Seeing small dots/circles in bright light in one eye

[jdthoosier]

The weekend before Thanksgiving I started experiencing in my one eye an irregular pattern of small dark dots or small circles that looks sort of like a small faded raindrop. It's only noticeable in very bright light or against a white/bright background. It's more annoying than anything, it's like a few fruit flies in my view or a slightly dirty lens. In dim lightning or against a dark background, it's not noticeable at all.

I went to my ophthalmologist earlier this week and after a thorough exam he stated everything looked fine, and that it was likely age-related, the gel moving around some. The funny thing is, after my eyes were dilated at this early morning appointment, I did not see these dots at all the remainder of the day, even in bright light conditions. It feels like the condition has to do with dilation due to the lighting conditions.

I'm nearly 63, and did have cataract surgery about 12 years ago. I've been on TRT for just over 6 years. I've been on low-does Cialis (2.5mg) for about 18 months. Also taking low-dose Amlopodine for blood pressure.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

 

[DorianGray]

"...I went to my ophthalmologist earlier this week and after a thorough exam he stated everything looked fine, and that it was likely age-related, the gel moving around some..."

This is a doctor that can't make a diagnosis. He says "it" was age-related. Well then, what is "it". What aspect of ageing produces the symptom the patient describes? My advice is get a second opinion.

 

[Vince]

Spots, Dots, and Floaters: Seeing What’s Inside Your Eyes – HealthGuidance.org

www.healthguidance.org

 

[jdthoosier]

Spots, Dots, and Floaters: Seeing What’s Inside Your Eyes – HealthGuidance.org

www.healthguidance.org

Thanks Vince. That is good information.

 

[txmx]

Likely floaters from the process of Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). They can look likes dots, strings, spider webs. You just need to keep an eye on it and see if/how it progresses. A good optometrist can even see these upon close examination. The next level up would be an opthamologist and then a retina specialist. PVD is pretty common as you age. What you want to watch for is a "shower" of dots (blood), a significant increase in floaters, or at worst a "curtain" coming down on your vision. This would be a retina detachment and needs the quick services of a retina specialist to mitigate/repair the damage to your vision.

 

[Drofeyes21]

Likely floaters from the process of Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). They can look likes dots, strings, spider webs. You just need to keep an eye on it and see if/how it progresses. A good optometrist can even see these upon close examination. The next level up would be an opthamologist and then a retina specialist. PVD is pretty common as you age. What you want to watch for is a "shower" of dots (blood), a significant increase in floaters, or at worst a "curtain" coming down on your vision. This would be a retina detachment and needs the quick services of a retina specialist to mitigate/repair the damage to your vision.

A posterior vitreous detachment would have been visible on a dilated eye exam. It sounds like syneresis, or the liquefaction of the vitreous. A PVD is not too far away now. This is all normal and definitely age related. When the PVD occurs, it’s usually accompanied with a much larger floater than had been previously observed. The eyes should be checked again at that time as that is the danger zone for a possible retinal tear/detachment.

 

[txmx]

A posterior vitreous detachment would have been visible on a dilated eye exam. It sounds like syneresis, or the liquefaction of the vitreous. A PVD is not too far away now. This is all normal and definitely age related. When the PVD occurs, it’s usually accompanied with a much larger floater than had been previously observed. The eyes should be checked again at that time as that is the danger zone for a possible retinal tear/detachment.

Agreed. One caveat. When my wife had this process happen, she immediately went to an opthamologist on a Saturday night. He MISSED seeing a retinal tear (or any PVD). A couple of days later the curtain came down on her vision. He had sent her home with assurance that all was ok. She ended up with 9 retinal surgeries and procedures, a schleral buckle, a torn iris, a lens implant, and an eye that is not very useful at this point.

 

[stickersteve]

The weekend before Thanksgiving I started experiencing in my one eye an irregular pattern of small dark dots or small circles that looks sort of like a small faded raindrop. It's only noticeable in very bright light or against a white/bright background. It's more annoying than anything, it's like a few fruit flies in my view or a slightly dirty lens. In dim lightning or against a dark background, it's not noticeable at all.

I went to my ophthalmologist earlier this week and after a thorough exam he stated everything looked fine, and that it was likely age-related, the gel moving around some. The funny thing is, after my eyes were dilated at this early morning appointment, I did not see these dots at all the remainder of the day, even in bright light conditions. It feels like the condition has to do with dilation due to the lighting conditions.

