Kaleidoscope vision..

[MuffinHead]

Soo this is the second time in a couple of days where my vision has gone funny.

The first time was when I was going to sleep a couple of nights ago and I suddenly got a pounding headache on the right side of my head, I was on my phone at the time and my eyesight started playing up. It felt like when you have a bright light in your eyes and that's all you can see when you blink afterwards. This lasted until I fell asleep and it seemed to have gone by the time I woke up. Sorry if that's not explained too well, it's quite hard to describe it

So, it has now just happened again, and the only way I can describe it is as if there is a kaleidoscope, it's not my whole eye sight-only the peripheral vision, but it was in both of my eyes. I could barely see at all and it was actually kinda scary.. I once again had the pounding headache on the right side of my head which came out of no where. My vision is practically normal again now, the "kaledoscope vision" lasted about 5 minutes, but the headache is still here.

A little background which may or may not be not be relevant:
The first time it happened I had the reflection of the light bouncing off the mirror, into my eyes. The second time the sun was really bright through the windows. I am currently sat with sunglasses on in the house with all of the curtains closed

There is potential I have Graves' disease/hyperthyroidism- I can give more details if needed

Have been using dry eye drops

Thanks in advance! Appreciate any help

[JennyWreny]

Sounds like a migraine aura - esp if you had a headache at the same time. I only get them without the headache but it's very disorientating. Hope you feel better soon.

[TorysSuckRevokeArticle50]

It sounds like a migraine, have you suffered with them in the past?

[Callybrid]

Sounds a bit like optical migraine - I get them when very run down, but I only get one eye at a time and the lights are rainbow coloured and expand out slowly then suddenly disappear. Last about 20-30minutes.

Really freaked me out the first time it happened so went to A and E as thought it was something neurological and I had two small children in a new city and no one at all around to help... they prodded and poked me a lot and said nothing seemed to be wrong neurologically so to get on my way. It was my optician who suggested optical migraine and I’ve since discussed with GP.

I would see if you could have a phone chat with GP and see what they suggest.

If it is optical migraine nothing too much to worry about but does mean I think that combined pill is contra-indicated and perhaps other hormone-based medication?

[LangClegsInSpace]

Yes this sounds like a migraine. Is it something like this?

[Floralnomad]

Sounds like ocular migraine , I get them occasionally but usually only one eye is affected

[MuffinHead]

@LangClegsInSpace ooo weird well the colourful bit seems familiar, it wasn't a circle as such though, it was more of a horizontal line, but I guess that probably doesn't matter really, thanks for the help!

[MuffinHead]

I haven't had these sort of migraines before, but the headache side to it definitely feels like a normal migraine headache

[MuffinHead]

Well, I feel a bit silly now to find out I was panicking about a migraine I definitely think you're all correct after looking at some photos. I have had a ridiculous amount of problems with my eyes since February so it really scared me thank you for the replies it's much appreciated! X

[Lonelycrab]

Yes sounds like an ocular/optical migraine as others have said. I get them about 2-3 times a year, so do other members of my family. It normally passes within about 30 mins, I’ve heard that having a massive sugar hit (can of red coke or mars bar for instance) can speed up recovery time.

[Floralnomad]

I’ve only started having them since I’ve had another issue with the affected eye , it was a bit disconcerting the first time it happened but it resolved fairly quickly .

[gettingusedtothelimelight]

The aura on my migraines is nothing like that video. I get black and white zig zags that start in the centre and work their way to the edge over about half and hour. No blind spots or colour at all.

[Bluesheep8]

I would see an optician as soon as you can op.