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Original poster

Blurred vision- GP or optician?

15 replies

ChickpeaPie · 14/09/2023 20:32

Twice in the past week I’ve had an episode of sudden blurred vision. It has lasted about half an hour each time, and I think only in one eye.
The first time it happened I’d been out for a short walk and came home, was very hot, sat looking at my phone and thought vision was blurred because I’d just gone from bright outside to darker indoors but it didn’t pass and I could barely read my phone.
Today same again, at home, had been outside picking kids up but must have been a while after we returned home. So seemingly unprovoked. Passed on its own after half an hour or so.
It’s like a large area of pixelated vision in one eye. I have no other symptoms- no headache, no pain, no confusion or dizziness.
I’m otherwise fit and well, 38 with no medical conditions. Wear glasses for driving due to astigmatism.
Worked a night shift last night but I’ve been working nights for 12 years and this is the first time it’s happened.
So my question, can anyone advise how concerned I should be, and should I see GP or optician? I can get an optician appointment tomorrow, unlikely to get into GP tomorrow unless they deem it urgent .
Thanks

OP posts:
Playdoughcaterpillar · 14/09/2023 20:33

Optician better, they have more kit to examine your eye in more detail.

TroysMammy · 14/09/2023 20:34

I've been told in the case of blurred vision, double vision, loss of vision, disturbed vision Optician

GuanYinShanxi · 14/09/2023 20:34

I agree Optician. One that can do retina scans. Ask.

Songbird74 · 14/09/2023 20:34

Optician and then, if that’s all OK, I would go to the GP. Don’t be fobbed off though - my dad experienced tinnitus, dizziness, headaches and blurred vision and he was told by his GP that it was old age, when in fact it was a (thankfully benign) brain tumour.

Namechangedforspooky · 14/09/2023 20:35

I would see your optician first if you think it’s only one eye and you don’t have other symptoms like headache
They can rule a lot of eye conditions out and send you to A&E if necessary (I work in A&E snd this happens all the time!)
it sounds very like migraine though, is it definitely only one eye? Quite common to get visual disturbance with no headache

Songbird74 · 14/09/2023 20:36

Also (sorry to add to my point above) could it be a migraine? That is how mine and my husband’s migraines are - no headaches but a complete area of vision loss / pixelated vision.

dementedpixie · 14/09/2023 20:37

Maybe an ocular migraine but without the sore head. I have had them sometimes

GuanYinShanxi · 14/09/2023 20:39

It could be any number of things including migraine, but OP needs to see an optician as soon as possible to rule out any serious causes like retinal detachment, uveitis or glaucoma.

MidnightOnceMore · 14/09/2023 20:42

Optician first (because you can get scary eye things ruled out) and then GP.

Could be a visual migraine. Read up on them and see if it fits.

nibblemonster · 14/09/2023 20:45

agree with others to see optician. That said I've had this happen when under stress, are you under any stress OP?

gamerchick · 14/09/2023 20:47

Optician for eyes.

The pixilated patch is how my migraines start though. Really irritating it is but can't do anything until it buggers off.

Original poster
ChickpeaPie · 14/09/2023 21:03

Interesting, I will read about visual migraines. I get hormone related migraines which are typical headache, eye ache, vomiting.
This was linked to no other symptoms whatsoever.
I’m always tired and a bit stressed!
I’ve made an optician appointment for tomorrow morning, seems obvious to see optician first now you’ve all said it.
Will report back

OP posts:
Cece92 · 14/09/2023 21:16

Hi OP I would say optician. I was getting this and headaches. I went to spec savers and paid and extra £10 for more detailed checks and the optician was concerned about my optic nerves. I got sent straight to the eye pavilion as they thought I had a tumour or something behind my eyes. After many hours of further checks and a really nice doctor it turns out my optic nerves were damaged more likely by a hormone (pill) related migraine I had (it was a really bad one a full weekend wasted in bed) it was after this I've had troubles with vision. Thankfully everything was okay but my eyes still blur and I came off the pill. The opticians have so much more equipment for these things so I'd definitely start there. And I do recommend the £10 test in spec savers if you can xx

Songbird74 · 18/09/2023 11:14

Hi OP, how did you get on?

Original poster
ChickpeaPie · 18/09/2023 19:44

Sorry forgot to update.
Had all the checks, no concerns. Optician said probably visual migraines like most of you suggested. Got new prescription of glasses and advised to wear them more frequently to see if symptoms settle, although I only had it twice so not like it’s frequent.
FYI, if you want the extra OCT scan then don’t go to Boots as it’s £25 compared with £10 elsewhere!

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