Posted by Mark H. on January 29, 2001, at 19:36:22
In reply to Visual Disturbances and SSRI's, posted by Jared on January 28, 2001, at 23:08:41
Hi Jared,
Some SSRIs cause changes in visual perception in some individuals; however, those I'm familiar with have been short-term and stop when the medication is stopped.
Floaters are common, and almost anyone who pays attention can see the cells pulsing around in the way you mentioned (by staring at a clear sky, for instance).
More important, perhaps, is the ability of the brain to compensate for imperfect information from the eyes. Many people with severe floaters or even retinal damage can still see relatively well, thanks to the brain's ability to reorganize visual information to help perception more accurately represent external reality.
I'd say that if your ophthamologist has given you a clean bill of health, then the less you concern yourself with these minor disturbances, the less you will be conscious of them over time, and the less they will bother you.
Nevertheless, in this and all advice from non-professionals such as myself, if your experience and concerns persist, by all means have your eyes checked regularly, and don't hesitate to ask for a referral to a neurologist if you think there is any chance that these are early warnings of an underlying organic problem. You're responsible to seek the care you need, and the above is just my opinion, based on my own experiences.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:52817
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010122/msgs/52909.html