Flickering Eye Symptoms

Lyme disease (borrelia) did this to me. The bacteria would form cysts under the retina, and cause areas to be out of focus, or become especially light sensitive and have spots that looked like afterimages. I would also at times get the flickering or flashing you describe.

Lately I've been treating Lyme very aggressively and while this has caused severe herxing, my vision has gotten a lot better. The sensitive spots are much less so now, and I haven't seen any flickering lately. I'm surprised how much it has improved.

Some people on this forum have blamed bartonella for their eye problems, but I found that treating bartonella had no effect whatsoever on my vision problems.

Quin, are these cysts under the retina visible on imaging?

I went to the eye doctor today and he said everything looks fine. He is wondering if it’s migraine auras that are causing them. Basically like tiny migraines. It would coincide with my cycle that just hit me.

He said to come back if anything gets worse. With my history of vertebral dissection I’m always very careful with my eyes as that was the symptom that saved me from having a stroke.

Hopefully treatment will help. I start Lyme treatment again in May. We have been working on my detox and MCAS/POTS issues and balancing my thyroid. My POTS symptoms seem better but the MCAS and Thyroid/hormones are still a major issue.

Thank you all for your help with all this!!

Saved by grace do you mind sharing what you have been trying for POTS and MCAS?

I’m still keen to try more for POTS for further improvements and I’ve had a flare of MCAS the last few days from eating too much high histamine foods

When I follow a low histamine diet and take the medications sodium cromogylcate (mast cell stabiliser) as well as zaditen (anti histamine) and the supplements DAOsin and neuroprotek (contains leuteolin, rutin and quercetin) this really helps with MCAS symptoms. If you haven’t tried these things already!