Something wrong with my eye

[RedDiamond]

Earlier today at I work I noticed a small light flash in the bottom of my left eye. I was not too bothered as I thought it could be the start of a migraine aura which I seem to have more of over the past 5 years. It did not develop into a migraine at all. Instead it has progressed to lots of brown worm like lines appearing in my eye. It has me quite worried.

Even with my eye closed, if I move my eye I can still see these lines.

Now, has anyone had this and did it pass? Should I be concerned?

this may be retinal detachment and needs to be seen urgently.

I agree with orangello, emergency appointment at the opticians.

Opticians first thing - retinal detachment needs to be ruled out

I have had it and it was a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD), you must go and get it checked, it is likely what I had but it could be a detached retina.

I will ring the optician first thing in the morning! Thank you all for your help.

I suggest you call 111 and see if there is an emergency eye clinic nearby. An optician will only refer you on so a waste of time going there first. Otherwise I would go to A&E. Detached retinas, if you have one, are serious.

Do you have private medical insurance? An optician can refer directly for you with PMI

I’ve had vitreous detachment and they told me that if I got lots of floaters (that look like worms) to go back to A&E asap.

How old are you and are you very shortsighted? This could be PVD. It's alarming, but not dangerous.

I am 60. I used to be short sighted but had laser treatment 20 years ago. As I have got older, my eyesight has changed and I now need glasses for all close up computer work and reading.

It could be PVD but if you are shortsighted, regardless of treatment, you are more prone to a retinal detachment.

I had this in November - per pp it was PVD. I actually rang 111 because I was so frightened and they advised it was fine to wait until morning (it was a Friday night and the only option was A&E, the out of hours place here doesn’t have the tech to see the back of the eye). The optician got me in as an emergency and I had to go back in six weeks to follow up. I’ve got a mass of gel floating by my optic nerve which is horrible but no retinal tear, thank god.

I’m VERY short sighted and 50, so a perfect candidate.

It is very disconcerting.

If it is a retinal detachment you'll start to lose vision starting at your periphery. PVD can lead to retinal detachment, but it usually doesn't. Just take it easy for the next couple of days and see how things progress. It only takes a couple of days for PVD to complete.

Your other eye will have PVD usually within a few months or a year of the first one, so expect that.

Mine has been going on for about a month. I’m getting fed up with it. The other has been and gone.

I have just rung 111 and they have reviewed me and said they have put a call into my surgery for a call back within 24 hours. Seems a long time to me. They also said if it gets worse to call back.

I have also just rung the opticians and left a message explaining symptoms and can they fit me in tomorrow.

I will update tomorrow with any news. Thank you all!

@IHS can I ask, are you an optometrist? I actually asked about the other eye as I had read this, and my optician said that was a bit of a myth, and it may or may not happen - maybe she was just trying to be nice though as I was quite distressed!

I’ve found the whole thing really disconcerting and have felt quite “unbalanced” at times. I find it’s worse if I’m tired, and in bright/white light.

Good luck! I hope it isn’t serious.

Are you anywhere near London? Moorfields has an eye A&E and they saw me in similar circumstances.

This this this.

Given your history, you'll probably be sent to eye casualty by the opticians (or they'll see you, then send you- and depending on if you're England or Wales/Scotland it's a chargeable appt- so you may as well cut out the middle man.

I've had a small retinal detachment about 12 years ago and more recently 2 episodes of PVD. If you don't hear from the optician first thing call them again. You need to have a detachment ruled out. In each case the optician referred my to an eye specialist at the local hospital and I was seen the same day.

That's good that it is being looked at, you might get little flashes inside your eye when in bed which is a bit disconcerting, A PVD is more common as you get older, I was 57 with mine and haven't had it in my other eye, so hopefully at worst it's that

It could be a visual migraine or a YIA in your eye, which you need to get seen about as soon as possible as it puts you at greater risk of a brain stroke in the next few days and weeks. Its probably nothing but get it seen to!

Something very similar has happened to me today and I’ve got an appointment with the optometrist for a dilation test tomorrow afternoon. Early 50s, very shortsighted (-9.0 and -7.5) and quite concerned. A friend recently had a repair to a retinal detachment which was successful but involved treatment and quite a long period of recovery. Very much hoping it doesn’t get to that.

Fingers crossed for both of us, @RedDiamond

No, I just had it happen to me. I ended up at the eye hospital the next day and the eye doctor told me it would happen to the other eye soon and, sure enough, it did. I've also read online that it happens to the other eye eventually. It's more likely to happen the higher your prescription. I got it at age 49 which he said was young, but my prescription is quite high.

It is very uncomfortable and alarming. You're often left with floaters as well.