heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Hello-
I can see my heartbeat in my eyes, and I have the circles in my vision when moving my eyes too far to the left or right. I have seen these exact symptoms described over and over in a forum which was open between 2004 and 2007. I am very interested in knowing whether anyone has found out any information about these symptoms and whether or not these are serious issues. I have had these problems, along with delayed vision, floaters, and exreme sunlight sensitivity. I have done numerous tests with doctors and all have come back negative. Any information about these issues would be greatly appreciated,
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Quote:
Originally Posted by straw12111
Hello-
I can see my heartbeat in my eyes, and I have the circles in my vision when moving my eyes too far to the left or right. I have seen these exact symptoms described over and over in a forum which was open between 2004 and 2007. I am very interested in knowing whether anyone has found out any information about these symptoms and whether or not these are serious issues. I have had these problems, along with delayed vision, floaters, and exreme sunlight sensitivity. I have done numerous tests with doctors and all have come back negative. Any information about these issues would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Chris
hello...
I have the same exact thing.
Mine started with a semi-circle in my right eye, outside edge.
Then when I move from a lighted space to a dark space and move my eyes as you said I see a flashing all the way to the right.
I ended up in the emergency room and the eye doctor the next day. He said it is common with people who who are very near-sighted, which I am.
It is basically the gel in the eye has separated from the retina. It could be a tear or not, mine was not. I did see a new batch of floaters. Like a glob.
Now I do see that heartbeat you are talking about! It seems to happen in certain types of lighting(floater prone environments) And when all the floaters settle down and I hold my eye still!
It's just damned odd!
I called my doctor yesterday and he never called back so I don't know what it is. I feel like a nut!
I am an axiety prone person and VERY sensitive to my sight. It's almost like I must hold very still and breath very shallow to see it.
If I find out more info I will pass it along but half of me wnats to know nothing and just get on living.
Take care,
Noah
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
I see the same bright blobby things when I look left and right. I have floaters...I see bright squiggles in the sun. Vision is a lot of times fuzzy. I always wear sunglasses outside no matter cloudy or sunny. And here this past week, I've realized that if I don't have sunglasses on it's TOO bright. Everything looks almost bright white. I'm a bit concerned about my light sensitivity. My eyes have also been sore. Basically, you're not alone.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Wow, how funny that someone else has this as well. I can often see my heart beating in my eyes. I sit there and see the 'thump thump thump' of my heart.
I also have had floaters for years. I see the circles at the sides of my eyes as well.
Also some lines ( like the side of a door) often move, sort of shudder, its always straight lines that do this. Sunlight really hurts my eyes. and i suffer terrible night blindness. Its nice to know im not alone.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
I've seen my heart beat in my eyes....but that's something I try to not concentrate on and it usually works. Lines totally shudder for me. And the sun also really hurts my eyes. And I don't see well at night. I can't believe there are others out there. cazajacks....Have you had any tests? Do you have a history of migraines?
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Hi Tweet, no i have not had any tests because i don't know if this is an illness or just simply things that happen. I get migraines sometimes, but i get headaches ever such a lot. I know exactly what you mean about the lines shuddering. I told my optician this at my eye test but he didnt say anything was wrong. I find it really more abvious when sittin on the loo (lol) i find the door frame shudders all the way round!!!!!
I sometime walk up to my local shop at night, i do live in rather a dark road, but i cannot seel a thing in front of me. And when its bin day the next day eveyone has left out their recycling bins ( which are black) and i am always falling over them because i just cant see them, the floor in front of me is sort of like a blind spot, but i can see much further up the road fine. sunlight really hurts so, as i wear glasses i have bought the reactalight ones now.
it is so weird to know that i am not the only one with all this, i am surprised to find others like it.
