PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for November, 1999: Re: visual disturbances

Re: visual disturbances

From: Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 28 Nov 1999 20:51:20 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: Nikki: "visual disturbances"

At Fri, 26 Nov 1999, Nikki wrote: >
>When I was pregnant with my first child, I had a strange visual
>disturbance in which I saw what would normally be described as
>"floaters," except there were many of them and they shot by really fast.
>I actually jumped out of my seat, thinking there were bugs crawling on
>the wall next to me. Next I had a strange visual sensation, like
>spinning pinwheels of light, and then a slow eclipse of my peripheral
>vision, followed by a spitting headache. I went to the doc: no high
>blood pressure or any other problems related to the pregnancy. So I
>went to the opthalmologist. She said that the viscosity of my vitreous
>humour (the fluid in the eyeball) was slightly too thin. This was
>allowing my retinas, used to a certain level of pressure to keep them
>pressed firmly to the back of they eyeball, to float ever so slightly
>away from their normal position. This can cause black spots and loss of
>peripheral vision. It can also lead to blindness if the retinas become
>detached.
>
>She told me to get immediate attention should I ever receive a blow to
>the head, in order to avoid a detached retina. She also said that as I
>age this tendency will become more pronounced. SHe seemed to discount
>pregnancy as a possible cause. I continued to have the strange,
>shooting "floaters" throughout my pregnancy, but have never had symptoms
>since, until last week (I am pregnant again.) Once again, there is no
>high blood pressure. I wonder if the changes in the eyeball which
>naturally occur during pregnancy are related to this problem. I know
>the shape of the eyeball can change during pregnancy, but the viscosity
>of the fluid? Weird.
>
>Are there women who only get migraines during pregnancy, but not at any
>other time?

Yes. I'm familiar with visual or ocular migraines in pregnancy as well as visual changes associated with changes in the cornea and possibly the lens during pregnancy but I am not familiar with changes in the vitreous humor associated with pregnancy.

--
Harvey S. Marchbein, M.D. FACOG, FACS
Great Neck, New York

**Note:  Opinions expressed here are for educational purposes only
and, as such, do not constitute a physician-patient relationship.
This information is not intended to supplant the need for you to
consult with your physician prior to choosing therapeutic options
and/or interventions.

**Private emails cannot be entertained due to time constraints,
consequently no private emails will receive a response.

**Thank you for your understanding ;-)

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In reply to: Nikki: "visual disturbances"

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