Colored Lights in Child

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riajsal
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:50 pm

Colored Lights in Child

Post by riajsal »

Hello,

First, thank you for your guidance to advise me to see Dr. Foster! I have been seeing him since March and within 5 weeks, had had all inflamation gone from my pars planitis and iritis that had been there for a year and a half and I'm now on the meds for the 2 year time period! Plus, he has told me that I do not have glaucoma - that I was previously diagnosed with - which is great news!

I'm writing now because the last several months, my 8-yr old daughter has been complaining that she sees different colored lights, some move and some stay still. They only last for a few seconds but it seems to happen several times a day.

My 6-yr old daughter says the same thing happens to her, though I'm not sure yet if she's just copying my oldest because she hasn't told me about it on her own when my oldest is not around.

They are both due for an eye check up anyway, so I would like them to be seen. Our pediatric doctor referred us to some one local but they can't get us in for another few weeks . I'm worried because it's been happening for awhile and I probably should have gotten her in right much sooner to some one else. Do you think I should have them seen by Dr. Foster? or would it be okay to start with a local opthamologist? Dr. Foster is absolutely the best and with all of the problems I have had, I want to be sure they get an accurate evaluation. But, maybe it's not necessary for them to drive 5.5 hrs each way to Boston to see him and some one local would be enough?

What do you think? Start local or get in with Dr. Foster? And, do you think it's urgent?

Thank you for your help,
Kind regards
Maria
Mike Bartolatz
Posts: 6595
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm

Re: Colored Lights in Child

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

Maria,
these visual disturbances can have several causes and without seeing an ophthalmologist who can look into her eyes it would be prudent to contact Dr Foster personally by email. He should have given you contact information when he last saw your daughter.

benign cause is from migrane with aura which she might develop.
other:
it can be a symptom of the vitreous membrane tugging on the retina trying to detach because of a lot of cells in the vitreous from the pars planitis.
it can be from the retina detaching usually below an area of exudate along the pars plana.
it could be from optic neuritis.
it could be from the retina detaching in the back of the eye.

I would be prudent to get an in person evaluation for this to rule out the above things. Dr Foster is the best to consult with for your child.
he may tell you to see the local doctor or to come in right away.

if you need his contact information it can be found at http://www.uveitis.org in the CONTACT US hotlink at the top of the page.
don't post this question to the ASK DR FOSTER forum as your daughter is a patient.

your other child should be evaluated too to make sure that she hasn't developed uveitis. very rarely this can occur in siblings etc.

Wish you the very best,
Mike
Mike Bartolatz
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riajsal
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:50 pm

Re: Colored Lights in Child

Post by riajsal »

Again, thank you for your time to respond to concerns regarding our children. I brought them in to see Dr. Foster and he said their eyes are perfectly healthy. What a relief!

As for me, I'm still in remission being on the meds that Dr. Foster has prescribed. I'm 5 months in...I guess 1 year and 7 months more to go and then he will try to take me off, right? That's my understanding.

I pray I'm in the percentage where the inflammation does not return. I've had this since I was 17 and this is the 3rd time it's been active, though the first time I have ever taken the immune system suppressents. I hope it works.

I'm worried now though because the pressure is still high in my left eye. I don't have glaucoma but high pressure and am on 2 different types of eye drops, twice per day for that. I was hoping to get off the drops completely, but I do not know if it will be possible. It's not looking too promising as pressure is still high (29) without them. Dr. Foster said to try to eliminate one and see if we can get down to one drop twice per day. What do you think of this?

Thank you again! Bless you for taking the time to help others with this very serious problem!
Talk with you soon,
Maria
Mike Bartolatz
Posts: 6595
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm

Re: Colored Lights in Child

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

Maria,
I am glad that your children's eyes are Ok. sometimes kids want attention and they do it by saying things like they did but it is good to get them checked out by an expert as pars planitis in children can be blinding as it usually progresses very quickly.

you have the best specialist in the world working with you to get your recurrent pars planitis quieted down. I wish I had him guiding my care many years ago as I would be much better off today.

do whatever Dr Foster says to do regarding tapering off any medications. do you have a local ophthalmologist to see while tapering to make sure the pressure doesn't go up?

wish you the very best,
Mike
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