Image darker through one eye

BananaRepublic

I was sat in the bath a few days ago, and as you do I decided to close each eye in turn and look at the ceiling. I was surprised to find that through my left eye the room appeared noticeably darker, it was quite marked. Does anyone know the main causes of this?

I've done the same just now while looking at my monitor in a well lit room, and the image brightness does not change.

All I can think is that either one iris does not open as much as the other in lowish light, or perhaps one cornea/lens lets in less light and the iris cannot open enough to compensate, given that there is a limit to how much an iris will open, and that tends to decline with age. I am 55.

Sea_Shell

I only find this when one eye's been exposed to light and the other not, eg if I've been laying on one side. If you're worried book an eye exam.

Susan1962

It could be nothing or it could be something like a bleed in the retina. Please get it checked as a matter of urgency. Hope it's nothing major.

suejb2

Maybe the light was coming more from one side than the other?

Maybe having your eye shut whilst looking through the other makes your view darker when you open it?

Maybe go to an optician?

belfastgirl23

I really really really urge you to go to an optician. A sight test costs £20 - and you can often pick up a voucher to have one for free. Eye health is priceless!

BananaRepublic

I have had an eye test very recently, no problems at all. I’m certain there is nothing sinister, but I am curious, maybe it’s the early stage cataracts I have. Oddly enough I don’t see this in the living room at night with the light on.

JulieM

I'm shortsighted in one eye, and if I'm not wearing my glasses, then the image through that eye is darker than my 'good eye'. I presume this is because the blurring of the shortsighted eye cannot pick up as much light. It's been like this as long as I can remember.

pmduk

BananaRepublic wrote: »

I have had an eye test very recently, no problems at all. I’m certain there is nothing sinister, but I am curious, maybe it’s the early stage cataracts I have. Oddly enough I don’t see this in the living room at night with the light on.

Firstly, we can't give medical advice on here, so please don't construe anything in what I say, I've no qualifications behind me.

If it's the eye developing a cataract it may well be the cataract you're seeing, In my case, just before surgery, it was like looking through a window with a net curtain in front of it.

If you're worried, go back to your optometrist without delay.

BananaRepublic

pmduk wrote: »

Firstly, we can't give medical advice on here, so please don't construe anything in what I say, I've no qualifications behind me.

If it's the eye developing a cataract it may well be the cataract you're seeing, In my case, just before surgery, it was like looking through a window with a net curtain in front of it.

If you're worried, go back to your optometrist without delay.

I have feeling an early stage cataract is part of the answer, and my left eye has much worse vision hence spreads light out more. I’m not worried, I have eye tests regularly, every year for the last few years.

pmduk

The one thing I recall most after cataract surgery was how much brighter and more colourful everything was!

pmduk

One thing I recall most after my cataract surgery was how much brighter and more colourful everything was.