Advanced opacity mask issue in illustrator?

Occasionally I find that when I option click on my opacity mask in illustrator, although it enters the opacity mask editing mode and I can highlight the paths etc, I cannot see a preview of the opacity mask or view in key line mode. I am still stuck seeing my artwork.This is very frustrating and have to edit the opacity mask almost blind, using just the preview of the layers in the opacity mask sub layers. It does this in CS5 through to CC and I cannot find a solution. It's driving me crazy.
Is there an solution? And low behold I thought I would take a screen grab to show the problem and now its working after working blind for a good hour!
If anyone else has experienced this problem it would be good to know. If it does it again I'll take a screen grab.
Message was edited by: MINI_MO

I use this feature and have never had the issue you describe. I HAVE been known to accidentally hold down the wrong key when clicking the Mask Thumbnail. Not sure what a screen grab would show, since there is no way of validating which key is being held.

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