11
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Having one of THOSE days. I hate keeping all of this in. All this freaky vision stuff and the anxiety it causes. I've gotten to where I don't drive much because of it because I know I'll see this freaky vision more while driving. I've given myself such an anxiety about it. I just want to be able to do normal things. For instance, today I would love to go get my new car's windows tinted. But it would require me driving my own car an hour away from home. I can't explain to anyone WHY I don't feel comfortable doing this so I just feel like a freak inside. Noone understands. And me being too scared to have tests done, noone will ever understand. On top of the vision problem I think I need anxiety medication. Ugh...one of THOSE days.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Quote:
Originally Posted by tweet722
Having one of THOSE days. I hate keeping all of this in. All this freaky vision stuff and the anxiety it causes. I've gotten to where I don't drive much because of it because I know I'll see this freaky vision more while driving. I've given myself such an anxiety about it. I just want to be able to do normal things. For instance, today I would love to go get my new car's windows tinted. But it would require me driving my own car an hour away from home. I can't explain to anyone WHY I don't feel comfortable doing this so I just feel like a freak inside. Noone understands. And me being too scared to have tests done, noone will ever understand. On top of the vision problem I think I need anxiety medication. Ugh...one of THOSE days.
I know exactly what you mean. I do understand this. I have been obsessed about my vision since my problem with it started about a month ago. New floaters, flashing lights, then the heartbeat....
The anxiety is worse than the symptoms. I find myself avoiding things/places where the visual distortions show up. That's not good.
I have had this checked out by a retina specialist and he found nothing other than the vitreous pulled away from the retina. He said it starts during the teenage years! And people who are nearsighted are more prone to this,and with age it happenes more. he listened to the arteries in my neck and head and said they sound fine. He said he will call me in a week to see how I am doing.
I do have anxiety problems....always did. When a problem like this comes up I over focus on it. It sounds like you might be experiencing the same thing.
I think a way to deal with this is to get it checked out and the way, for me anyway is not to shy away from doing things I want to do.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Noah...this is the best way for me to explain my fears. I pretty much fear myself..I fear the fear. I know that I'm going to make things worse with the anxiety. These visual symptoms are very real but the anxiety does strengthen them I believe. I've worn glasses since I was a baby...I went to the eye doc a while back and the visual field test showed some disturbances so I also went to a retinal specialist and he said there was some retinal scarring but it was nothing to worry about. He said there was no particular reason for it..could have been born with it..etc. Other than that, I've had no other tests, and have avoided going back to the eye doc. I know my anxiety is really bad and it's gotten a little better. I too obsess over things. I'm just so scared there's an underlying cause and am too scare to find out for sure. I know that's ridiculous and irrational but that's me I guess.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
maybe its something to do with our eyes LOL. Because i too suffer from anxiety, so please don;t feel you are the only ones. I started to take an anti depressant, even though i do not feel at all depressed. But my Dr said it would help with the anxiety. Life has been very bad for me this last year, so i have doubled the dose from 20mg to 40mg. I will be honest and say i dont know if they work or not. I am not as anxious sometimes, but am at others. I am too scared to come off of the tablets in case i turn into a real nurotic person and cant cope. so for now i depend on them.
Take comfort knowing there are others like us out there.
caza
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
cazajacks, tweet722....
My eye doctor got back to me and he said that in 30 years of practice he has not seen a patient with the visible heartbeat in the eye phenomena.
He did say that if I wanted to follow up futher to have a doppler done on my carotid artery. He did listen to it though and said it sounds fine.
I am an anxious person, was born that way. I also take lexapro for depression and xanax in the evening.
I think that there is an anxiety link. It's it may not be that anxiety is causing it but that people with anxiety are more sensitive. I know I am very sensitive to my vision. I once had toxoplamosis in my left eye, it caused a small blind spot, a scar, and from that time I have always been somewhat on guard for other peculiarities. To add to that I get ocular migraines...the first time that happened I ended up in an emergency visit to the eye doctor. I still get ocular migraines, though I do not get as anxious anymore, still I get a small adrenalin rush everytime it happens.
Can anyone here give a detailed description about how the heartbeat appears? I seem to see it when I just sort of relax my eyes and just don't focus on anything...just sort of gaze into nothing. I acually see it in both eyes just that the one with the recent vitreous detactment is more evident. It also has more floaters than the other eye...many more. Those extra flosters are of the coudy jelly-fish type. Like "****". Maybe the light passing through this causes the heartbeat to be more evident. It's as if the light is dispursed into a cloud.
When I move my eyes normally and look at things, focus normally the heartbeat seems to go away.
Someone reading will probably think, "this guy is nuts", LOL...I just hope this is helpful.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
You are SO totally NOT crazy....at least I hope not because that would mean that I am TOO! HAHA...
