Take2TheSkies
Filing Flight Plan
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2023
- Messages
- 2
- Display Name
Display name:
Take2TheSkies
Background
I am a private pilot and about to renew my 3rd Class Medical certificate. I am concerned about a misdiagnosed ocular migraine impacting my ability to renew my medical certificate, and affecting my ability to obtain a 1st Class Medical in the future.
The Misdiagnosis
A few weeks ago, I was working late on a computer and would use OTC lubricating eye drops before bed. After turning the lights off a few minutes later, I noticed faint light refraction around the rim of my eyes during the brief moment I blinked. I repeated this process for a few days.
Not connecting the eye drops to the symptoms, I saw my optometrist who said I was normal. I requested a referral to an ophthalmologist to double-check, and it led to the diagnosis of an ocular migraine. The misdiagnosis likely stemmed from explaining these symptoms while sharing that I was experiencing heightened stress while working long days. The doc's report noted the eye/retina was physically health and was otherwise unremarkable.
Recognizing the Error
In the following weeks, I discovered the direct causation between using eye drops and experiencing brief light refraction in the minutes that follow when I blink while it is pitch black.
To this day, I have never in my life experienced any symptoms of an ocular migraine outside of this specific scenario, including when I use eyedrops in a lighted environment and during far more stressful and fatiguing periods. Arguably, the light refraction I saw was not actually an ocular migraine symptom, and is not at all like the depications of ocular migraines: the jaggedy, in-your-face light that can appear in your vision at high noon.
Looking for Solution
I spoke to my physician, who agreed this was likely a misdiagnosis. I wrote the specialist and he declined to reconsider the diagnosis.
How do you suggest I proceed? I'm very grateful for your time and advice.
I am a private pilot and about to renew my 3rd Class Medical certificate. I am concerned about a misdiagnosed ocular migraine impacting my ability to renew my medical certificate, and affecting my ability to obtain a 1st Class Medical in the future.
The Misdiagnosis
A few weeks ago, I was working late on a computer and would use OTC lubricating eye drops before bed. After turning the lights off a few minutes later, I noticed faint light refraction around the rim of my eyes during the brief moment I blinked. I repeated this process for a few days.
Not connecting the eye drops to the symptoms, I saw my optometrist who said I was normal. I requested a referral to an ophthalmologist to double-check, and it led to the diagnosis of an ocular migraine. The misdiagnosis likely stemmed from explaining these symptoms while sharing that I was experiencing heightened stress while working long days. The doc's report noted the eye/retina was physically health and was otherwise unremarkable.
Recognizing the Error
In the following weeks, I discovered the direct causation between using eye drops and experiencing brief light refraction in the minutes that follow when I blink while it is pitch black.
To this day, I have never in my life experienced any symptoms of an ocular migraine outside of this specific scenario, including when I use eyedrops in a lighted environment and during far more stressful and fatiguing periods. Arguably, the light refraction I saw was not actually an ocular migraine symptom, and is not at all like the depications of ocular migraines: the jaggedy, in-your-face light that can appear in your vision at high noon.
Looking for Solution
I spoke to my physician, who agreed this was likely a misdiagnosis. I wrote the specialist and he declined to reconsider the diagnosis.
How do you suggest I proceed? I'm very grateful for your time and advice.
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