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Dark spots in front of the eyes usually appear as flashes, lint or bow ties. Often scotomas are underestimated by patients, but it is worth remembering that their presence may indicate a serious medical condition. What are the causes of spots in the visual field? Do spots in front of the eyes always require medical intervention? How to fight stubborn threads obscuring the image?
- Check your health. Just answer these questions
What are spots in front of the eyes?
Basically, the spots in front of the eyes are defects that occur in the field of vision. People who struggle with scotomas usually describe them as flashes, midges, floaters or rods that obscure the normal vision. Dark spots in front of your eyes are visible especially when you look at a bright field, e.g. a wall or other bright background. It is worth noting that this disorder is often accompanied by other complications. People who report to a doctor with spots in front of their eyes also complain of pain under the eyelid, itchy eye, dizziness, neck pain or decreased visual acuity. All these ailments can be a sign of ordinary fatigue, but often the spots in front of the eyes are caused by a serious medical condition.
Dark spots in front of the eyes – reasons
Dark spots in front of the eyes are not always a symptom of the disease. They also occur in healthy people, especially after 50 years of age. Mroczki are then caused by floaters in the vitreous body. Over the years, the vitreous body contracts and disintegrates, and the vitreous becomes more fluid. The debris floating in it reduces the amount of light reaching the retina, which in turn gives the impression of scotoma in front of the eyes. This is the natural state of affairs. Unfortunately, spots in front of the eyes are often caused by various diseases. Among the most frequently mentioned are:
- Retinal diseases – spots in front of the eyes may appear when the retina breaks away from the choroid. Then, blood cells enter the vitreous body, which appear in the field of view as scotomas.
- Diabetic complications – If you have long-term diabetes, you may develop diabetic retinopathy, which severely affects your eyesight, sometimes leading to loss of vision. Dark spots in front of the eyes in people with diabetes may be a symptom of progressive retinopathy.
- Intraocular tumor – the growing tumor presses on the optic nerve and increases the intraocular pressure. In addition to the scotomas, pain is felt in front of the eyes and visual acuity deteriorates significantly.
- Foreign body in the eye – apart from the scotomas there is lacrimation, irritation, pain or visual field disturbance.
- Anemia – Scotomas and dizziness may be caused by anemia.
- Migraine – about 30 percent people suffering from migraines complain of scotomas in front of their eyes. Moczki with migraines usually appear as flashes and occur about an hour before the attack.
- Hypertension – spots in front of the eyes are often the first symptom of arterial hypertension. In this case, the scotomas in front of the eyes are accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus or palpitations.
Mroczki before my eyes and a visit to a specialist
The appearance and keeping of scotomas in front of the eyes for a longer time should be a clear signal to make an appointment with a doctor. The primary care physician will assess whether to refer the patient to a neurologist, ophthalmologist or cardiologist. Depending on the referral, a person struggling with scotomas in front of the eyes should prepare for further diagnostic tests. If scotomas are the result of ophthalmic diseases, visual field tests, visual acuity, fundus and intraocular pressure measurements will be performed. The neurologist may order computed tomography, head resonance imaging or ultrasound of the carotid arteries. The possibility of referral to a psychiatric consultation cannot be omitted either.
Consult an internist for worrying symptoms. You can use the e-visit option, during which you will receive an e-Prescription, e-Testing Referral and e-Release. Make an appointment with the selected specialist online and discuss the test results and further steps
Mroczki before eyes – treatment
Treatment of scotomas in front of the eyes largely depends on the identified causes of the ailment itself. There is no symptomatic treatment for scotomas in front of the eyes. Disorders resulting from nutritional deficiencies or blood flow problems are combated by introducing a balanced diet and planning physical activity. Dark spots in front of the eyes caused by glaucoma or an intraocular tumor are usually treated by surgery. Often the spots in front of the eyes can be treated pharmacologically.
It may be important to diagnose retinal diseases, thanks to which you will be able to find out the cause of the disease.
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