I have seen my heart beat in my eyes but it's not too often thank goodness. And I hope after reading your posts that I don't start myself to noticing it. Because that's how I work. But what I do have and it may be what you have too is like pulsating vision. It happens all the time outdoors. I describe it as kind of a heat wave effect in my central vision. This is the one odd visual symptom that scares the crap out of me!
I do have major anxiety issues. I worry about everything and I've always be fixated on different health problems that I think I could have. I would probably say that it's part OCD. As a child I watched Madeline, the episode where her appendix bursts and she has to have surgery. This cartoon made a major impact on me as I was scared for years and years of having appencitus. I mean absolutely obsessed and mortified with it.
I found it interesting when you were talking about the blind spot. I've been told I have retinal scarring with no explanation. And I have a huge blind spot that is very noticable and I let it bother me really bad on some days. Of course, once again I won't ask a doc about it or tell anyone about it.
I too suffer ocular migraines and I can sit here and tell you that these visual symptoms did not start occuring until after I had my first migraine about 10 years ago. I personally feel that the anxiety caused by migraines make it worse. But I also personally believe that migraines do some sort of damage. It makes sense. I mean, you know how dang freaky migraines are. How could they not be doing damage!?!?
And don't feel bad because I still freak over my migraines. I have got a little better but I sure don't stay calm enough. I had one a year or two ago that was the absolute worse and I was scared horribly. It lasted so long and I've always gotten a little numb sometimes on the side of my face and my hand but this one my side of my face and my tongue went numb and down my leg. The tongue going numb was most scariest thing. But I've read so much about them and this seems to be a part of them.
Anyhow....I was just wondering if the "heartbeat" you see is more like a pulsating heatwave blob? And if you see them indoors and outdoors? I would also suggest. Like I'm one to really be suggesting, but I suggest to just try and CALM DOWN and CHILL OUT.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Hi all, hopefully whoever has posted here still checks this, but reading this has definitely helped me a lot, so thanks, glad to know I'm not the only person suffering from mystery ailments with an eye doctor continually telling me I'm fine! I have most of the same problems you guys are having but not all I suppose. I have noticed beats in my eyes, but luckily this has been very rare. It's usually if I wake up in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom, when I'm half awake half asleep, and my heart is beating a lot faster from a dream or any other reason. My biggest issue is the light sensitivity. I've always been near-sighted and have been wearing contacts since I was 16 (glasses off and on before that). Unfortunately when I was in college I would sleep with my contacts in for nights on end, and I always assumed this was my eye's method of payback. All through my life growing up I never needed to wear sunglasses, as I was very active in sports. Also, occasionally in life I could notice floaters, but only at certain angles with certain lighting, so it never bothered me. One day however I noticed a huge dark glob across my line of vision, and of course went to the eye dr. immediately. He told me it was actually just a floater as well, and it can be common, you just have to ignore it, and he gave my eyes the once over and said everything was fine. However, since it's directly in my line of sight, I couldn't just get over it and I became obsessed with it. All I could think about was my vision and I spent a lot of time reading about floaters and everything they could possibly indicate. Soon after this I became extremely light sensitive, progressively more so over time, now to the point where sunglasses are a necessity (even on a cloudy rainy day, more so for the fear that the sun may later come out, not because it's too bright then).
I also have what I call dark sensitivity, I can see in the dark and make everything out, however I feel like I can often times see all the fluid or blood in my eyes just floating around, so I have to see past that. Usually after a period of time, my eyes will finally adjust. If it is complete darkness though I feel like I can see my eyes shooting off light signals back and forth.
The final and sometimes weirdest symptom, is when I just look out of one eye. If I'm rubbing one eye and looking out of one, I start to see swirls and blotches of color (seemingly whatever color the light makes my blood appear). Outisde in the sun, it is always the red color you see when you close your eyes, inside it's usually a purple. Everytime I've asked an eye dr. I never seem to get a response about what causes it! I've had 4 checkups though with 2 different doctors, and each time they give me the most thorough checkup possible and again tell me I just pay attention too much.
