Posterior vitreous detachment

[htmb]

Of the many interesting things I experienced during my trip to France, one was not so pleasant and resulted in much anxiety during my last ten days. I woke up one morning to find I was seeing dark curved lines, similar to thick hairs, off to the outside of my right eye. The lines moved as I turned my eye in the same way as floaters, but the thickness and size were a bit disconcerting. I had experienced a problem with my contact lens the night before, so I assumed I'd temporarily damaged my cornea in some way. I expected it would heal quickly.

That was the day I went on a train trip outside Paris. It was one of those bright and sunny days, so the lines and squiggles were even more obvious to me throughout the day. Oddly enough, looking through my camera lens gave me relief from the annoyance because the lines seemed to disappear as long as my viewfinder was up to my eye.

I was really surprised when there was no improvement after a couple of days. In fact, the situation seemed to be getting worse. More lines seemed to be appearing, but now I was also seeing them through the inner part of my vision. It was as if they were encircling the outside of my pupil. I had done some research and had found this situation could be nothing much. It could also be a sign of a retinal tear or the beginning of a retinal detachment. If that was the case, and the eye was not treated immediately, there could be a permanent loss of vision in the eye.

So, I did what I normally do. I tried ignoring the situation, thinking my imagination was running rampant and that the eye would heal. I didn't dare call my eye doctor back in Florida because I knew he'd tell me to seek immediate treatment. I just thought it would get better on its own. In reality, the lines and squiggles were getting worse.

[htmb]

Mind you, my eye didn't hurt at all after the temporary irritation to my cornea cleared up, and I couldn't see anything if I looked at my eye in the mirror. Staying inside, in a darker environment, took away the annoyance, this helping alleviate some of the anxiety, but I knew I should really have the situation evaluated. So I got cleaned up and went about as far as I could get from my apartment, into an unfamiliar environment, out to Parc Floral.

I actually walked through the Chatêau de Vincennes, randomly snapping photos, but not really concentrating on what I was doing. As I walked, I realized even more lines were evident. Now I was seeing them through the upper part of my eye, as well. Looking through my right eye was beginning to seem like seeing through a cracked egg shell.






So instead of going back, I went even farther out, crossing the wide expanse of concrete beyond the chateau and walking another mile to the entrance of the park. I paid the entrance fee and walked into the park, also noting it was beginning to rain, and hearing what might have been thunder in the distance.

[htmb]

I tried concentrating on the park and taking photos of the geese and the beautiful flowers, all the while coming to the realization I was going to have to do more than just ignore what was obviously becoming a bit of a problem. I really didn't think my retina was becoming detached, but if it was and I wasted time not dealing with the situation, I was going to be in big time, long term trouble.

I actually took what I think is one of my best photos ever while pondering these thoughts.



And took this photo of the magnolia with the marauding bees.



The lines you can see on one of the petals reminded me of what I was experiencing in my eye.

Now with real panic setting in, and a firm resolve to seek medical attention, I walked back to the metro stop and rode back to my apartment. All the while I was thinking through a course of action.

[htmb]

Getting back to my apartment, I looked through a book listing all sorts of important phone numbers. I figured calling SOS Medcine, doctors who make house calls, would not be very effective since I needed an ophthalmologist, not a general practitioner. Also, since it was now Saturday afternoon, I was going to have to find some sort of emergency care facility. It appeared to me the hospital across from Notre Dame was the closest to me. I sent a PM to Kerouac, who happened to be online, and he confirmed my thoughts while also sending me a link to the hospital's Ophthalmology Clinic. As it turned out, the clinic was one of the best places I could have gone for emergency eye care in all of Paris.

[htmb]

After much confusion on my part about where to enter the after hours clinic I was directed to the main entrance of the hospital across from Notre Dame.






The very kind after-hours security guard directed me up a flight of stairs and down a long hallway towards the clinic.



The approximately twenty patients in the reception area were sitting quietly, waiting for their turn to see the doctor. I checked in with the receptionist, presented her with my passport and local address, and also handed her my cell phone to read the translation I had made of the symptoms I was experiencing. A sign on the counter listed two hours as the estimated waiting time, and that turned out to be fairly accurate.

