Since June I have been having this strange eye probl. I am seeing in my right eye in the peripheral top portion a little blob that stays stationary, but spins and moves within itself.It is always there and it changes color depending where I am (black outside, white inside). I also see it with my eyes closed if that makes sense.

I went to the Ophthalmologist who dilated my eyes and assured me I was fine. A few weeks later I noticed in the same eye on the bottom left a blind spot that is very noticable in bright light and outdoors and when inside in the dim lights, not noticable at all. Again, I went to the opthal. and he asssured me my eyes were fine. He did a visual field test which showed the blind spot. Then he referred me for an MRI, which came back normal. Then he sent me to a Retinal Specialist, who assured me there was nothing wrong with my eye. He saw 2 macular holes, but said they were so tiny and should not be the cause of my problem. He said to give it time and it should resolve.

Well here I am 5 months later with the same problem. Thankfully it has not gotten any worse, but it still present everyday 24/7. I went ot a neuro-opthalmologist just yesterday who also check my eyes and said I was fine!! He wants me to repeat the visular field test in 2 months and we will go from there.

I am so afraid I have some awful problem that no one is finding. Would they have been able to diagnose macular degeneration with just dilation exams and MRI?? I am so afriad I have it and no one sees it!!

Does anyone else know what it could be??? I have seen in total 4 different eye doctors so I guess one of them would have seen something????

THanks!!!
Raq

Raq: You say the blind spots are in your peripheral vision, so I doubt the macular tears are causing them. The macula is used in central vision. There are two kinds of macular degeneration--wet and dry. Dry progresses more slowly and does less damage, but it does result in thinning of the retina. I don't know if the tests you had would detect it. The wet variety involves neo-vascularization (growth of blood vessels) and bleeding behind the retina. A fluorescein angiogram as well as dilated eye exam would detect that. If you are young, you probably don't have MD, but it is possible.
A blind spot is called a scotoma. You'll want to do some research. Download an Amsler grid from the net and use it to map the spots.
Sorry I can't be of more help. Sometimes blind spots appear for no reason--an occlusion in a blood vessel, narrowing of the blodd vessels, etc. Look up Ocuvite (or similar brand) online--it would be a good idea to take it.

Good luck to you.
Torre

THanks for your reply. I am 32 years old. I know anything is possible, so thats why I am still worried. I guess if the doctors felt I could have md, one of them would have suggested another test I would hope!

THanks for your reply. I am 32 years old. I know anything is possible, so thats why I am still worried. I guess if the doctors felt I could have md, one of them would have suggested another test I would hope!

Macular degeneration doesn't cause blind spots in the peripheral vision, so I wouldn't worry about that. If the wet variety was suspected, a fluorescein angiogram would definitely have been ordered.

Since you have macular tears, I wonder if it's possible that you have small retinal tears or tiny detached areas that the doctors missed. Doesn't seem likely, but the first doctor seems to have missed the macular holes.

T.

I agree. I often wonder how the first doc missed it when he did 2 extensive dilated exams. I mean he had me laying flat pushing down and making me look all different ways for at least 15 minutes. I was so surprised when the Retinal specialist found them. If it is a PVD would it have been easy to detect? I often wonder if that is what it is since in the dark or dim lighting, the blind spot is not blind but a little blurry only in that area.
Do you know if the wet MD is seen through a dilated exam??

Thanks for your help! I appreciate it so much!! I am so worried all the time about this. I even had to start taking Xanex to get me through some days!!!

Raq

You're bound and determined to have macular degeneration, aren't you? :) :) I'm not an expert, but I think MD can be detected during a dilated exam. It certainly can if it's bad enough. Wet MD causes new blood vessel growth and leaking from the vessels. The dry variety--I don't know. Whether PVD can be detected during an exam--you'd have to ask Sunlover. From the posts I've read, I'd say yes.

So, did none of the doctors give you any possible causes of the blind spots?

T.

I have not been given any good reason for it. I don't think they can figure it out. The retinal spec said my eyes were very healthy and not to worry. This should pass. Very easy said! He said to wait a few months and go see the neuro oph if it didn't pass. Well that is where I am at now. The neuro-opth didn't seem so concerned either-just said to come back in 2 months to repeat the visual field. It is so frustrating!!!!!