Vision Issues - Phosphene, Floater, Eye Muscles?

[AnxiousinUSA]

Hi All -

Anxiety sufferer for a few years now; came on after a drug reaction.

I've had vision issues over the years mainly starbursts, floaters, dry eye, and red eyes as well as afterimages and some light sensitivity. Recently, a new issue has appeared. I've had it checked out by a retina specialist who determined there was nothing physically wrong that he could see.

I'm getting a streak, almost looks like a big long floater, in the upper corner of my vision in one eye; only lasts a second and is brought on by eye movement, not in the dark but against a solid background. At first i only noticed it when moving my eyes a certain way and looking up at the sky. I'm now starting to see it more frequently. It sounds like a 'flasher' but it only lasts a second and isn't like a camera flash taking up my vision as described online. It's either black or silver depending on the background of what i'm looking at. I only also notice it against blank surfaces like the ceiling, blank wall, or sky. It's really annoying when working on the computer because it flashes every time i move my eyes up from the screen. Has anyone had anything similar? Really hoping this passes but it has been there for a few weeks. It's also causing some crazy anxiety.

I guess i'm wondering if this could be a pressure phosphene, flasher leading to retinal detachment, something with the optic nerve, MS, etc. My mind runs wild! I have noticed a lot of eyestrain and red eyes, but i think it is because i'm driving myself crazy trying to duplicate the flash in hopes it will go away. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[thekinginthenorth]

What drug caused this for you? I'm on the same boat, but I've noticed that my vision gets better if I pay less attention to the visual disturbances. Have you tried any medication or therapy?

[elysemarie123]

I experience floaters as well -- quite the pain because once you see them, it's really hard to "unsee" them.

I started really paying attention to my eyes when I had an occular migraine a few years ago. I've had occular migraines my entire life, but for some reason this particular one scared me. I've noticed a lot of floaters that are lines, circles (some clear, some dark) and other weird things our eyes do. For example, when you are looking at something lighter (like a computer screen, light wall, or even the sky) they are MUCH more visible and quite distracting. I've come to get used to them when I went to my opthamologist and she said she could see the floaters in my eyes, knew they were annoying, but were absolutely no danger to me whatsoever. I would trust your physician and remember that if there was something wrong, you would definitely know.

I hope this helps!