Strange vision problem: spotting and waves

(Robert Warren) #1

Ok, I’ve not seen this discussed in the search feature.

It was my vision that got me to the doctor. I’ve always had perfect vision but it was starting to get blurry. With an H1ac of 11 it’s no wonder.

2 months into keto my eyesight is markably better.

However, three times (including yesterday) I’ve gotten spots in my vision, like when you look at a bright light. However, instead of going away in a minute like normal, the spots stay for about 10-15 minutes. Gets to where I can’t even read for the spots. Also my vision is wavy in one spot.

Very disturbing but goes away in about 10 minutes. I checked blood glucose yesterday right after it happened and it was 105, so not high or low. Blood pressure was lower than usual for, though.

Has this happened to anyway? Any idea if it’s related to keto. Low blood pressure? Electrolytes?

(Lonnie Hedley) #2

I think most replies will be about electrolytes. Especially about adding salt.

(Allie) #3

I get this kind of disturbance if I supplement calcium strangely. I don’t know any scientific reason for it, but always happens.

(Trish) #4

Sounds like classic migraine aura.

(Athena) #5

I was thinking migraine, as well. Are these spots shiny?

(Darlene Horsley) #6

It’s possible you may be experiencing vitreous floaters, clumps or strands. Generally normal eye aging but can contribute to a detached retina. You might want to consult with an eye Dr.
I experienced this pre-keto and it was detached vitreous strands that had formed a dark ring. It was like watching a ring toss game in my eye. Aggravating but cleared up in several weeks.

(Patrick) #7

Yup. I get those. Had them long before I ever heard of Keto.

(Jan) #8

I got something similar when my blood pressure started to drop on Keto. It was usually accompanied by a wave of dizziness, or even a " brownout" of my visual field. Not sure if its the same thing as you have. I’d definitely get it checked out medically.
For me, it went away each time my Dr lowered my blood pressure meds, but it also really helped to munch on some salt and drink more water.
Get this figured out. Losing vision is serious! I was legally blind for over a year before I could afford cataract surgery. Not fun…

(Robert Warren) #9

You get it IF you supplement? (As opposed to not?). I supplement magnesium and potassium, but not calcium. Wonder if that’s it.

(Robert Warren) #10

Thanks, I’ll try that. I definitely felt like my BP was low (and it was, for me). I take at least a tsp of Himalayan salt but maybe I’ll take some more.

(Allie) #11

Specifically calcium supplements, and long before keto. The big white horse pill type things.

(Sarah ) #12

Thus could be the onset in a potentially blindness causing eye problem. Probably completely unrelated to keto. But please see your eye dr immediately. Any thing with visual distortion is very serious. https://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/9/posterior-vitreous-detachment

(Sarah ) #13
(Rob) #14

Me too

(Consensus is Politics) #15

This is potentially serious. Indeed as many have said, go see an eye doctor ASAP.

I have had several of these problems in the past, before Keto. I was sitting at my desk at work, and noticed the blinds in the window looked like there were pinched. I thought that was odd. I also noticed all of the air vents in the room were pinched the same way. And then I noticed the lines of text in the book I was reading was pinched. I quickly did a self diagnostic. Covering one eye at a time to see where this effect was coming from. It was just my right eye. Sigh of relief, if both eyes were doing it I was going to freak, it wasn’t optical, but it was an optical effect.

For the next few days I paid attention to see if it was getting worse. It was always in the same place. So I printed up some 1mm graphing paper with very thin lines. And a dot right in the middle. I stared at the dot, and traced an outline around the distortion. I did this everyday. At the end of the week I could see that it was getting bigger. A very steady increase in size.

I called the eye doc in the mall. He made an appointment for me. Made room for me in fact. It was this serious. Turns out in my case it was high blood pressure. Sure enough my BP was 180/140. Been in BP meds ever sense.

There are a lot of things that can cause visual artifacts. It’s best to get these things checked out ASAP.

As for the migraine effect. That’s the only way I get migraines now. Annoying as hell. But no pain. There is what looks like a lightning bolt flashing in my eye. It’s the same shape image in both eyes. I don’t think it’s really located in the eye. It’s probably in the nerve center where vision is processed. No pain receptors there. So I see the migraine. I treat it as if it were painful. I try to relax, drink some water. Hydrate, take some electrolytes. If it goes on more than 10 minutes I’ll take some Ibproffenn, and enjoy the light show.

(Sarah ) #16

I have lost most of my center vision in one eye. I have a rare condition called idiopathic subretinal neo vascularization. Long story but the main symptom was visual distortion in one eye. Basically the drs had to form a laser scar in my eye to stop the progress of the neo vascularization, and that scar just happens to be right in my center vision. I still have this examined yearly, 25 years later, since the consequences of recurrence are potentially devastating. Retinal detachment is much more common and potentially equally devastating. Posterior-vitreous-detachment is the most likely and least likely to devastate your vision, but the problem is, there is no way to know unless you gets your eyes dilated and examined.

(Craig) #17

The transient and recurrent nature of your symptoms is concerning.

Please take note if it’s happening in just one eye or both at the same time.

Can almost rule out macular disorder as that would most likely persist, however your differential diagnosis would include conditions as innocuous as uncomplicated vitreous floaters/posterior vitreous detachment, and acephalgic migraine, to vision threatening retinal detachment, to potentially life threatening amaurosis fugax prodromal to stroke.

Please get checked by a health professional asap.

#18

Eye issues can be related to metabolic issues, and diabetes in particular. You should definitely speak to a doctor. You could even be showing symptoms of other issues related to obesity such as early stages of psoriasis, which can cause inflammation in and around the eye. Without proper consultation and checks its impossible to know.

(Robert Warren) #19

Thanks everyone, and I’m definitely going to see a doc about it.

Someone suggested an ocular migraine. I looked it up and it sounded dead on, will see what doc says. Just had an exe exam a few months ago and nothing showed up, but with a blood sugar if 269 and an H1AC of 11 I’m sure it was metabolically related. Hopefully that’s all getting better now with keto.

(Craig) #20

Hi Robert.

Often see “ocular migraine” and “visual migraine” interchanged.

Usually reserve term “ocular migraine” to describe condition where there is a transient spasm in blood vessels supplying a single eye, hence producing monocular symptoms vs “visual migraine” or “scintillating scotoma” to describe condition where there is a disturbance in an area of the brain which is processing signals from both eyes, hence causing binocular symptoms.