So, many months ago, I suddenly noticed that if I…focused my vision the right way, I guess…I can usually see what I’ve come to refer to as a spinner. I don’t know quite how to describe it.
Imagine the faint shadow of a ceiling fan occupying a small portion of your field of vision. It moves when I move my eyes, although I haven’t figured out which eye is generating it. And I can see it with my eyes opened or closed. I mentioned it to my eye doctor during my last eye exam, which was back in December. His reaction gave me the impression that he thought I was imagining it – he dismissed it pretty quickly, telling me to avoid straining my eyes. Not terribly helpful.
Anyway, I’m assuming it’s nothing major as he didn’t find anything amiss during the exam, and it hasn’t changed in any way since I first noticed it. But I’m wondering if my description means anything to anyone else out there.
I will occasionally see a sort of pulsing or oscillation at the extremes of my field of vision when I’m I or my eyes are very tired. I’ve never attributed it to anything but that: exhaustion.
From your doctor’s reaction, it sounds like it could more specifically be eye strain, though.
As far as I can tell, it doesn’t have anything to do with my physical state at the time. There really isn’t a time when I’m unable to see it if it occurs to me. And the fact that it’s spinning is what is so weird to me.
Sounds like floaters to me. I had these all thru my childhood and well into adulthood. Mine looked like tiny kaleidoscope images that moved every time I tried to look at them. Floaters are benign and usually go away as you age.
Sounds like it might be a “floater.” There are different reasons for seeing them. Some need to be treated. You might want to see an ophthalmologist if you’re concerned. They specialize in diseases of the eye and can give you a more extensive check-up.
It sounds like floaters, but floaters are not usually described as spinning like ceiling fans. They look more like a stray piece of confetti floating down your field of vision. I have a couple that my brain mostly ignores.
Is it always there? Does it ever change in size? Another phenomenon is the *retinal * or ocular *migraine *. In this case you get a shimmering sliver which also stays in one position in your field of vision (you can never look directly at it). I get these too. It usually looks like a zig-zaggy crescent of shimmering colors that grows. But they typically only last a few minutes, and don’t happen very often. They are sometimes associated with migraine headaches. So if you have yours all the time, this isn’t it.
The eye doctor’s first reaction was “floater” as well, but he seemed perplexed by the spinning.
And yes, it’s always there, although I’m usually not conscious of it. I’m prepared to believe, thanks to the gentle suggestion of family and friends over the years, that I’m just insane.
