tiny bubbles...behind my eyes

[opalobsidian]

I've only beem diving since January of this year and now have about 40 vacation dives under my belt. I did these dives in 3 seperate trips. On my last two trips I have had visual "disturbances" after about 2 days of diving. I see something like tiny bubbles rising in my peripheral vision and also when I close my eyes. I don't notice this phenomenon when I'm actually diving; it happens when I'm out of the water. It makes me a little dizzy.

Any ideas what's up with this?

Thanks so much
Pamela

 

[Tiny Bubbles]

:d

 

[dive_lover88]

:lol:...sorry

 

[donnad]

tiny bubbles, that was too funny! i'm sure you just couldn't resist!

 

[Don Wray]

You might give DAN a call and talk to them about it.

 

[DiveMaven]

I would say a visit to an Optometrist is in order about now.

 

[jdcpa]

I am no Dr, but a visit to one should be in order.

As you get older you do get "floaters" in your eyes. I think it is parts of the internal eye lining that get hard and come loose. That sounds a little like what you are talking about. You can see them with your eyes open or closed. Maybe you are just noticing them now?

That is not a medical diagnosis, just my experience with "floaters" in my eyes.

 

[Blackwood]

Sounds like floaters (myodesopsia) to me too. I get them too, now and again. I've never noticed them being exacerbated by diving, though I suppose it's quite possible that stuff can get in your eyes and tear off some cells or something...

 

[ScubaJorgen]

Of course it is tempting to think of some DCS (Decompression Sickness) phenomenon, since it occurred after diving and ceases during the dive (if there where bubbles, they would shrink under pressure, like during the dive). However, I could not find any evidence in 'Diving and Subaquatic Medicine', the dive medicine bible. Some occular problems were mentioned, but they result in halo vision, seeing radial spokes, etc. Not floating bubbles. Also most problems occur after long diving history. One problem is associated with hard contact lenses.

If you also see 'bubbles' when eyes closed this means the 'bubbles' should be inside the vitreous humor (inside the eye ball). They cast shadows on the retina. You should not see them in the dark? Otherwise I think the brain is somehow fooling you (the image processing is quite complex) ...

BTW I am no doctor whatsoever... just guessing

Anyway, take care Pamela

 

[gert7to3]

If you have an ophthalmologist you should get checked up. You may even get referred to a retinal specialist.

Any visual disturbance is potentially significant. Just waiting and hoping it goes away, can make a curable condition a permanent problem. Occasional floaters are a normal part of the aging process. A sudden bunch of floaters, especially accompanied by flashes of light, even in daylight or a brightly lighted room, could indicate a retinal tear, with the risk of a detached retina. This is a special risk factor for nearsighted (myopic) eyes.

I'm not a doc, but perfom diagnostic studies on eyes.