BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?

Subject: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 08:59 AM

starting 6 months ago I see circular rainbows around bright light sources. I have seen spikey glows around lights for decades but the rainbows are a bit more transient. I don't think the eyes are dry but something is causing the added refraction be it morning or night.
I have wondered if Fuchs Syndrome could produce this refraction or if this is a symptom of cataract.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:04 AM

Have your eyes checked for Glaucoma immediately.
G

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:07 AM

See an ophthmalogist (an MD specializing in eye care) NOW!! Don't fool around with this.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Bee
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:15 AM

'Spikey glows around lights' is a reasonable description of myopia (near-sightedness). It's what I would see around lights, or the stars. For the 'rainbows', I say get thee to an eyedoctor, pronto.

I'm fortunate in that my opthalmologist is the same age as I, has the same degree of myopia I have, and now has the very beginnings of cataract formation as I have. He knows what to look for when I come in. There's no obvious problem from the cataracts yet; he said it will likely be five years before I begin to notice any deterioration in vision.

Donuel, I know you are a visual artist, as I am. Get those eyes looked after, as much can be done before things get serious. If you wear glasses, it could be as simple as a poorly ground set of lenses - I had a pair once which drove me mad, because they tinted everything slightly blue, and no one else could see it when I showed them the lenses. When my eye doctor tested them, he saw that they were indeed badly tempered, and were slightly tinted blue.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:36 AM

Glaucoma yikes. Unfortunatly I live in a country where the effective treatment with marijuana is illegal.

I don't take Viagra nor do I see blue fog but I'm off to get a check up. Some tail lights create some interesting patterns indeed.

As far as visual arts go I know that Monet was virtually blind during the creation of many water lily murals.

btw Fuchs syndrome is the appearence of tiny bubbles in the cornea that can even change the shape of the eye resulting in varying focus.
Once it corrected my vision without the use of glasses but only for a matter of hours. Its benign but can slightly progress perhaps to the point where diffraction could occur.

Glaucoma is a very nasty and virtually symtomless disorder.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:46 AM

It's detectable with an instrument that puffs a little jet of air onto your eyeball, it makes you jump, but it doesn't hurt, get it done.
G

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: jeffp
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:56 AM

You live in a country where effective treatment with other drugs is possible. Go see an opthalmologist immediately and quit bitching.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Amos
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 09:59 AM

Cataracts. resulting from the gradual yellowing of the normally clear lens of the eye, can cause floaters but I dunno about rainbows. It is typically addressed by replacing the lens with an artificial one that is clear.

IN glaucoma, the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises, leading to vision loss or even blindness.

Neither one is anything to fool about with.


A

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 12:51 PM

Dr. Kepler believes that it is either a precurser of cataract or dry eye. He recommmended Systane eye drops. At night the eyes open wider and allow more light in that could refract into rainbows more clearly since more of the eye surface & wet tear layer as well as lens distortion would come into play.

He says that glaucoma will not present rainbow symtoms.

so I guess I'm starting to dry out ;)

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 01:03 PM

Isn't it better to KNOW? Use the eyedrops and you'll be okay.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 01:08 PM

Well it presented those symptoms in a friend, which is why I worried. Glad you have an answer, get better soon.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 01:13 PM

See symptoms here
G.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 01:29 PM

Your link does in fact link these symptoms with glaucoma which is at odds with Dr. Kepler's advice which tells me I need to get a test and not merely a consultation.

Thanks John.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Dec 07 - 02:07 PM

I had a feeling in one eye and got a halo round lights at night for one day. I think there was a mild infection because both have gone. Now. One to watch though. (pun intended)

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 03:23 AM

My guess is that with glocauma the pressure sets the lens at a greater curvature. That would explain chromatic aberation that is the rainbow halo reported in some quoted symptoms of the disease.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 08:04 AM

I have a cataract in my left eye. There's no rainbow effect, but lights seem blurry to me. It's like the effect they use on camera lenses to make things blurry by rubbing vaseline on the lens. (I'm getting it operated on this Monday).

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: maeve
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 08:31 AM

Best wishes, Donuel and RangerSteve. Good on you for seeking medical attention.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 10:29 AM

Good for you Steve. The new crystal clear plastic lens you are getting will be pure joy and make things look great. They even have zone of vision lenses that will act like corrective glasses from the inside.

