Eye Floaters?

[JamesM]

Does anyone have noticeable eye floaters?

 

I don't mean the kind that you see only when you look at a bright sky. Those are little dots that you never see during your normal day.

 

I am talking about the ones that impede your vision throughout the day.

 

Has anyone had post vitreol detachment? (Google suddenly got busy! ) If you had one and now have the familiar floater ring in your eye, then you didn't need google.

 

How do you cope? If you have had one or more for a length of time, have they become less noticeable?

 

Yes, I have them in both eyes.

[carhill]

They come and go. I think it's more the misshapen condition of my corneas due to kerokotonus than anything else. Haven't really looked into it though. Seems to be more common as we get older. I don't think what I experience is related to the vitreous becoming more liquid because it fluctuates so much and is markedly more noticeable when in dry (humidity) than wet. In low humidity, the poor curvature causes high spots and drying and I blink more, messing with things.

 

If you have the traditional floaters, the method I use of focusing on distant objects and training the brain to ignore the extraneous stuff could work. I use the same process to train to ignore pain. Yeah, the spots are there, can't do anything about them, so don't focus on it.

[JamesM]

Now I had to google that one. With all of my research into eyes, I never really checked kerokotonus out before.

 

Mine come from aging and a higher prescription, but more from aging...as in late forties and into the fifties. There is no coming and going. They stay.

 

I agree. Ignoring them seems to be the only way. They are there but if I am lucky, they may drop out of sight. As someone said to me, make them your friend.

 

I guess since they invited themselves into my eye, I have no choice.

 

Just curious how many others have noticeable ones and how they cope. My eye doctor said they are more common than we realize.

[doyathinkso]

Get yourself checked out like yesterday! Sudden flood of floaters is indicative of bleeding in the eye, which more often than not flags a retinal detachment.

[JamesM]

Get yourself checked out like yesterday! Sudden flood of floaters is indicative of bleeding in the eye, which more often than not flags a retinal detachment.

 

I know. This happened last April already, and my eyes have been dilated four or five times since then. It is just a "simple" PVD. I had the flashing lights and then a cute thread in the shape of a movable circle appeared.

 

Trust me. I have been paranoid about a retinal detachment. My eye doctor assures me that the danger is past unless something new shows up, but the risk is much lower now that the PVD is over.

 

Thank you for your concern, and yes, it is a good warning for anyone who does come here because they see floaters in their eyes.

[whichwayisup]

Does anyone have noticeable eye floaters?

 

I don't mean the kind that you see only when you look at a bright sky. Those are little dots that you never see during your normal day.

 

I am talking about the ones that impede your vision throughout the day.

 

Has anyone had post vitreol detachment? (Google suddenly got busy! ) If you had one and now have the familiar floater ring in your eye, then you didn't need google.

 

How do you cope? If you have had one or more for a length of time, have they become less noticeable?

 

Yes, I have them in both eyes.

 

Black floaters, got them! In both eyes! Mine were migraine induced years ago and took a while to get used to them, I'd say about 5 months or so. Harmless but such a pain in the butt especially in the summer when there are fruit flies around! LOL sometimes I can't tell if it's the floater or a little bug!

 

I see my ophthalmologist every 2 years now.

Edited February 24, 2017 by whichwayisup

[bluefeather]

Look into taking Lutein supplements. They are supposed to be good for eye health. Might help.

[BC1980]

I started getting noticeable floaters this year. I had my eyes dilated, and my doctor said they are just normal floaters that occur with aging and being nearsighted. They are annoying though. The retina in my left eye is thinner than normal, which can put you at an increased risk for retinal detachment. But my doctor said that a lot of people who are nearsighted have the same problem, and nothing ever comes from it. I have not had the vitreous detach. I would be freaking out because I get really nervous about eye stuff.

 

Retinal detachment can be fixed as long as the retina does not completely detach. So that's the good news. Of course, you know if you have an abrupt onset of flashes and floaters, those are the telltale signs of retinal detachment. Don't hesitate if you think it's detached because once it completely detaches, you can't fix it. Forewarned is forearmed and all that. Anyone who is nearsighted is automatically at a greater risk for retinal detachment.

[BC1980]

Look into taking Lutein supplements. They are supposed to be good for eye health. Might help.

 

I actually take a Lutein supplement sometimes. I also take Bilberry supplements. Those are mainly in the hopes of preventing macular degeneration, which is much more worrisome than a retinal detachment because it leads to permanent blindness. Actually, wearing UVA sunglasses is supposed to help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. Even better than taking a supplement is eating foods high in lutein like an egg yolk or kale. I try to either eat an egg or take a lutein supplement each day. I don't know if if will help me in the end, but it won't hurt I suppose.

 

I have heard of lutein helping to prevent floaters, but I don't if any research has been done on it.

[bluefeather]

I have heard of lutein helping to prevent floaters, but I don't if any research has been done on it.

 

I used to take Bilberry, but it seemed to have little effect on me. I switched to Lutein and have "seen" great improvement. But I think it depends on the person, symptoms, and also the brand. I had to research and experiment, increase doses, and be patient.

 

Even better than taking a supplement is eating foods high in lutein like an egg yolk or kale.

 

I think eating foods that benefit the body is excellent, but I disagree with your statement that eating them is better than supplementing. You would have to gorge yourself with pounds of food to get some of the benefits that supplements or even multivitamins give.

[GoodOnPaper]

Does anyone have noticeable eye floaters?

 

Yes, I have had large eye floaters my entire adult life - I've learned to ignore them. Due to some harmless vitreous thickening issue according to my optometrist and ophthalmologist - I see each once a year at 6-month intervals due to my glaucoma that is under management through laser surgery.