I'm nearly 63, and did have cataract surgery about 12 years ago. I've been on TRT for just over 6 years. I've been on low-does Cialis (2.5mg) for about 18 months. Also taking low-dose Amlopodine for blood pressure.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

another possibility could be what is called an ocular migrane. I get them from time to time. they come out of nowhere for me, last about a half an hour then go away. I have been told they are harmless and there is no known cause but it makes it a little hard to see while it is going on.

 

[jdthoosier]

Thanks for the replies. Txmx - sorry to hear about your wife, and reading about her experience was rather nerve-wracking. He did dilate and perform a lengthy look around in the eye.

That said, I looked up vitreous degeneration and at this point it seems that in my situation that it's still rather benign....for now.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

This may not be related at all, but just wanted to bring it up for those of you that seem to know a lot about eye physiology:

Can Testosterone Cause Retinopathy?

Hello All. I'm new to Excel male. I'm 43 yr old. Been taking TRT since January of this year. Recently added anastrozole because estrogen levels were higher than normal. Also started HCG for testicular atrophy. First the good....This has been a great experience so far. I am a serious...

www.excelmale.com

 

[bfoley]

I was on TRT for 2 years when I had an issue with my right eye that caused me to stop TRT. I was driving and noticed a flash in the peripheral vision of my right eye. It happended once, with no lingering effects at all in my vision.

Was sent to a retina specialist where he saw fluid behind my right eye. He diagnosed me with CSR. I told the him I was on TRT and he said that was probably the cause of the CSR and that I should probably stop.

One week later he ran another test where he injected me with a dye to see if there was any fluid leakage behind my right eye. There was none, there was also no fluid behind my right eye either. I thought this was strange. My TRT doc, Dr. Rotman, thought it was strange that TRT could cause this. Out of an abundance of caution, we decided I should probably come off TRT.

I go to the retina specialist every 6 months for an exam, and there has been no fluid behind my right eye. I am thinking of starting TRT again. I see the retina specialist in July, so I'm interested to see if there are any issues with my right eye after I start TRT.

--Brian

 

[Hyrulewarrior1978]

I was on TRT for 2 years when I had an issue with my right eye that caused me to stop TRT. I was driving and noticed a flash in the peripheral vision of my right eye. It happended once, with no lingering effects at all in my vision.

Was sent to a retina specialist where he saw fluid behind my right eye. He diagnosed me with CSR. I told the him I was on TRT and he said that was probably the cause of the CSR and that I should probably stop.

One week later he ran another test where he injected me with a dye to see if there was any fluid leakage behind my right eye. There was none, there was also no fluid behind my right eye either. I thought this was strange. My TRT doc, Dr. Rotman, thought it was strange that TRT could cause this. Out of an abundance of caution, we decided I should probably come off TRT.

I go to the retina specialist every 6 months for an exam, and there has been no fluid behind my right eye. I am thinking of starting TRT again. I see the retina specialist in July, so I'm interested to see if there are any issues with my right eye after I start TRT.

--Brian

Any updates?

 

[Systemlord]

I started experiencing in my one eye an irregular pattern of small dark dots or small circles that looks sort of like a small faded raindrop.

I've been on low-does Cialis (2.5mg) for about 18 months.

You’re experiencing what’s known as eye floaters and can be caused by low estrogen, Cialis changes T:E2 ratios and can lower estrogen.

 

[rayrock1]

You’re experiencing what’s known as eye floaters and can be caused by low estrogen, Cialis changes T:E2 ratios and can lower estrogen.

so should one increase yout trt levels to compensate for cialis-estrogen reduction?

 

[SSHSSA74]

The weekend before Thanksgiving I started experiencing in my one eye an irregular pattern of small dark dots or small circles that looks sort of like a small faded raindrop. It's only noticeable in very bright light or against a white/bright background. It's more annoying than anything, it's like a few fruit flies in my view or a slightly dirty lens. In dim lightning or against a dark background, it's not noticeable at all.

I went to my ophthalmologist earlier this week and after a thorough exam he stated everything looked fine, and that it was likely age-related, the gel moving around some. The funny thing is, after my eyes were dilated at this early morning appointment, I did not see these dots at all the remainder of the day, even in bright light conditions. It feels like the condition has to do with dilation due to the lighting conditions.

I'm nearly 63, and did have cataract surgery about 12 years ago. I've been on TRT for just over 6 years. I've been on low-does Cialis (2.5mg) for about 18 months. Also taking low-dose Amlopodine for blood pressure.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

Those are floaters. The vitreous turns to liquid as we age. I have tons of floaters. They are very annoying. Bromelain and Papain supplements help dissolve them.