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retinopathy effect? really disturbing

T

the_anticarb

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Wondering if anyone can help on this. I had uncontrolled diabetes for many years, finally woke up and smelt the coffee after I started to get background retinopathy and now is much better controlled although I've been told not to tighten up my control too much too soon as it can make things worse so I'm tightening up gradually. anyway, I saw the eye doc recently and he said it is only at the pre proliferative stage and no laser required, and things should improve if I keep it under control. He's discharged me to my GP so that's good news. Only problem is, in the morning I have this flashy visual effect, it;s like a strobe light in my head with everything flickering. Lasts around 15-20 minutes and is really scary also makes it difficult to do any of the morning things you do, like make a cup of tea. Then it goes away. When I spoke to the doc he said it could be linked to the retinopathy as my retina is trying to 'wake up' in the morning and pumping lots of blood as the retinopathy has affected the blood supply to the retina which could account for it. But he wasn't sure. I know people cannot diagnose on this site but has anyone heard of this, or had it happen to them? It's quite disturbing and is happening most mornings, really freaks me out. It's been happening the past couple of months or so.

Thanks

Gina
 
I was told that it is a sign of a detached retina, or detaching retina. But I hasten to add I'm not an eye Doctor or Opticain its just something I remember from a first aid course some years ago.
 
Hiya, thanks for replying really don't think it is that as I saw the doctor a week ago and he had a good look in my eyes so surely would have seen that? He said not to worry about it, but it's not him who's trying to get up in the morning with a strobe light in his head, is it? Sometimes I think that there's a lot the doctors don't know and they are just guessing, especially if it is something unusual.
 
Bloody hell
If its not opthamological then your GP needs to take any sign of visual disturbance seriously.
Get back to your GP and make sure you are referred to someone who knows what they are doing :evil:
 
Hi lillibet

That was the consultant opthalmologist! So if he doesn't know what he's doing, god help us all. I reckon if it persists I will go back to him, just that I don't trust doctors to know everything, my brother had a stroke at the age of 17 and it completely flummoxed all the doctors, they had no idea why it had happened or if he'd get better, and ever since then I've not been too confident in the medical profession. Just was hoping if someone else had had what I have with the flickering, then it may confirm (or not) that it is linked to the diabetes, not sure which is worse or better to be honest, if it is linked to it or if it isn't! Thanks

Gina
 
Hi,

I have suffered something similar for many years now - distorted vision, chevrons, usually green flashing lights - it is very debilitating. My GP at the time said it was a form of migraine - only without the thumping headache. I don't get it every day, possibly 3 or 4 times a month, and I have to either sit or lay down til it passes, usually 10 - 20 minutes.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, I have just phoned my GP and spoken to the duty doctor, she has booked me in to see my GP so hopefully will get some more answers then as no one seems to know what this is, I don't get a headache with it so don't think it is a migraine.
 
Hi anticarb.
I've suffered from Migraine almost all my life. I used to get agonising headaches, now, since menopause, I still get the visual disturbances, but without the pain. Sometimes, I still get the nausea though.
 
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