Strange vision problem: spotting and waves

[Robert_Johnson]

When I would get mine, friends, family, coworkers all would say, “what’s wrong Bob, you got that look. Migraine again?” And they’d tell me to go lie down. Take it easy, take the rest of the day off. I’d tell ‘me “all good, just gonna lean back here with my eyes closed and enjoy the light show”. There was never any pain with it. Just lots of pretty flashing lights.

Although, I had to pull over on I-95 because it was effecting my vision enough that I couldn’t see the side of the road. A minute after pulling over I was effectively blind for about 5 minutes. That was a few years ago. Never really had them since.

[Sprocket]

Bob,

Yeah, that sounds like what I’m experiencing. The thing I read about them said to pull over if driving since it can block your vision (I hate it when it happens while reading, have to read one letter at a time). And I do get kind of spacey and tired afterwards (which made me wonder if it was a low blood pressure thing… not usually a problem with me). Good thing is from what I read it is not a serious issue, but I will still ask my doc about it.

[Sprocket]

“scintillating scotoma”

Yup, that’s what it is, I’m sure of it. This is what it looks like:

This shows it better:

[Craig]

scintillating scotoma

Think so. See my original post.

Strange vision problem: spotting and waves

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. Pleas…

Acephalgic migraine, where you experience the classic migraine aura/scintillating scotoma, without the headache phase.

Still recommend that you get it checked out to definitively rule out the other nasties.

[Mark_Medrano]

I had this same experience today. This is my 3rd day on Keto and mine was a bright flashing colorful light in the top right hand corner of my vision. It was in both eyes wether I closed one or the other. It went away in 30 minutes but was very scary. After it went away I experienced a light headache that went away with Advil. Don’t know what is going on but I hope I’m okay.

[Bubby1]

This same thing happened to me once when I cut out salt completely. My vision was all blurry. Just include more salt to your diet

[KetoSnaps]

If you’re diabetic, a fast reduction in HbA1c (due to improved blood glucose control) may initially cause a rapid deterioration in retinopathy, which will adversely affect eyesight.

I’d say that any vision problems need to be checked out as a matter of urgency.

[BJennif]

I have had this and was seen by my eye doctor and was told it was an ocular migraine. They last about 30 minutes and you should rest your eyes during and you could have a headache after. Stress or dehydration could trigger, I have not found any trigger myself but dehydration could play a role. Harmless - nothing to worry about but definitely freaky.

[Prancing_Pony]

My husband, who is not keto, gets that with ocular migraines. I only experienced it once when I was tired and a little dehydrated. He suggested I do what he does and eat a jelly baby (small amount of glucose). I was so freaked out that I tried it and literally 3 minutes later the visual disturbance disappeared. Probably not a suggestion I should give on a keto forum but it works for him and stopped the one and only time it happened to me.

Retinal migraine