What Causes Seeing Of A Shadow In The Visual Field?

Posted on Sat, 2 Jul 2016

Question: A few weeks ago I noticed when I closed my right eye a dark shadow appeared from the bridge of my nose into about a third of the visual field of my left eye. After some experimenting I have come to believe what I am seeing is the eye lid of my right eye.... Is this possible? Would my left eye be "seeing" input from my right eye? I experimented with this by placing a tube over my right eye flush with my face and with that eye closed I shined a light in the tube. Sure enough the same place the shadow appeared was filled with a light. I saw an ophthalmologist today because I also have pain in my left eye around the socket and when I move the eye. He said the retina is healthy and the optical nerve looks fine and that he has never heard of anything like I am describing. I guess I am just wondering if anyone has any idea what it might be?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
There is nothing to worry.

Detailed Answer:
My dear,
thanks for sending your query to us .
There is nothing to worry and you have been examined fully,so there is nothing wrong with you.There are at times visual phenomenon which may bother a sensitive person.A visual field is final test for you to close the matter but I feel it is not needed.
Do get back to me in case of any further query to this regard.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. N K Mishra (8 hours later)

I am not actually asking if I should be worried about it, I'm asking for an explanation of what is happening to cause a shadow to appear in my left eye when I close my right eye.

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Unexplained visual phenomenon

Detailed Answer:
My dear,

Please get a field charting to rule out any organic reason for your complaint. If a defect is seen on field charting then explanation can be offered, if no defect is seen and fields are normal, that will mean tests do not substantiate your complaint.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee