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Suggest Treatment For Eye Floaters
Question: A few weeks ago, I woke in a panic because I saw an intense white rectangular shape in the center of both eyes while closed and remained there for a few minutes with my eyes open. The area around that rectangle was a softer white light. I went to my optometrist who determined that the problem was not with my eyes, but suggested I see a neurologist if it happened again, and told be to take a full aspirin daily. Though the white light has not recurred, I have, on three separate occasions, woken up with spinning multicolored orbs about a quarter of an inch in diameter which i see with eyes either open or closed. They go away after a few minutes, but I am beginning to worry about what is happening.. Any thoughts? I have no other health issues.
Brief Answer:
Most probably Floaters.However,a MRI Brain may be done for evaluation.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
If you would have presented to me as an outpatient,I would have told you that the clinical description you are giving is very typical of 'Floaters' and Floaters is my provisional diagnosis ,based on history.That correlates well with your age.
With advancing age,a large number of people start having posterior vitreous detachment in eyes,resulting in floaters of different shapes and sizes.These can be seen on eyes open as well as eyes closed.
An ophthalmological evaluation for funduscopic examination is needed.Please ask your optometrist if he performed the funduscopic examination.
As per the evaluation protocol,I would also suggest you to get a MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging) of Brain done to look for evidence of ischemic events,specially in the temporal and occipital lobes. Also another simple test called the carotid doppler will be useful to assess the patency of carotid arteries that supply the brain. These are all non-invasive tests.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Most probably Floaters.However,a MRI Brain may be done for evaluation.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist,here to answer your query.
If you would have presented to me as an outpatient,I would have told you that the clinical description you are giving is very typical of 'Floaters' and Floaters is my provisional diagnosis ,based on history.That correlates well with your age.
With advancing age,a large number of people start having posterior vitreous detachment in eyes,resulting in floaters of different shapes and sizes.These can be seen on eyes open as well as eyes closed.
An ophthalmological evaluation for funduscopic examination is needed.Please ask your optometrist if he performed the funduscopic examination.
As per the evaluation protocol,I would also suggest you to get a MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging) of Brain done to look for evidence of ischemic events,specially in the temporal and occipital lobes. Also another simple test called the carotid doppler will be useful to assess the patency of carotid arteries that supply the brain. These are all non-invasive tests.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Thanks for your answer, but I am pretty sure the colored spinning orbs are not floaters. I can see them in the center of my eyes whether they are open or closed, and regardless of where I move my eyes, they go away separately after a few minutes. I do have floaters but I cannot see them with eyes closed.
My ophthalmologist did the funduscopic exam you mentioned and said he could detect some hardening of the arteries in my eyes.
Who should I see for this problem and is there any hope if hardening arteries are the cause? Thanks for your time.
My ophthalmologist did the funduscopic exam you mentioned and said he could detect some hardening of the arteries in my eyes.
Who should I see for this problem and is there any hope if hardening arteries are the cause? Thanks for your time.
Brief Answer:
Hardening arteries should not be causing it.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
I am sure you have must have discussed the possibility of floaters with your specialist.Hardening of arteries should not be a direct cause.Even your eye specialist must have told you the fact,that hardening of arteries can't result in such symptoms.
However,the possibility of ischemic events in brain should not be negated and must be evaluated for.So,you must undergo a MRI Brain and if ischemia is detected,we can go on further evaluation like Lipid profile and carotid doppler.
Blood sugar and Blood pressure must be screened at this point as Diabetes and Hypertension are the common cause of hardening of arteries.
If Ophthalmologist has no issues,next specialist in the line is obviously a Neurologist.You may visit one for a formal neurological examination.However,at this point MRI Brain should be the next investigation to plan.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Hardening arteries should not be causing it.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
I am sure you have must have discussed the possibility of floaters with your specialist.Hardening of arteries should not be a direct cause.Even your eye specialist must have told you the fact,that hardening of arteries can't result in such symptoms.
However,the possibility of ischemic events in brain should not be negated and must be evaluated for.So,you must undergo a MRI Brain and if ischemia is detected,we can go on further evaluation like Lipid profile and carotid doppler.
Blood sugar and Blood pressure must be screened at this point as Diabetes and Hypertension are the common cause of hardening of arteries.
If Ophthalmologist has no issues,next specialist in the line is obviously a Neurologist.You may visit one for a formal neurological examination.However,at this point MRI Brain should be the next investigation to plan.
Hope that I have answered your query.If you have some follow up questions,I shall be glad to answer else,please close the thread-rate it and write a review as your rating will be of help to me.
Regards
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
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