[htmb]

Sitting in that waiting room for two hours, observing the activity around me, I went through several stages in my mind, first thinking, "Oh, I've only scratched my cornea and this is nothing," to ending with, "Well, I suppose I will soon be having surgery performed in a French hospital by a French doctor of whom I know nothing, but so be it." I'd pretty much resigned myself to it when the doctor came out and called my name. Also, the little bit of the French I do know had gone completely out of my head, so I was extremely relieved we he said, "Yes, we can speak English."

The doctor, who was also assisted by a young, medical student type of fellow, explained all the things I already knew as far as a possible diagnosis, then proceeded to examine my eye. He spoke to the assistant in very rapid French which I absolutely could not follow. He also made copious notes on my file, then put drops in my eye and sent me out to the waiting room to wait for my eye to dilate.

With the eye dilated, there was more rapid French and lots words that seemed to indicate an apparent revelation of something obvious. Then more writing in long-handed script, of which I also could not read, and an examination by the assistant. I was literally clueless at this point. The doctor needed to step out of the room to check in another patient and, after telling me he would be back to discuss my problem, he finally, as a kind of aside before exiting the door, said I was not in any immediate danger.

[htmb]

The French doctor confirmed that I had a posterior vitreous detachment and my vitreous was pulling away from the retina, but I did not have a retinal tear or detachment, and my optic nerve was fine. To say this was a relief was an understatement. He explained that what I was seeing were actually shadows cast by the vitreous strands and that I should return immediately if the situation changed further. Apparently, there is a two to three week period of time in which a detachment could follow the symptoms I was experiencing.

All this was confirmed by my own ophthalmologist who I saw about ten days later. My guy also said new fluid should begin to fill in and many of the lines and squiggles should begin to disappear. I saw the doctor in Paris on 5 July, and my obvious symptoms have remained the same - annoying as hell, I have to say. However, this morning I detect a little decrease in the pattern. I'm no longer seeing a shadow on the inner part of my eye, and I think the outer edge has diminished slightly, too. The upper, and last, pattern is still very obvious, but I'm hopeful this thing will gradually heal itself.

[Deleted]

htmb, I am so sorry and I'm glad that things seem to be healing. Thank goodness it turned out to be nothing too serious. But of course, you should get a spanking for ignoring the warning signs for so long, because if it had been the retina, etc., etc. However, it seems that there was nothing much that could be done, so the delay in care wasn't an issue. And you got to experience French health care, so that's a plus.

The sequence of posts with pictures had a mysterious quality to it which added to the drama, but I was so wanting those lines to show up in the photos. Maybe we could Photoshop them in!

[bjd]

Glad to hear that your eye is improving even though it did make for some really nice flower photos.

[tod2]

That is great news. You did the right thing in going to a hospital. I wish we had during the early symptoms of my husbands sore ear. He was lucky the anti-biotics I had brought did the trick. I wish he had complained more!!

[Deleted]

Although I have only used an emergency room myself once in my life, I have accompanied my mother enough times (after falling down most of the time -- obligatory procedure for nursing homes) to admire their efficiency.

[htmb]

I can certainly vouch for the efficiency of the staff in regards to my experience. Plus, I saw a specialist in a specialized clinic. That would not have been the case had I gone to an emergency room in the U.S.

[fumobici]

Yikes, scary. Get better fast.

[htmb]

Jul 24, 2014 13:59:38 GMT @lizzyfaire said:

The sequence of posts with pictures had a mysterious quality to it which added to the drama, but I was so wanting those lines to show up in the photos. Maybe we could Photoshop them in!

If I'm looking through the viewfinder of my camera I don't see the lines, but here's a simplified version of what I see when I'm looking straight on at something.




The line on the left is the one that has now disappeared. I'm confident the eye will continue to get better. Either that or I'm going to have to walk around with my camera to my face more often than usual. I return to the doctor in a couple of weeks.

[Deleted]

Wow, frightening!! I hope it remedies itself soon, soon.

About a month ago I had an episode where my vision became so blurry I could barely see. No reading spectacles, eye drops etc. helped..
I suspected that it was a side effect of a new medication I was taking and after a visit to an ophthalmologist, he confirmed my suspicion.
I immediately stopped taking it and my vision went back to normal.

