I noticed this morning that the vision in my left eye is blurred and cloudy, with no associated pain, to the extent that I can't read out of that eye. I wear eyeglasses with bifocals, so I thought maybe the left lens was dirty because that's happened before and it turned out to be a dirty lens, but I cleaned them and the problem persisted. It's been several hours now since I first noticed it and it hasn't gotten any better, but it hasn't gotten any worse. I've had another strange vision disturbance in the last few weeks, the sensation of blurring or distortion around the edges of my vision in both eyes, but I washed my face with a nice thick, hot bath towel and it seemed to alleviate the problem. This is different.
I know blurred vision is one of the symptoms of a stroke or CVA, but I don't seem to have any of the other symptoms. I have no slurred speech, no drooping eyelid or lip. I have apparently equal strength in both sides of my body, equal in both arms and legs as far as I can tell. I don't have real good balance but that's nothing new, I never have had good balance and muscular coordination. I have had an occasional headache but no more often and no more severe than usual. I have also been dizzy, but I'm trying to wean myself off Paxil. I do have high blood pressure and take medications (Clonidine and Atenolol). I was running short of my meds recently and was rationing them to myself for a couple weeks to stretch them out until I could afford to see my doctor and get a new prescription with refills, but I've been back on the full dosage for a week today, and my BP isn't high now.
However, having said that I don't seem to have any other symptoms of stroke, I am aware that my perspective may be altered, as that is also a symptom of a stroke, so I'm very concerned. On the other hand if I'm lucid and in control of my faculties enough to put down this inquiry in an intelligent manner, as I appear to have done, maybe I shouldn't be so worried. But I am.
So there you have it. I'm worried about this seeming sudden loss of vision acuity in my left eye, worried that I may have had or may be having a stroke. I also realise that there are other equally serious possibilities such as a brain tumor. At this point I can't imagine anything that it could be that would be of a non serious nature, mainly because I don't have any medical insurance or even a full time job and don't know what to do. What should I do? Please advise me ASAP. Should I go to the ER or what? With no insurance I'm afraid they won't see me. Help me decide. Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate it.
I know blurred vision is one of the symptoms of a stroke or CVA, but I don't seem to have any of the other symptoms. I have no slurred speech, no drooping eyelid or lip. I have apparently equal strength in both sides of my body, equal in both arms and legs as far as I can tell. I don't have real good balance but that's nothing new, I never have had good balance and muscular coordination. I have had an occasional headache but no more often and no more severe than usual. I have also been dizzy, but I'm trying to wean myself off Paxil. I do have high blood pressure and take medications (Clonidine and Atenolol). I was running short of my meds recently and was rationing them to myself for a couple weeks to stretch them out until I could afford to see my doctor and get a new prescription with refills, but I've been back on the full dosage for a week today, and my BP isn't high now.
However, having said that I don't seem to have any other symptoms of stroke, I am aware that my perspective may be altered, as that is also a symptom of a stroke, so I'm very concerned. On the other hand if I'm lucid and in control of my faculties enough to put down this inquiry in an intelligent manner, as I appear to have done, maybe I shouldn't be so worried. But I am.
So there you have it. I'm worried about this seeming sudden loss of vision acuity in my left eye, worried that I may have had or may be having a stroke. I also realise that there are other equally serious possibilities such as a brain tumor. At this point I can't imagine anything that it could be that would be of a non serious nature, mainly because I don't have any medical insurance or even a full time job and don't know what to do. What should I do? Please advise me ASAP. Should I go to the ER or what? With no insurance I'm afraid they won't see me. Help me decide. Thanks very much for your help. I appreciate it.