Sudden eye issue

[Medievalist]

I was sat at my pc this afternoon. And suddenly started seeing flashes of light around the outside of my left eye.

An hour or so later I had a dark vertical line across the field of vision in the same eye. I've now got literally hundreds of tiny bubble like floaters in the same eye, about 3 or 4 bigger black ones that look like small flies, and a squiggly one like a fine thread scrunched up.

I've had what I thought was the odd floater before. But there are so many of these and they look like they're about 4 or 5 feet in front of me.

I've got an appointment at the optician in the morning. But I wondered if anyone had any idea what might have caused this. Feeling quite freaked out!

Hope you get seen ASAP.

Are you in Scotland or England / Wales? I ask because if you attend A&E in Scotland for this they will just tell you to see the optician in the morning (I am a Scottish optometrist so I know the system well).

Elsewhere they should be able to get you seen by the on call ophthalmologist tonight.

England Princess. But still very sceptical that anyone will do anything this evening.

I’m glad you’re getting seen. It definitely needs checking ASAP for a detached retina, however not sure if this might make you feel better but I had exactly the same symptoms a few weeks ago (I’m -9.50 short sighted both eyes, lattice degeneration retina issues etc so at high risk for issues) and was checked out and they said I’d had a posterior vitreous detachment - which is where the jelly in the eye basically sinks down away from the retina. The flashing lights are the jelly tugging on the retina. I was left with a huge floater (and I have tons already) which is super annoying but thankfully my retina has been fine. Fingers crossed anyway - I’m still nervous about it now!

Everything crossed for you that you get seen soon and sorted out.

posterior vitreous detachment is what causes the flashing lights - the danger is that as it detaches, it can pull the retina, and either tear it or detach it. You can then get blood and/or bits of vitreous that can cause shadows and floaters. I had clouds of black at times, and after that, it was more salt and pepper type floaters - thousands of tiny dots, some black, some clear with a black outline, especially when I looked at anything light (or a blue sky).

They treated me the day I went in - though they hadn't been able to find the tear at first and were going to leave it, but I knew the risks were much higher if they left it, so I kept pressing, and once they found it, they said yes, urgent treatment was necessary (laser).

Hope all goes well OP

If they do find a tear push for laser ASAP. I had to go the operation route as had a full central macular detachment. The surgery was easy, did it awake, removed all the vitreous fluid and used surgery and stitches to reattach the retina, then put in a replacement lens and a gas bubble to replace the vitreous fluid.

Then came 3 days of having to stay in a facedown position, only allowed to get up for a maximum of 10 minutes in every hour, that was uncomfortable. I had 3 incisions in my eye with a stitch in each which was again uncomfortable when blinking. But most importantly I lost a significant amount of visual acuity and central vision, my visual acuity in that eye even with glasses on is 6/48 which basically means that with that eye I can see from 6 metres what someone with normal vision can see from 48 metres away. It's all a bit crap really and the idea that if I'd have had it fixed earlier it might not be so bad is really frustrating.

How are you doing @Medievalist?

Two here 20 years apart, 3 in one op 18 months ago, replaced first lens put in 20 years ago, fixed retina(again) removed vitreous jelly air bubble for me as only one eye, I really your ok hugs.

Still waiting to be seen. I've been triaged but they obviously think I'm low priority as people who came in after me have been seen and gone 🤷‍♀️. Feels a bit pointless sitting here to be honest as I can't believe anyone will do anything tonight and I have an optician appoint at 9am.

Hope it isn't too long

The optician will probably send you to a&e with those symptoms. I’d wait it out now that you’re there! Hope you’re ok

Hi, hope you get seen soon. Are the bubbles like black dots? I've had a detached retina and a large tear. It's worth waiting, your optician may well tell you to got A&E anyway.
I rang 111, who told me to go to A&E ASAP but then waited for ages into the early hours but so worth it as had surgery and had I not had op could have lost my sight.
I know its a pain but it's absolutely worth the wait. I have low vision in my eye since this but would take that over no vision any day x

A similar thing happened to me a couple of years ago. I rang the Opticians and was seen the next day. Many tests later it turned out to be
posterior vitreous detachment
Not really harmful and something I now live with.

@Medievalist

Still waiting to be seen. I've been triaged but they obviously think I'm low priority as people who came in after me have been seen and gone 🤷‍♀️. Feels a bit pointless sitting here to be honest as I can't believe anyone will do anything tonight and I have an optician appoint at 9am.

The thing is if you wait until the optician sees you they’ll probably send you to A and E anyway as if you do need surgery or laser treatment that’s where you’ll need to be. So you will be better to wait where you are and get seen now you’re in the system. Otherwise potentially you’ll have two lots of dilating drops in tomorrow - at the opticians and then A and E, hours faffing around and if you do need treatment you’ll have a delay.

@Medievalist

I have an opticians appointment at 9am. If I go to A and E now, are they likely to do anything this evening?

DH had a particularly bad detachment and the eye surgeons at our local large teaching hospital debated bussing him to the neighbouring large teaching hospital 50 miles away in an ambulance for surgery that night. In the end, they admitted him and positioned on one side to ease the pull on his retina (gravity plays its part once a detachment gets going) and operated the next morning.

I had this a few weeks ago and felt like a fraud sitting in A+E but all the doctors told me I'd done the right thing.

The optician in the morning won’t be able to do anything either - especially if it’s a detached retina. There will be an eye specialist on call, but eye emergencies can be slow sometimes unfortunately

Nope. Still waiting ...

Hang in there 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐🤗

It is important that you get seen and checked over before leaving A&E. If it is a detachment, they’ll be looking to plan in your surgery or treatment. If you leave now, you’ll be doing the same tomorrow morning after your optician directs you to A&E.

Hope you get either treatment or reassurance soon

Ugh, poor you. I've twice had retinal tears that presented like this. Flashing lights, black swirls and millions of floaters like looking through sand. First time I went to a v weird and rude optician who couldn't really see anything wrong and said the NHS had more important things to deal with than my possible detached retina . At my insistence she sent her report to the hospital (by fax, not urgent enough to phone or email, apparently ) I went home and was making lunch when a consultant phoned and said to come in to the eye clinic immediately. To not even stop to eat my sarnie! He was livid with the optician and put in a complaint about her. He couldn't get over the fact that she'd sent a fax because "Noone sends faxes any more. It could have sat on the fax machine for days"!! Anyway I hope it all turns out ok for you. I feel your pain. I spent many an hour in the emergency eye clinic, once till late into the night with both my DC when I couldn't get childcare!