Optician Nightmare.

[UnknownLad94]

Hello all,

I've had some headaches and flashes in my left eye for about 3 weeks, I went to my opticians who said my optic nerve in my left eye is blurred on the scan.

She said she believes it's neurological and she would send a letter to my GP for a 2 week referral.

She wants me to have a Lumbar puncture and MRI.

I've spoken to my opticians today, who have said they've sent it straight to the hospital and bypassed my GP.

Does anyone know what all of this could mean?

Thanks,

Neurological issues usually cause swelling of both the optic nerves. Are you sure that it was just one?

If it is just one eye, then there are quite a few potential causes. I would call and ask to speak to the optometrist you saw and ask them.

Yes it's just my left eye, my optician won't speculate sadly.

It's just causing me hugs stress.

I can imagine.

I would be guessing, but as I said it’s less likely to be neurological if it’s only in one eye.,

hope you get seen quickly.

Thanks, hoping it's soon the symptoms are very wacky!

I don't want to panic you, but when I had flashes it turned out to be a partially detached retina. Do you have an Eye Hospital A&E that you can get to?

I'm a bit surprised you weren't referred more urgently to eye A&E (or whatever you have locally). It might not be anything serious but I'd expect them to be ruling out a detached retina, etc.
Are you still seeing flashes? If you are, I would call your nearest eye hospital /clinic and see what they think.

I have been referred to Opthalmology I have an appointment this Thursday.

There's no eye hospital local to me sadly.

It sounds like they think it cd be idiopathic intercranial hypertension - based on fact they are suggesting lumbar puncture and MRI. When I had this though the pressure behind my eyes was high from the scans and i got sent with a red topped letter to A&E (and not allowed out until they had riled out brain tumour and confirmed IIH).

so i think if the referral was done in a less urgent way then that is a positive. if you get a worsening of symptoms though then go to A&E

Thanks everyone,

I have an appointment on Thursday to see an Opthalmologist and i will go from there.

Best of luck for Thursday. I think it’s unfair they won’t give you an inkling of what they’re suspecting. That would make my health anxiety SO bad x

Thank you, i phoned them today to enquire and they said it's an initial consultation they'll give me further info after the scans etc on Thursday.

Very stressed and very worried.

That’s very unlikely if it’s only one eye.

OP I hope it goes okay tomorrow..

Thanks everyone for your comments, I know i probably shouldn't ask but what does everyone think it could be?

Thanks,

optic neuritis?

Just finished at the Opthalmologist who's told me, there's nothing wrong with my eyes and to go on my way.

Did they notice the issue? Or no issue at all! Phew!! Sorry you’ve had the worry!

They didn't notice the issue, they said there's nothing there.

Confused!

Update ; Spoke to my optician who told me to go to A&E so i did, i was sent to Eye Casualty who did endless tests and scans and YES they found the blurring but it's been put down to "It's just there"

I was then referred to the Neurological ward who told me it's a Migraine.

Don't feel like anything has been achieved at all, feel completely fed up.

They didn't offer any brain scans.

That's reassuring that nothing terrible was found. I have had flashing in my left eye for about a year but haven't got round to going to the opticians about it

@UnknownLad94 I'm really glad that everything was okay.
As I said before, neurological conditions cause swellings in both discs - which is why they wouldn't scan, unless there were other indications.

How old are you?
Is the vision affected in your eye with the blurred disc? (Could you still see the bottom line of the chart with your glasses on).
Did they say if the discs was blurred all the way round, or just in one bit?
If you look at something red, close one eye and then the other, does it look significantly different? (Most people notice a slight difference).

Hi i am 29.

My left eye has the disc blur but my right eye vision is worse.
I could see the bottom line
They said it's blurred all the way around
Yes it does look significantly different.

Great. Can you describe what the difference is when you look at red through each eye.

did anyone do a visual field test? (You look into a bowl shaped machine and press a button each time you see a light flash).

It's very blurry.

Yes i did complete one of those tests at Specsavers and they said i failed in 1 eye and passed with the other.

Did they at any point mention ideopathic intracranial hypertension? (IIH). That presents with headaches and swollen optic discs (the blurring) but I agree it would usually be both eyes.
But as you've been seen I think best to just see how you go with headaches and if they persist, get seen again. It's not anything to worry about unless you had really significant symptoms.

Sorry to jump in. I failed the field test in December 2018 during a massive health anxiety panic. I had an ‘extra blind spot’ bottom left of left eye. Back of eye exam was ok. They offered me a referral but I never went back for fear of bad news.

Never been back since….!