Recurring partial vision loss - ideas?

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Hmm, so 12yo dd2 has had a couple of incidents where she loses the sight in her right eye (either half of it in a vertical line down the middle, or almost all with a small crescent of vision left). Lasts about half an hour, then comes back, but is followed by a severe headache on the opposite side. This started a week after she took a high speed ski tumble and broke her collarbone (may or not be connected - don't want to drop feed!) Took her to a & e the first time but sight returned when we were there and eye exam showed nothing remarkable.
Been to opticians and have to go back again today for drops and a better look. Also have gp appointment booked.

As a complicating factor, she also has cerebral palsy (caused by birth injury) so has known brain damage that affects her whole body, but affects her right side more. This also makes it really difficult to examine her eyes as she has athetosis that kicks in when she is trying to stay still - the more she tries to relax and stay still, the twitchier she gets...

To start with, I was worried she may have partially detached her retina in the fall, but now I am thinking recurring migraines? A friend also suggested it may be concussion - any other ideas? I know the professionals will be looking into it, but I don't envy their job with this one - she tries so hard to relax and let them carry on, but her body has other ideas... She is obviously more relaxed at home, so we may have better luck working it out than the docs - or at least come up with some extra info that might help them help her?

Anyone had similar incidents or kids with same?

[vtpro]

Amaurosis fugal is the term given to transient loss of vision. In a child it is far less likely to be serious but should definitely be checked out. I suspect it is possibly connected to the cerebral palsy. It is unlikely too be a partially detached retina as the vision has come back.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Thanks vtpro. Doc thinks possibly migraine related to onset of puberty, but wants to discuss with optician and poss get second opinion from paed (we don't see paed very often as despite the cp, dd2 is pretty stable, but we have access if we need to).
Do you have experience of this? I'm not sure how it could be related to the cp, unless there is something weird going on with her pre-existing brain damage? (She had squint surgery five years ago - her squint is almost certainly neuro related, and she wears glasses to prevent recurrence, but her eyesight itself has been pretty stable?)

[vtpro]

Whoops, that should have read 'amaurosis fugax' in my last post ( don't you hate autocorrect!). I'm really pleased you are following through and getting this checked out. I do have experience in this and I always take these issues seriously even though they are few and far apart. I would never presume in a case like this that it is benign (not serious) until I have exhausted all possibilities - even though it is very likely to be fine. You're doing a great job!

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Hi goat, no not yet - doc is going to discuss with the optician, but I will make an appointment to see the paed in any case while they discuss. They both mentioned that they 'could' book a scan, but seem to be deferring to each other until they have discussed (and the paed...). The first time it happened was a Friday night, and a and e was pretty busy. As her sight had returned by the time she was examined, they just checked her over and told us to follow up with gp and optician.

Thanks vtpro.

[hotandbothered24]

Amaurosis fugax can be caused by migraine, some children will get temporary vision loss as your daughter does and some will get visual aura. Any visual disturbance and severe headaches do need to be thoroughly investigated . Some children do first develop migraines around puberty. Hope you get your answer soon

[Witchend]

Sounds like the visual aura I've occasionally had before a Migraine. In fact almost exactly like.
The first time I had it, I noticed it as a student in town very close to my GP, and rushed in there-thankfully he was there and his receptionist wasn't, so he took me straight in and fully checked my eyes, before ordering a taxi (he paid) to get me back to my residence before the migraine kicked in.

However they should check her thoroughly. Dd2 started migraines a couple of years ago and they tested her thoroughly to check it wasn't anything more sinister.

[madwomanbackintheattic]

Thanks everyone - it does sound as though we are on the right path so far, then. I am waiting for paed appointment. There is a very loose 3/4 weeks pattern to the timings so far, so that would tie in with a hormonal trigger too (she hasn't started her periods yet, but is just a couple of months younger than her sister was when she started, and all the signs are there that it won't be too far away). Oh boo, poor gal.
The optician was very reassuring in terms of neurological stuff - he said he would be more worried if it was loss of vision in the same half of both eyes, rather than just one - and the subsequent headache does make it sound more migraine related. Everyone seems reassured by the fact that it lasts half an hour or so and then her eyesight returns, so I guess we just go and see the paed (and see what happens next month!) I'm not going to mention the timings to her yet - sounds odd, but I don't want to trigger anything by having her worry in case another episode is 'due'...