Hello Dom,

Thanks a ton for your response, particularly as you're an optometrist.

Fear of retinal detachment is what took me to the ER the night I
finally decided to seek medical attention.  Three different doctors
have now dilated my eyes (plus an orbit ultrasound) and so retinal
detachement definitely doesn't seem the diagnosis.

Didn't have any computerized visual field test - but since I've now
been referred beyond just the 'eye realm' to a full neurologist, I
guess it's too late to follow that avenue.

My BP has been measured a couple of times at these doctors and has
been normal if perhaps a touch high (I was obviously nervous).  Had a
cholesterol baseline test done perhaps 5-6 years ago - was a little
bit high but not so much that the doc was particularly concerned.
Standard advise of eating well and exercise.  I'm 6 foot and about 175
lbs, so am rather on the slim side although with a slight pot belly
these days.    ;-)
I've two small children, so don't get as much exercise as I used to
(used to play softball and volleyball regularly) but now am reduced to
only playing soccer once a week in the summer.

Interesting that you agree this doesn't seem to fit the classic ocular
migraine description.  From what I've read on the internet, I think a
LOT of my symptoms fit - but the strangest aspect seems to be the
strong (but not absolute) correlation to bending over being an
initiator.

I was really hoping to find someone with a similar story.

Thanks VERY much for your input.
Cheers.

The first thing I would do (as an optometrist) is make sure it's not
some type of retinal detachment. I don't think it is, but that's the
first thing I would want to exclude. So assuming your retina looks OK
the next thing I would check is a computerised visual field test which
can often shed light on unusual conditions affecting the optic nerve. If
this also shows up as being OK then I'd probably be stumped too, and I'd
refer you to a neurologist - which has already been done.

It certainly doesn't sound like a typical or classic ocular migraine,
but still it does sound likes something to do with the blood supply to
the head/brain/optic nerve/retina. You say you're healthy, does this
mean your BP, cholesterol and weight are normal and you take regular
exercise?

Dom

Hello all,

I'm experiencing some frightening symptons.  Went to the ER one night
- they referred me to an opthamologist who was stumped - and he
referred me to a specialist neural opthamologist who was stumped - and
he has now referred me to a neurologist at the Stroke Prevention
Clinic.  I'm currently awaiting that appointment.

There are quite a few details, but I'll present the typical episode I
experience.

I have never been an experiencer of migraines.  Out of the blue I'll
now  occasionally bend over to pick something up, and I'll feel a bit
of a head rush sensation.  I'll feel pressure in my eyes and get sort
of star bursts in my left eye (always the left)  Within a few moments,
my vision in that eye will go completely grey (as though looking
through a curtain - totally blind except for perhaps a brighter area
if I look directly at a strong light source.  Within 5-15 minutes,
vision slowly returns.  Initially in patchy grey scale, and eventually
colours come back and all is totally normal.  No pain through any of
this.  Left with a feeling of pressume in the eye that goes away in an
hour or two.

There are a few variations.  Sometimes I have a mild and pressure-like
headache after.  A couple of times an episode has been initiated by
adrenaline rush when I suddenly worry about something.  A few times
I've been able to straighten up or calm down quickly, and the event
doesn't progress beyond just the star bursts for a few minutes.  If
I'm helping the kids and bent over a lot....sometimes I can feel a bit
of a ache developing in my head such that I feel I might have an
episode.....and then if I've not stopped bending over, boom....I'll go
blind a few bend overs later.

Used to happen perhaps once a month beginning maybe 8 months ago.  Now
I'm having some sort of event at least every 2 weeks, and have
frequent headaches resistant to Tylenol.

Have had a blood test, a carotid artery ultrasound, and an orbit
ultrasound.  All normal.  Am otherwise healthy and a 39 year old male.

The neural opthamologis said ocular migraines were his most common
referral and this wasn't it.  Initially he said because 'bending over'
didn't make sense as an initiator.  But when I had episodes without
bending over, he changed to say that an ocular migraine's visual auro
wouldn't resolve in <20 minutes - and it can be as short as 5 miinutes
for me.

Spontaneously going blind is obviously quite terrifying and I'm very
concerned about my health and if all this could be a tumour or lead up
to a stroke.  Am doing all I can through the health system.....but 3
weeks was the quickest the Stroke Prevention Clinic could schedule me.

I'd REALLY appreciate any input from people if you think this may in
fact be an ocular migraine.  And IN PARTICLUAR I'd love any comment if
people have heard of ocular migraine's being initiated by bending
over!!

Thanks so much for any input!

Please reply to the group, or if you like my email address:
maes_REMOVE-THIS_tro77@rogers.com
Obviously remove the portion so the name reads maestro77.