Why do I have a small blind spot only on my left eye?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 26-year-old male. I noticed a small blind spot in my left eye last month. It is located approximately at x: -2.5. y: 6 on an Amsler grid. It is relatively small, just small enough to make a cursor on my screen disappear, but also close enough to the center that I constantly notice it. The spot is not black or white, but instead, it blends with the colors around it, making it hard to see. I went to the ophthalmologist two days later, who assured me that nothing was visibly wrong with my eye. He looked at my retina through dilated pupils, measured my retina thickness, looked at the optic nerve, and measured my eye pressure, which was all fine amongst other tests. After that, I immediately went to the ER and got an MRI done, which luckily also came back fine. After a couple of days, I went to an ophthalmologist at the University Hospital to get a second opinion. They once again took all the tests, looked at the MRI pictures and could not tell me what is wrong. I also have photopsia, and I see some flashes of light a couple of times a day that fade after a few seconds to minutes. I have had this for a few years at least, on and off, but definitely a lot more lately. Since then, I have been very anxious that the spot gets bigger or that new spots develop. I keep checking my eyes for new spots every couple of hours, and it is driving me nuts. It has been stable, but it is hard to know because it is not easy to compare. The doctors have no clue what it could be. Has anybody heard of such a phenomenon? I have moderate astigmatism (-5 on both eyes) in case that makes a difference.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Since you are complaining about a blind spot, we have to do eye tests (Glaucoma workup). The examination has to be done to know what it is. It includes vision, refraction, slit-lamp examination, gonioscopy, field test (Perimetry), OCT scan, and retina evaluation. You should consult a local Ophthalmologist for examination. Since retinal thickness and other scans are fine, there should not be any worries. Flashes and photopsia may be due to the following reason. There is a jelly like substance in the eye called Vitreous, and as age progresses, it starts to liquefy, and you start seeing floaters, or it also happens in high myopes or if the jelly is getting detached. You should go to an Ophthalmologist immediately if there is an increase in the number of these floaters. Or if you see flashes of light because these are the signs of retinal detachment. Get your retina checked once more.