All they were doing were these visual field tests.....
So, I guess that I'll find out. Had occular auras all night on and off and have a migraine today.
I did read that these tests are give to MS patients and do tell a bit about how the optic nerve is functioning.\
Thanks for the replies, feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Your "blindness" you experience during the VF test is called Troxler Fading, a very common occurrance that can occur if you stare at anything long enough.
bt
Posts: 299 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jul 2007
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Well thank you EyeBob, that is encouraging!
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
My daughter will be getting her vision field exam next week for baseline readings before starting Plaquenil.
She was scheduled to get it today; however, after they dilated her eyes, they said they couldn't do the test today while she was dilated!
She did get a regular eye exam though, and the doc found a scar on her retina which was never noticed before. The tech took a picture of it--we asked to get a copy, since it is rather cool looking: almost looks like the planet Mars!--not sure where this scar came from--another thing to blame on Lyme and co?
The doc did say the scar is located in an area that will cause no problems with her vision and is very far from the macular and optic nerves, but it is still curious as to how this scar formed--my daughter never had any eye trauma, etc.
She goes back for the vision field test next week--with no dilation. She will also get a pressure test done too since she complains a lot of pressure pain behind her eyes. I wonder if the scar could be causing the pressure pain?
Do you think you might have had such a bad reaction--temporary blindness--to the vision test because of your eyes being dilated?
I'll let you know if my daughter experiences the same weird globe test. Hopefully she won't have any bad side effects.
I hope your eyes and head are feeling better today and that your eye test results are good.
Keep us posted too regarding your experiences on plaquenil--seems like many here are starting up on it soon.
Posts: 648 | From northeast | Registered: Feb 2009
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Mom,
My eyes were not dilated. They were at my first appt., but not at the visual field test.
I also do not think that I had 'Troxler Fading' as EyeBob suggested. I looked it up and the symptoms do not seem to fit.
My eye went totally dark and I saw my eyes blood vessels.....my eye was OPENED, so not a closed eye reaction either.
My brain is very screwed up, so I think that the lights caused some strange synapse....just my take on it.
My headache is pretty much gone today but yesterday was spent with my head packed in ice and hot rice bags.
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Yicks, I'm sorry to hear the pain that you experienced. What a frightening experience that must have been.
The reaction you had to the lights sounds very scary. I know that sometimes lights can cause epileptics to go into a seizure, so I wonder if somehow the bright lights caused something similar in you--not that it was a seizure or that you are an epileptic--but as you mentioned, reacting to the synapses. I would definitely mention that to the eye doctor though for future reference and monitoring.
Happy to hear that your head pain is better today!
Posts: 648 | From northeast | Registered: Feb 2009
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