[htmb]

Totally scary, too, Casimira. Good thinking, linking the vision charge to the medication!

[mossie]

A very frightening scenario, sight is very important. Glad it is getting better, but let that be a lesson, do not "hope things will get better" and sit back and do nothing.

[htmb]

Well, Mossie, I suppose you are right, but it doesn't mean I will always follow that directive. It turned out not to be a big problem, though it is still a terrible annoyance. Looking directly at my computer screen, as I am doing right now, is not problematic. However, reading a book is a real bi#ch, unless I hold the book directly out in front of my face, rather than looking slightly down. That's one of the reasons I have been watching so many films on the small screen. I cannot concentrate on reading a book for very long, and I am concerned that the upper spot/shadow is not going to heal. If it doesn't then the only option is a very risky surgery that I will most likely not choose.

[DianeMP]

Wow, this is a good lesson for those of us who are stoic about physical symptoms! I did read somewhere that doctors are of the opinion that "most symptoms go away without treatment," keeping in mind that "most symptoms" aren't serious to begin with, so I've kind of lived by that principle and it's almost always proven right for me. But, my knee is one thing, my eyes are another! I once had the s___t scared out of me by sudden crescent-shaped flashes of light on the outer edge of my vision. I only noticed it at night. I sped to the doctor the next morning and it was only the vitreous gel pulling on the retina, thus letting in a flash of light. Not a detaching retina, just aging eyes drying up! So, it sounds similar to your problem, htmb (but I say that without actually looking it up - lol!).  The outcome was a huge increase in floaters, just part of that process. Big, whale-like things way more annoying than my previous dim floaters. But, just as the doc said, they have gradually broken up into smaller, translucent pieces. Tolerable.

Htmb, your illustration looks scary, I do hope those all fade away in time!

[htmb]

Thank you, Diane. Yes, your situation sounds very similar to mine, though I never had the light flashes. My eye continues to clear, but it's very slow going. More annoying than anything though, thank goodness.

[DianeMP]

As I recall, mine subsided very gradually over a couple of years. Recently, I noticed with pleasure that I was able to look at snow without being reminded of the annoyance. I still have the "whales," and as I type on this white form they're happily floating back and forth, but they aren't the first thing I see, anymore. I don't even recall exactly how bad they were. I guess it's been part resolution and part adaptation, whatever it is I'll take it! So, I think you will have the same experience.

[htmb]

Oh, I'm not happy to hear it takes awhile to get better!!! A lot of my blobs have cleared up, but the one in the upper part of my eye is so big I even see it when my eyelid is closed (if my surroundings are in light).

Is your affected eye the one you use to look through a camera viewfinder? I'm just wondering if you've had a similar experience to mine. I don't see the spots when my camera is up to my eye.

[mossie]

Pleased to hear your eyes are improving.

[htmb]

Thank you, Mossie.

[htmb]

The appointment today to recheck my eye went well. The doctor is still a little concerned about one spot, so I will return for another exam in early October.

[Deleted]

Great news!

[tod2]

Our eyesight is always more of a concern than our hearing which is how it should be.
I am holding thumbs that it is nothing serious and will soon be back to normal!

[htmb]

Thank you. I'm sure it will be fine.

[htmb]

I had always assumed I'd experience a similar problem with my other eye since that's usually the case, but never dreamed it would be exactly a year later, or that I would once again be in Paris.

After waking up one morning and seeing lots of tiny spots and little light flashes, and then much dithering around, I returned to the Hôtel Dieu where I now have my own file. Most fortunately, I reached the opthamology emergency clinic on a very slow afternoon. The good doctors checked out my left eye, teased me in good fun about how my French had not improved rapidly enough since my last visit, and pronounced me fit to fly.

Had I needed immediate laser surgery to repair a tear or retinal detachment I would not have been able to fly home for a minimum of six weeks. Since I didn't really want to leave Paris anyway, for just a brief second, I was just a tiny bit disappointed.

[bjd]

I do hope you don't start making this an annual event! Maybe you have the viewfinder against your eye too often in Paris?