I have no glaucoma or loss of acuity, the eye drops did the trick.
It was just dry eyes.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Neil D
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 12:08 PM

My father sometimes saw rainbows in the periphery of his eyes. It was diagnosed as migraine. Some people have migraines without the headache and nausea.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: RangerSteve
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 04:33 PM

Thanks, Maeve and Donuel. It's actually my second time. I had the right eye done years ago. The left eye didn't need it done at the time, but a couple months ago it just got bad overnight. I'm looking forward to getting my sight back.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 07 - 06:08 PM

Donuel: I had dual cataract surgery six months ago. I've never heard of the type symptoms you describe but you were wise to have it checked out. My symptoms were that I just couldn't see as well as I used to. I now have 20X20 vision.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 02:44 PM

I've had a rainbow experience a couple of times - I believe it's a sort of migraine tho' there was no pain with it. Just a slightly odd feeling and I had to sit down for awhile.
I became aware of a sparkling effect in one eye and it was like a slightly blurry patch from the centre down to the bottom but the outside edge was clearly zigzag and with the rainbows - like angular prisms all around the outside. It slowly grew but then gradually it started fading until after about 20 - 30 minutes it had gone.
I'm normally long sighted and have always had good eye sight but my poor old eyes are losing the ability to focus on small print, but that's just my age.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Jeanie
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 04:35 AM

Little Robyn, once in a while over the years I have also had exactly the experience you describe, and because there was no headache involved, at first I didn't associate it with any kind of migraine. You are the first other person I have come across who has experienced this. Those angular rainbow prisms were exactly as you describe. The first time it happened, I found it rather scary, but on the rare occasions since then it's been OK now I know that it goes soon enough - and, I think, by relaxing and "sitting out" for a while, it goes all the quicker.

The first time it happened, I was on stage in a pantomime and I had to just keep going - not really seeing the people around me properly ! No wonder the migraine happened, actually: this was after many late nights, strenuous dance routines, stressful quick costume changes...

The other few times it's happened, I can't connect it to any particular stressful event or anything. Just one of those things...

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 03:55 PM

More info anyone?

Mum has wet macular degeneration in the right eye and cataracts in both. It's dicey. I need more input before she makes a decision.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 05:40 PM

I have what you describe just before migraine. Doc said it is ocular migraine. I keep getting a warning from optometrist that glaucoma test indicates pressure. So I go to GP and get diabetes test. All clear on fasting glucose.

Sometimes I just get the ocular bit and not the headache after.

The ocular migraines happen more often when the sun is lower in sky and I see it glinting off chrome bits on cars. Tend to come in the morning after drive to work. Think I have only had on at night time.

I was told not to worry about them, but I am with others here.

Get yourself looked at by GP and eye doctor.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 02:42 PM

VT... good sunglasses? I got mine from CNIB (Can natl inst for the blind). They are "fitovers" and they do a great job from all angles. One problem... they come in so many different "strengths" you need the advice of a doc to sort out which are the best for you.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 03:47 PM

gnu -

Macular degeneration is a completely different condition than anything else discussed in this thread. It needs VERY PROMPT treatment (which these days includes laser teatment and Avastin) since it can run its course within weeks.

It seems to be almost completely preventable by good diet, but it's too late if she's already got symptoms. She needs to see a specialist RIGHT NOW.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 04:17 PM

Jack... thanks, but she had it long ago and the Canuck health system don't work that way anyway. Avastin has long since been not an option.

Ya knowwwww... I find it odd that the health care system here is not more proactive in disseminating info about such things, Jack. Seriously, if people were better educated about these things, they could themselves become more "proactive" about receiving very important medical treatment on a timely basis.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: banjoman
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 05:38 AM

I worked for a long time with people suffering many different types and levels of visual impairment. The best advice is that if you have ANY concerns about your eyes you MUST seek medical attention. Most problems can be treated or the effects reduced, provided they are detected early.
Get thee to you doctor who will (may) refer you to an opthamologist.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 11:18 AM

Yup, I had minor cataracts with dry eye syndrome along with the vicous humor gel detached in both eyes. The gel in the eyes now hovers in front of the retina making more shadows of the floaters normaly found in the gel.

Also the shrunken gel can bump the retina if it too close and cause a detachment of the retina itself. When it bumps one can can see the result in the dark as a flash of light.
Some strenous occupations like police work in the field call for a precautionary laser welding of the retina even though the retina are not yet detached.

With magnification and polarized sun glasses I can see with satisfactory results.


It is interesting that everyone runs the same chance of having the gel in thier eyes dry out and come away from the back of the eye.
It is equal to your age.

If you are 50 your odds are 50-50. IF you are 100 its 100%.

The only thing odd for me was that my eye gel detached in both eyes only weeks apart.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 11:31 AM

edit:

Also the shrunken gel can bump the retina if it is too close to the retina. In some cases it can cause a detachment of the retina itself. When the detached gel slightly bumps the retina by looking quickly to the side, one can can see the result, usually in the dark, as a flash of light. A retinal detachment however would look like a persistent jagged lighting bolt or a peculiar dark area.
.
Some strenous occupations like police work in the field would call for a precautionary laser welding of the retina even though the retina are not yet detached.

