Seen Differently

All patterns

Patchy vision

Pieces of the world are missing, and never where you'd expect.

Typical visionWith patchy vision
Moderate: irregular blurred and dark patches, which move with your gaze, cover more of the scene. Move your pointer or finger to look around.

Type

Try it

Which bus is pulling in, and is it safe to cross yet?

What's happening

Patchy vision means scattered blind or blurred spots across the visual field. Because the damage is in the eye or the optic nerve, the gaps move whenever your eyes move. The brain is very good at filling them in with guesswork, so people often don't realise how much is missing.

This simulation is for understanding and empathy. It is not a diagnosis and doesn't replace an eye examination.

What you might notice

Gaps that travel

Blank or smudged areas move with your gaze.

Dark spots and floaters

Bleeding inside the eye can cast drifting shadows.

Things pop into view

An object hidden in a gap appears suddenly when you shift your eyes.

Good days and bad days

With diabetes, vision can change along with blood sugar.

Where it gets hard

  • Reading, as parts of words go missing.
  • Finding things on a shelf or a cluttered table.
  • Steps and uneven pavement.
  • Driving, where a gap can hide a pedestrian.

Often caused by

Conditions commonly linked to this pattern.

  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Glaucoma (arc-shaped gaps)
  • Retinal vein occlusion
  • Retinal detachment
  • Optic neuritis, often linked to multiple sclerosis
  • Ischaemic optic neuropathy
  • Bleeding inside the eye (vitreous haemorrhage)

Treatment and support

For diabetic eye disease, steady control of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol is the foundation, with laser, anti-VEGF injections or surgery when needed. A yearly dilated eye exam catches changes before you can notice them. Retinal detachment needs urgent surgery, and the sooner it's repaired, the more sight is saved.

Looking for research you could join? Search ClinicalTrials.gov or the EU Clinical Trials register.

Get checked the same day if

You see a sudden shower of new floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow spreading in from one side. These are warning signs of retinal detachment.

If it's sudden or comes with other symptoms, go to an emergency department.

Where to learn more