Flashes

[Tom Gardner]

Sometimes when my heart beats strongly, my vision slightly flashes black in time with the heartbeat -if that makes sense! I don't know whether its got anything to do with KC or whether its got anything to do with my blood pressure or somethig? It doesn't affect my sight at all, but only happens when my heart is beating strongly and im looking at something white. If anyone else suffers from this or has any info about it, I would appreciate it.

[Sajeev]

Hi Tom have you seen someone about this, like your GP ?...and what did they say?...The funny thing is my friend has the same sort of thng but no KC though...but for him it comes and goes out of the blue...no one knows why it happens for him!...

Anyway catch you later...

[Dave Dale]

God....not only did we do simliar a'levels and you want to study the same degree as me and work in retail as I did.....your the only person on here that I have heard describe those symtoms which I get too!

I get constant white flashes in my left eyes vision, really obvious when looking at the sky or a white wall...or white paper which I do a lot as a teacher so guess I am used to it!

I get the 'pulsing' black cloud in my vision too when I have exercised or got up quickly etc etc....had various tests on eyes etc but now waiting to a see a neurologist as another avene to explore!

Keep me informed Tom!

Dave.

[John Smith]

Very interesting

I too have suffered "visual blackouts" when standing up too quickly.

It is certainly worth mentioning, as in my case the theory went along the lines of this:

* Use of Maxidex steroid drops was causing higher eye pressure.

* High eye pressure making it more difficult to pump blood into the eye.

* On standing, the cardiovascular system has to work harder to pump blood out of the legs - where gravity tends to send it - and it takes a few seconds for the system to be strong enough to pump blood into the eye.

* I was then switched from Maxidex to FML, and lo and behold the problem largely went away!

Of course, at the time, the pressure monitor wasn't detecting high eye pressure, but the pressure rocketed a week or so later, so in my case it was an early warning of high eye pressure!

It's worked like this twice. I don't believe in coincidences!!

[Tom Gardner]

So John, were these steroid drops used to take away high eye pressure? what is high eye pressure, and is it a serious problem?
Tom

[John Smith]

Hi Tom,

No, the steroid drops had the side-effect of increasing the pressure; and it's not a good thing.

I think pressure can cause glaucoma, which if left untreated can cause blindness. That's obviously why high eye pressure is looked at very seriously...

Perhaps Lynn can expand on this without scaring everyone...?

[Lynn White]

OKay...

If you are not taking any medication of any sort, then blackouts when standing suddenly can be due to LOW blood pressure... the blood just does not get to the brain quickly enough.. I used to have this myself due to low blood pressure when I was younger.

Generally, high intra-ocular pressure is what you get with glaucoma - which can be primary -that is an eye disease in itself.. or secondary - that is caused by other means including mediations such as steroids. This does not automatically mean you get high pressure in the eyes with steroids... but it is something that is monitored just in case.

The thing about glaucoma is that it does not actually cause symptoms in the early stages. This is why we screen for it because people can have it and not know it. So, if you are actually having symptoms in the eye it probably is NOT glaucoma!!

So what is eye pressure? Well.. the eye has to maintain a certain pressure or it would collapse like a deflated balloon. So a certain amount of pressure is normal. It is maintained by the production of aqueous humour... the fluid in the front chamber of your eye behind the cornea...which drains out of the interior of the eye at the point where the inside of the cornea meets the iris.

Glaucoma can be caused by this drainage channel narrowing with age - so called "closed-angle" glaucoma. This kind of glaucoma is characterised by the pressure suddenly going very high for short periods of time. The repeated high pressure causes long term pressure to the eye. This is generally found in people of over 60...

There are herditary glaucomas and sometimes the eye cannot withstand normal pressures... so the pattern of glaucoma is quite complicated.

However, eye pressure is maintained independantly of blood pressure - so visual flashes, dark epsiodes etc and the symptoms listed on this thread are not associated with glaucoma.

Yes John, left untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness. That is why we screen - and certainly everyone over 40. When detected, it can be treated very successfully with drops that reduce the production of the aqueous fluid.

Hope this helps!

Lynn

[John Smith]

Thanks very much for the clarification, Lynn.

[Dave Dale]

Yes thanks again Lynn.

So the visual disturbances are likely to be due to Blood pressure as oppose to eye pressure?

I played football today after work and when I stood still after running about I could 'see' black 'clouds' in my left eye that pulsed in time with my heart...which was also pounding....this and a pins and needles numbness in my left hand, like cramp?

Kinda all links together I guess...maybe its a blood pressure isssue then?

Dave.

[steveg]

Tom,
I seemed to recall that I sometimes encountered this when I had my KC. It wasn't that noticeable, and I recall that if I stared at a streetlight (for example), and my KC was fairly severe, the light itself would be very 'flared', I could also get the movement in time with the heartbeat. Nothing severe, and i would have to stay still to get the effect.

I had grafts sometime ago, and it does not now occur. In fact I'd forgotten about it until your posting.