Unfortunately/Fortunately I do believe he is right (whichever way you look at it). I used to want something to be wrong so they could just fix it and make me normal. But I have noticed over time, that certain vision "problems" do tend to come and go. For me the huge problems were always the floaters at first, but I have actually come to accept/ignore them for the most part. With certain lighting/backgrounds they do come out but they dont bother me as much. Also lights from traffic signals would bother me a lot and be kind of webby, but after awhile I too forgot about that. So fortunately it does seem to be something that is somehow controllable, just figuring out how to do so is the hard part! Anxiety/worrying definitely seems to be the biggest catalyst. If I get super busy or involved in something, my vision is completely normal and no bother, even with light sensitivity, but eventually the thoughts always go back there!
I think you guys have helped a lot though, even though I knew/assumed that anxiety and paying too much attention is the biggest problem, I think reading you all's post helps me take that aknowledgment one step further, so hoepfully that will help some! The best advice is the hardest to accept, but my gf tells me it all the time, just relax you're thinking about it too much!
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Hello rstiles, i'm so glad we could help and reassure you. I found it really helpful finding someone on here that has my symptoms as well. its reassuring to know your not on your own isnt it.
I have lots of floaters, i am 44 now and have had them at least 20yrs. Strangely enough i found when i was younger and went out drinking, if i got drunk, the next morning apart from the hangover, i would have double the amount of floaters!!! I also find they increase if im feeling unwell as well.
I'm as blind as a bat in the dark, and sunlight is painfull for me as well.
Good luck.
Cazajacks
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Quote:
Originally Posted by rstiles82
Hi all, hopefully whoever has posted here still checks this, but reading this has definitely helped me a lot, so thanks, glad to know I'm not the only person suffering from mystery ailments with an eye doctor continually telling me I'm fine! I have most of the same problems you guys are having but not all I suppose. I have noticed beats in my eyes, but luckily this has been very rare. It's usually if I wake up in the middle of the night and go to the bathroom, when I'm half awake half asleep, and my heart is beating a lot faster from a dream or any other reason. My biggest issue is the light sensitivity. I've always been near-sighted and have been wearing contacts since I was 16 (glasses off and on before that). Unfortunately when I was in college I would sleep with my contacts in for nights on end, and I always assumed this was my eye's method of payback. All through my life growing up I never needed to wear sunglasses, as I was very active in sports. Also, occasionally in life I could notice floaters, but only at certain angles with certain lighting, so it never bothered me. One day however I noticed a huge dark glob across my line of vision, and of course went to the eye dr. immediately. He told me it was actually just a floater as well, and it can be common, you just have to ignore it, and he gave my eyes the once over and said everything was fine. However, since it's directly in my line of sight, I couldn't just get over it and I became obsessed with it. All I could think about was my vision and I spent a lot of time reading about floaters and everything they could possibly indicate. Soon after this I became extremely light sensitive, progressively more so over time, now to the point where sunglasses are a necessity (even on a cloudy rainy day, more so for the fear that the sun may later come out, not because it's too bright then).
I also have what I call dark sensitivity, I can see in the dark and make everything out, however I feel like I can often times see all the fluid or blood in my eyes just floating around, so I have to see past that. Usually after a period of time, my eyes will finally adjust. If it is complete darkness though I feel like I can see my eyes shooting off light signals back and forth.
The final and sometimes weirdest symptom, is when I just look out of one eye. If I'm rubbing one eye and looking out of one, I start to see swirls and blotches of color (seemingly whatever color the light makes my blood appear). Outisde in the sun, it is always the red color you see when you close your eyes, inside it's usually a purple. Everytime I've asked an eye dr. I never seem to get a response about what causes it! I've had 4 checkups though with 2 different doctors, and each time they give me the most thorough checkup possible and again tell me I just pay attention too much.
Unfortunately/Fortunately I do believe he is right (whichever way you look at it). I used to want something to be wrong so they could just fix it and make me normal. But I have noticed over time, that certain vision "problems" do tend to come and go. For me the huge problems were always the floaters at first, but I have actually come to accept/ignore them for the most part. With certain lighting/backgrounds they do come out but they dont bother me as much. Also lights from traffic signals would bother me a lot and be kind of webby, but after awhile I too forgot about that. So fortunately it does seem to be something that is somehow controllable, just figuring out how to do so is the hard part! Anxiety/worrying definitely seems to be the biggest catalyst. If I get super busy or involved in something, my vision is completely normal and no bother, even with light sensitivity, but eventually the thoughts always go back there!