So far the flashing bump of the retina in my eyes have become rare and the retina are intact. That means the gel has receded to a point that that it usually clears the retina with bumping.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 02:27 PM

My eyeballs protrude from the sockets. I have amazing peripheral vision... about 270 degrees. However, when I sleep, I must attempt to contact the pillow such that my eyes are not in contact with the pillow. Not easy. Lately, I have woken after they have contacted the pillow and get flashes while my eyes are closed... radial spikes of straight lines, circular flashes... and others. Perhaps I should see a doc.

Up until this post, I have been discussing Mum's problems.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 02:30 PM

Those symptoms sound like Graves' disease.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 04:51 AM

Totally off subject, well, maybe not.

I read the subject line and wondered whether it would be a discussion of eye problems, or the appearance of rainbows at waterfalls.

The subject line makes perfect sense for either.

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 04:14 PM

Grave's disease. Nah. I am a superb predetor and an evasive prey but I can't box worth shit. Hmmm... well, I could box very well but getting hit in the eyes kinda curtailed that.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 05:21 PM

Very interesting info re dry eyes.. I have developed Sjögren's syndrome which makes my eyes very gritty feeling when in flare. I wash them with natural tears twice a day.

But there is another symptom that I cannot pinpoint which is particularly disturbing. Sometimes it feels like creatures are slithering over my eyeballs. It feels like actual movement of microbes and it itches something fierce.


uggghhh

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 06:06 PM

gnu - it doesn't look like you got the point I was making. Do a Google image search for "graves disease".

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 15 Dec 11 - 06:10 PM

I did... before I posted. IMO, I do not have Grave's disease. I have the skull I inherited from my ancestors. Just like my baldness... one step further from the ape.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 04:11 PM

Thyroid problems can make for real protruding eyes but Nigel sounds like a Marty Feldman without being wall eyed.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 04:25 PM

No, you make an appointment with a consultant opthamologist who will decide what needs to be done, and if serious will do this within a week. You then phone your GP and tell him that you have seen the consultant so he can update your medical record and do a referral letter so that your medical insurance company will be happy.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 10:36 PM

Easy for you to say... you have health care. I live in Canada. Ya can't do that here.

And, when you get the referral from the GP first... good luck with that. I talked with my uncle today.... referral? Three years and he got a call. The doc was retiring and he would have to go back to his GP and get another referral to another doc.

No shit. It's free here... but it's shit. Ya gotta wait at least a year to see a specialist unless there is blood. If so, go to the emerg and wait 6 to 8 hours to see a spcialist... and THAT is the kid who is in training.

Fuck Mikey Moore and his movie.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Dec 11 - 11:45 PM

It depends on what the problem is, gnu. Both my parents suffered illnesses that required hospitalization...and they got it quickly, and at NO cost to the family. In the USA the medical bills for similar treatment would have utterly bankrupted the family...and getting medical insurance coverage in the USA would have cost a great deal more than the moderate chunk that comes out of our yearly taxes to provide free medicare in Canada.

So, like I say, it depends on what the medical situation is. Our system is very good for some things...not very good at all for others.

In my case, I go to a Naturopath and pay my bills there happily, because he's way better according to my experience than any of the medical doctors I've ever dealt with, and he's equally well educated, if not moreso. In short, he puts the MDs to shame.

If I have a broken arm or I need open heart surgery, then I'll go to an MD. They're good at that stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 17 Dec 11 - 03:24 PM

Yes, LH. If yer bleedin, they fix ya. If you ain't, get in line... and wait and wait and wait.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 09 Aug 14 - 07:14 PM

Wow. Two months and I see blurry stuff with my left eye. Doc said a year about three weeks ago. I don't think it's gonna be that long before I request surgery. Anyone that can speak to the progression?

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Aug 14 - 07:53 PM

2 months of what? This is 2 1/2 years old. If it's about cataracts, you never know, they can be slow or fast.
It was very slow with mine... had to change glasses several times to cope. Had one eye done, then a couple of years of tedious glasses changing while the other side 'ripened'.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Aug 14 - 08:14 PM

Before I had cataracts removed (in both eyes) from time to time when watching television I saw two images, one on top of the other. Unsettling, to say the least.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 06:46 AM

Bill D. Two months after I 'kinda noticed' something was slightly different.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: maeve
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 07:16 AM

I am told by those who have first hand experience that many eye surgeons no longer accept the idea that cataracts must "ripen" before removal.

gnu- I'm anticipating your delight in renewed clarity of vision once your cataracts are gone.
Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 06:33 PM

It was recommended to me to have early treatment. Insurance rules that you must be truly blind are falling by the wayside.

