I wondered if I could chime in on this thread. A couple weeks back, I couldn't dive due to a head cold. On our trips, we have a guide and I normally bring up the rear for safety purposes. On this trip, we had weak divers who needed babysitting. I hired a second guide, but as we headed out into the remote areas, couldn't bring him along. Long story short, I did something really, really dumb.
To help with the babysitting, I ended up finding a way to dive by first clearing all mucous and then bathing my sinuses in Afrin...not spraying Afrin, but literally using liquid. It gave me about an hour window so I could equalize. 2nd day, 1st dive using this stupid method, I had a visual aura. Didn't know what to call it until reading this thread. Was like a crescent moon made of water in my left periphery. Was buddying with a woman who's husband decided to bail that day. I let her know I may have to call the 2nd dive, but it didn't happen on the 2nd dive of Day 2.
That was July 5 and I haven't been diving since. Went to a dive doc the day after this incident who couldn't find any problem in either my eyes or ears, so I let it go after that. Congestion is now gone, but if I squeeze my nose shut and blow, left ear doesn't seem to be working like right ear. Now, I'm thinking it's best to see yet another ear specialist on the mainland, though I am someone who has problems with my left ear anyway that no specialist down here has been able to help me sort out. Maybe time for another stress test? Maybe see if I can equalize in the pool? I have about 2 weeks of diving coming up Aug. 1. We shall see.
It did scare me as I had never experienced anything like it. I assumed it was due to my own stupidity and that if I made it through without obvious damage, I was okay. Reading this timely thread leaves me concerned though I doubt my aura was caused by the same reasons. Any input? (Beyond slapping my wrist for stupidity...yes, I know.) But honestly, had to rescue one huge guy, managed to grab him by the fins and deflate his BCD and feel lucky we got through the charter without anyone in the Chamber. Yes, in retrospect I should have let him know he wasn't fit to dive, but chose instead to babysit. He did improve a bit as the week progressed. Not smart to put someone else's well being over your own, but hard not to do when you're an operator.