I think you guys have helped a lot though, even though I knew/assumed that anxiety and paying too much attention is the biggest problem, I think reading you all's post helps me take that aknowledgment one step further, so hoepfully that will help some! The best advice is the hardest to accept, but my gf tells me it all the time, just relax you're thinking about it too much!
I am really glad to see other people have these same issues. I am pretty much experiencing everything that i've read in these posts. I have had these problems for about 3 years. I have been to a lot of eye doctors, and specialists as well looking for an answer but everything has come back normal. I did have meningitus in the past, and I used to wear contacts during college and I didn't take care of them very well. I have the thick floaters, weird balls in my vision when i look from side to side, extreme light sensitivity, heart beat in my eyes, heart palpitations, and a lot more that I can't think of at the moment. I never allow the sun to hit my eyes at all, but when I first realized I was light sensitive, I could be in the sun for however long with no pain, but a few hours later my eyes would become so tired and red I could barely keep them open. Now I wear sunglasses all the time no matter what. I have that dark sensitivity thing you are talking about and the one eye closed thing exactly as you described it. I guess it is kind of a relief to read all these with no answer because that means as far as everyone knows, nothing is wrong. (more of an annoyance than anything else) I have definitely just learned to live with whatever is going on and adapt to it. The way i see it is, things could always be worse. (but that doesn't mean I have given up on finding out what it is) I am definitely interested in knowing how long everyone has had these problems? Are they progressively getting worse or just kind of hanging around? Do you have fatigue at all? I appreciate everyones posts it definitely helps a lot
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
This morning was the first time I ever saw my heartbeat in my eyes and it freaked me out - so I was happy to hear others with this symptom...I'm in a rural area, so the hospital usually refers us to major cities for certain diagnosis, the internet helps so much to find out whether I need to make a long trip!
I've also become extremely aware of my eyes doing strange things when I'm in a car looking too far to the right or left, it gives me a sickly feeling which doesn't happen if I look straight ahead and I've never had motion sickness. I don't wear glasses except when I'm reading at night and up to now my night vision is really good, but I too am sensitive to bright light, I even have my clock radio turned away so the light doesn't bother me!
The occasional time I have migraines I know they're going to happen because I get auras in the form of zigzag lines that usually start from the edge of my eyesight and work inward until the headache starts.
As for the floaters, yup, their all over the place!
Thanks for being here, at least I know I'm not alone!
The Following User Says Thank You to dorsetlaila For This Useful Post: chrissyfwb (11-26-2011)
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
Quote:
Originally Posted by dorsetlaila
This morning was the first time I ever saw my heartbeat in my eyes and it freaked me out - so I was happy to hear others with this symptom...I'm in a rural area, so the hospital usually refers us to major cities for certain diagnosis, the internet helps so much to find out whether I need to make a long trip!
I've also become extremely aware of my eyes doing strange things when I'm in a car looking too far to the right or left, it gives me a sickly feeling which doesn't happen if I look straight ahead and I've never had motion sickness. I don't wear glasses except when I'm reading at night and up to now my night vision is really good, but I too am sensitive to bright light, I even have my clock radio turned away so the light doesn't bother me!
The occasional time I have migraines I know they're going to happen because I get auras in the form of zigzag lines that usually start from the edge of my eyesight and work inward until the headache starts.
As for the floaters, yup, their all over the place!
Thanks for being here, at least I know I'm not alone!
oh yea....
That heartbeat stuff.
I had a dopler done on my carotid artery and cranial arteries and they came back normal.
My son sees his heartbeat in his eyes also and I have a friend who sees the same.
In my humble opinion some people are more sensitive/aware of their vision. That heartbeat is like floaters, I don't pay attention to it, it's not there.
Maybe I have it backwards.
One should worry if they don't see a pulse.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive
I can see my heatbeat in my right eye and it started this past December. I had a MRI and they found 2 lesions in my white matter of my brain. I had all the brain tests done, the dopler on my arteries and everything came back fine. I take my blood pressure at home some times and have had it taken at the doctors office and its normal. My heartbeat in my eye never goes away and if I get my heartrate up, it beats faster too in my eye. Now when ever I am outside I can see circles that look like the tips of drill bits that constantly turn like a top. It drives me crazy! I'm glad to know that others have the same problem I have and that I'm not alone.
Re: heartbeat in eyes, circles in vision, light sensitive 
