[zoelula]

I noticed this a bit yesterday and now more today. When I look at a solid space, like this screen or anything really without too much detail I see this pattern. It's kind of a large roughly circular with jagged edges and lines and seems to be a sort of brown color. I only see it with my left eye. It jumps around as I move my line of vision. Anyone have any similar experience?

I'm overdue for an eye exam. I only had one two years ago right after I was diagnosed. I hated the experience and never returned. (I know! Once a year!). I'm leaving Guatemala and returning to California in less than two weeks so unless it gets significantly worse I will see an eye doctor as soon as I can after I get back.

Any thoughts?
Zoe

[xMenace]

The brown color makes me think blood may be involved. My first hemhorrage was an orange-brownish glow.

It also sounds like a vitreous detachment. How old are you? It's a fairly common phenomenon as we age. Typically there is no damage involved, but there can be.

other possibilities are macular edema or simply floaters.

Get it checked asap.

[jwags]

I was dx with diabetes because I was having a routine eye exam and they saw something strange when they dilated my eyes. They sent me to a speicialist who did further tests. He took pictures of the back of my retina and could see lots of microscoptic tears. He said these were very common with high blood sugar. He sent me for blood test which came out diabetic. I would definitely get it checked out with an ophtamologist when you get back home. My dad was having a headache one day and woke up the next day blind. He had something called temperol arterisis ( an infalmation of the retina) He's been on steriods for 11 years which now have caused him to have diabetes. Go to a eye doctor.

[foxl]

I get floaters a lot ... but this does not sound quite like them.

My brother had cataracts and said they were brown, so everything looked BLUE after his surgery.

I would say, get it checked -- even if it goes away, be sure to mention it to the ophtho!

[zoelula]

When you say "my first hemhorrage was an orange/brown", xmenace, what was that? Was it diabetes related and what had to be done for it? I have no idea what the other things you mention are. Are they diabetes related? I'm 60. I've always had really good eyesight and only wear the readers that are normal at my age.

Floaters are those little round liquid looking things we see sometimes that move around. I've had those before, this is different.

I appreciate you all saying I should have it checked. I'm returning on the 25th and have my first doctor's appointment already set up for the 29th so I can get a referral. If it continues I might see if any friends know an eye doctor that I can call and have an appointment the first week I get back.

[Subby]

Zoe, I don't know about what the common requirements are for type 2 (bearing in mind that's the care situation you were used to) but type 1s should have their eyes checked regularly (by an opthamologist), like every year or so. Eye issues can be obvious or they can be invisible. Nothing we can say might be accurate, chase that eye doctor down ASAP.

[zoelula]

When I was diagnosed as a Type II I was told to see an opthamologist once a year as well. I will e-mail my friends and see if they can recommend someone I can call and get an appointment set up with. Thanks.