Has anyone had distorted vision before other symptoms of TIA or Stroke

@esque
Yes, I have had the distorted vision in one eye that was a retinal TIA and that was my only symptom. I've had 4 brief TIAs in the past couple years and two of them were distorted vision. One, like yours, was only in one eye when suddenly about a third of my vision field had a completely blurred out gray circle (imagine holding a dinner plate up to block part of your vision field) and no amount of blinking changed it. I was in a very busy Costco when it hit and it was very confusing and scary. I just had to walk to an empty aisle and wait it out. It was gone in about 2 minutes, no other symptoms. Back to normal. I saw a retinal specialist a week later (had a pre-set appt for something else) who told me it was amaurosis fugax and a TIA. She was very concerned. I already suspected AF and TIA because it was TIA #4. I had also done my vision research before seeing her. All four TIAs happened immediately after having afib for about 30 hours so that was the big clue for me. Afib is known to increase stroke risk.

Amaurosis Fugax (sudden temporary vision loss)/TIA - good explanation from a neurologist

The big question is why is it happening to you in the first place. I have no doubt my TIAs have all been a result of afib. I've had a brain MRI, carotid tests, head/neck MRA, cardiac tests, etc. that were normal. Your best bet is to figure out the cause and fix that to prevent future episodes. My focus is on preventing afib. Best of luck in figuring this all out. Blessings to you!

That happens to me with migraines.

Yes, I have.
I was initially diagnosed with CLIPPERS Syndrome on the second of May. However, the medications for it have not lead to any improvement of the lesions in my PONS. So, now the docs will look, again, at differential diagnosis.
That being said, I had visual distortions, all very brief, 30 seconds to 1.5 mins. This looked like everything slanting to the left, then everything looked pixelated and all the little pieces kind of vibrated… then by a min later it stopped and I felt a bit foggy headed and tired. Some with CLIPPERS get double vision (diplopia) and some get oscillopsia (kind of like I described, though it probably varies). Of course, CLIPPERS is not the only syndrome/disease that have vision changes of distortions in their list of symptoms. While I do not yet know what my diagnosis is, I can tell you that my MRI reports have not once indicated signs of stroke.
Kristy in Oregon.

@kristyinoregon
Glad it wasn’t a stroke but a CT or MRI won’t pick up on a TIA unless it’s in progress.

With my first incident my vision became completely pixelated like yours and colored. Couldn’t see, so confusing, thought I was having a stroke, quickly did self-tests for stroke and then vision was suddenly normal within 30 seconds. No other symptoms. An NP friend convinced me to go to the ER because she feared I would have a stroke knowing about my afib. Waited 3 hours, busy ER, finally took me into a room like a closet and the doc said, let me save you time and money. You stood up too fast, you’re fine, go home. He was busy.

Well I was in the kitchen when it happened and it was nothing like things going black for two seconds from low BP and standing up too fast. That has happened a million times. I also was already standing when it happened.

After I got home from the ER, I was standing in my bedroom and suddenly just fell backwards. Not dizzy, not off balance, no warning, didn’t bend as I was falling, didn’t try to catch myself. I fell like a tree in the forest as if someone just flipped the off switch on me. No control. It was the weirdest thing. Luckily I didn’t hit the floor or hard furniture but fell back mostly into my recliner and just about broke it I landed so hard and fast. I thought, “Nice catch God!”

My neurologist suspected ocular migraine. I didn't make the afib connection till I had two more incidents. In hindsight, I believe the pixelation and falling were both TIAs post afib. Also, the short duration and sudden onset and ending are more indicative of a TIA than ocular migraine.

Good luck with your situation.

My TIA is from a severely stenosed M1 vessel not AFIB. They did see that on the CT scan. They suspected an ocular migraine but after the CT thought I might have had a clot that cleared once my blood pressure rose because I was scared once my face started to droop and I was unable to speak properly.
It happened again a few days ago but I am still on aspirin and was also taking aleve so it never went past the eye issues.

@esque
Sorry to hear that. So scary. Is there something they can safely do to open up that M1 vessel? Stent?

From what I found out the protocol is to give low dose aspirin and an anti platelet drug for three months post TIA. If it happens again while on that protocol then they would explore the possibility of a stent.
If it does not or you are past the three months then the protocol begins again. So now that I have finished the anti platelet I am again not eligible for stents, I believe.
If anyone know different…let me know.

Hello Zebra,
Wow, sounds like a very scary fall. So glad you didn’t get hurt, surprisingly. I have had the black when standing, accompanied by a heaviness or tightness that goes from the top of my head down into my chest. Lasts a minute or so, then fades gradually. I don’t fall, there is time to stop and steady myself. This happens daily. Hoping BP meds will help with this…. Just stepped up to next level on the dosing today.
Your “pixelation” and ER experience sounds very similar. It is frustrating that they are so quick to dismiss you. I do have a diagnosis of CLIPPERS which has caused lesions in my PONS. I am on Prednisone and Cellcept. I have also recently started taking blood pressure medication. Between side effects of CLIPPERS meds, new BP meds and the lesions in my PONS, it is very hard to know why my body is doing these days.
Do you have a diagnosis yet? Sorry if you already mentioned it in a previous post. So many posts, so many people. Kristy

Hi @kristyinoregon
Yes, hard to keep track of everyone’s story. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I had to look it up. There are so many rare disorders.

I’ve had some low BP issues too caused by one of my cancer meds. It’s especially low when I’m in afib and I have to be careful when I first stand up and start walking. I’ve hugged a lot of walls and furniture. My fading vision and dizziness from that is completely different than the fugax and pixelation vision episodes. I have no doubt mine were TIAs as a result of having just been in afib each time which can create clots. I’ve discovered a major food trigger for me with afib and that’s tyramine so I’m hoping by avoiding those many many foods that I can avoid future afib episodes. So far so good.

Thanks for your response. Good luck with your battle. Rare disorders can be extra frustrating so I feel for you. I have some rare disorders myself. Blessings to you.