The replacement lens can have corrective qualities with many options.
It may correct astigmatism' near & far sightedness and reading magnification. They still don't have UV and Infra red implant enhancements.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 07:03 PM

Well... if they have to be "replaced" in a more invasive procedure in about 12 years, I will hang off for a while if I can.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Don Firth
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 08:06 PM

Go for it, gnu.

I'm going through the process of cataract surgery now.

Within recent years my vision has degenerated slowly. I started seeing halos around lights some years ago, along with double vision (main image, but accompanied by a sort of "shadow image"). Someone once described having cataracts as "like looking at the world through a dirty window on a foggy day." Yeah, that comes close. That, along with reading relatively fine print becoming impossible.

My optometrist diagnosed cataracts a couple of years ago and suggested that I have the procedure done. He said it's a simple enough procedure. And several people who had it done assured me that it's duck soup and that I'll be amazed at how my vision will be improved. So recently, I decided to go ahead.

They generally do one eye at a time, let that settle in, then do the other.

About three weeks ago I had my right eye done. The doctor gave me a tranquilizer (having someone whittle on your eyes can be a bit unsettling), then a local anesthetic numbing the right eye and surrounding area. It was a bit uncomfortable, but nowhere near what I could call painful. The procedure took about half an hour.

The ophthalmologist fitted me with an eye guard (similar to an eye-patch—"Aaargh! Where's my parrot!?"—but made of metal mesh and attached with surgical tape) to wear the first day, then at night for a week, so that I didn't inadvertently rub my eye in my sleep. Various eye drops three times a day, which my wife administers.

My vision was a bit blurry—from the eye drops—for the first day or two. But now, if not fuzzy from taking the eye drops recently, I'm kind of amazed at how crisp and clear things look through that eye. And colors are a lot more vivid.   And if I squint my left eye, I can read some pretty small print.

I'm going to have the left eye done in a couple of weeks. Then I'll need new glasses, but no longer trifocals!

Somebody washed the windows and the weather is getting a lot clearer!

Do it! Highly recommended!

Don Firth (clear-eyed and firm jawed)

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:50 AM

Just a heads up... my first one, the left eye, went perfectly. The right one seemed to, but then I developed something called 'secondary membrane'...some sort of re-growth of cataract material.
They deal with that by zapping it with a YAG laser¹, which solved one problem, but left me with 'floaters' the size of Rhode Island. To this day, although my vision is ok, I still have 'stuff' under the implant which makes my right eye tired and fuzzy at times.




1) what is a YAG laser? It is named for the major components ..yttrium aluminium garnet...
It seemed like an odd name until I realized that they would likely never call it a GAY laser. (And AYG & AGY are hard to pronounce.)
I asked my surgeon about that, and he said: "Oh... I never thought about that before."

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:22 PM

Thanks. Yours stories and advice mean a lot to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Succesful treatment for DRY EYE
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Aug 14 - 04:18 PM

I used to have foggy morning vision and dry eyes. I tried the overnight gels with little or not effect but now I have come across a regime that has restored my AM vision to clear and moist relief.

Before bedtime I use Vaseline intensive care moisturizer (a white crème) around the eyes and the rest of my face. In the morning there is no dry eye or fogginess that used to be quite severe.

If I had to put a percentage on the improvement I would say it is 95%.

A side effect of the treatment are a few tears throughout the day that are much more beneficial than eye drops.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 29 Aug 14 - 05:07 AM

Hi

Like other people here I have had my cataracts done. My advice to anyone contemplating surgery is GO FOR IT !!!

The procedure was a doddle - the local anaesthetic stung momentarily and after that I even found it quite pleasant and no pain at all. During the second one the Irish surgeon was singing Irish folk songs !!!

The aftercare has been described here and is a little inconvenient. Wearing a patch and then having ( in my case ) to have drops starting with four per day, reducing by one each week for four weeks.

No after effects and my long sight now brilliant. Just wear glasses for reading but much weaker lenses.

However after over a year I am finding that my middle sight is starting to slightly worsen but I need to book an appointment with my optician to have eye tests. Will be doing so next week.

I will report on results.

Cheers

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: gnu
Date: 07 Mar 15 - 05:15 PM

Hmmm... I just peeled and diced an onion. My left eye (advanced cataract) was in terrible pain. The right eye? No problem. ???

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: Thompson
Date: 08 Mar 15 - 11:27 AM

Goggles, and if necessary a snorkel for peeling onions, gnu.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 08:18 AM

Somtimes it help run cold water over them after peeling and before chopping. Works for me.

Subject: RE: BS: seeing rainbows, cataracts?
From: GUEST,leothebrave
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 02:23 PM

use ethosheaven bright eyes drops- works wonders