 

If you don't see an eye doctor regularly, find a good optometrist and have him or her check your eye pressure and give your retinas a thorough look. I've been told that if you suddenly see a wave of very small dust- or glitter-like floaters, that's a sign of a retinal tear - that would be bad.

[JamesM]

Thanks for all of the good advice. Much appreciated.

 

Yes, I take a vitamin with lutein as recommended by some eye group. As has been said, lutein is usually a help for AMD. And yes, it is more scary as it will continue to lead to blindness if not stopped.

 

I have visits with my optometrist once a year, and yes, I am paranoid about flashers and floaters. I get my eyes dilated every time. She has looked into my eyes more than any woman I know...well, except MAYBE my wife.

 

While the risk is higher with a higher prescription, it is still about 1 in 800. So more worrisome but not really great. Once the PVD occurs, then the risk is still the same as it was before and not greater.

 

BC1980, the PVD is scary, but knowing ahead of time that by itself it is harmless will help you. I literally had a panic attack in a store when it first started. I couldn't get home fast enough to call my doc's emergency number. After he calmed me down and assured me that based on the symptoms I was not having a retinal detachment, I was able to wait until morning to be thoroughly checked out. Still the remaining circle shaped string floater that is always noticeable, unless the room is fairly dark or I am sleeping, can be incredibly annoying until one gets used to its existence.

 

By far, most PVDs do not lead to retinal detachment. That is reassuring but until your own is confirmed to be "just" a PVD, anxiety will be strong.

 

Again, thanks for the input. Mainly I wanted to hear that others shared my misery. Also, through google and an LS search, others can find comfort that they are not alone.

[angel.eyes]

Have you been examined by an ophthalmologist at some point, or just an optometrist?

[JamesM]

Have you been examined by an ophthalmologist at some point, or just an optometrist?

 

Like your name...appropriate here.

 

Three different optometrists one with ten years of experience and two with twenty or more. One has been dilating my eyes for most of that twenty years.

 

They are connected to an ophthalmologist and would send me on if they felt it was necessary.

 

It has been a few years since I went to an ophthalmologist and prior to the PVDs.

[BC1980]

Thanks for all of the good advice. Much appreciated.

 

Yes, I take a vitamin with lutein as recommended by some eye group. As has been said, lutein is usually a help for AMD. And yes, it is more scary as it will continue to lead to blindness if not stopped.

 

I have visits with my optometrist once a year, and yes, I am paranoid about flashers and floaters. I get my eyes dilated every time. She has looked into my eyes more than any woman I know...well, except MAYBE my wife.

 

While the risk is higher with a higher prescription, it is still about 1 in 800. So more worrisome but not really great. Once the PVD occurs, then the risk is still the same as it was before and not greater.

 

BC1980, the PVD is scary, but knowing ahead of time that by itself it is harmless will help you. I literally had a panic attack in a store when it first started. I couldn't get home fast enough to call my doc's emergency number. After he calmed me down and assured me that based on the symptoms I was not having a retinal detachment, I was able to wait until morning to be thoroughly checked out. Still the remaining circle shaped string floater that is always noticeable, unless the room is fairly dark or I am sleeping, can be incredibly annoying until one gets used to its existence.

 

By far, most PVDs do not lead to retinal detachment. That is reassuring but until your own is confirmed to be "just" a PVD, anxiety will be strong.

 

Again, thanks for the input. Mainly I wanted to hear that others shared my misery. Also, through google and an LS search, others can find comfort that they are not alone.

 

I am also super paranoid about anything to do with the eyes. I think it comes from being a nurse and seeing all the stuff that can go wrong in life. I never really had a problem with floaters until this year, and it's so annoying. I have a sizeable floater in my right eye that is bad in bright light. It moves if I focus on something, but that's really hard all the time. I started getting paranoid about AMD when my grandmother was diagnosed.

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[JamesM]

I am also super paranoid about anything to do with the eyes. I think it comes from being a nurse and seeing all the stuff that can go wrong in life. I never really had a problem with floaters until this year, and it's so annoying. I have a sizeable floater in my right eye that is bad in bright light. It moves if I focus on something, but that's really hard all the time. I started getting paranoid about AMD when my grandmother was diagnosed.

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What is it shaped like?

[BC1980]

What is it shaped like?

 

Kind of oval like. I see it anytime I look up/down or side to side.

[JamesM]

Kind of oval like. I see it anytime I look up/down or side to side.

 

Not to be too particular...

 

An oval outline or an oval blob?

 

Is it like an oval string shape, or is the oval filled in?

[preraph]

YES! I had PVD and have had it in both eyes different times. It is so scary at first. My left eye went suddenly when bright light was streaming in the side of it while I was in my car. I was blinded in my left eye.

 

I went to the ophtholmalogist however you spell it, and he had two of his partners come look because he said the largest piece of vitreous debris was the largest he had ever seen, so large they could see it with the naked eye. It was one big one and lots of little ones and it blinded me and drove me crazy.

 

There is light on the horizon, though. First, you will feel like you're going crazy, chasing those floaters. But then your brain compensates and adjusts for it. Of course, to get a break, go lay down and close your eyes.

 

Over time, those fade out to where you only notice them if you're looking for them. They dissipate. Your brain will adjust soon, and then in a month or so, you'll be having some relief and fading.

 

 

If one goes, the other probably will too. Mine was a few years behind it and wasn't nearly as blinding and faded faster.

 

So hang in there. It is scary, yes. But it begins improving shortly.

[whichwayisup]

What is it shaped like?

 

Mine are black. A few are blobs, some are lines and some look like little tiny fruit flies.

[JamesM]

Mine are black. A few are blobs, some are lines and some look like little tiny fruit flies.

 

You have quite the variety.

[whichwayisup]

You have quite the variety.

 

They're my little buddies!

 

It did take me a while to get used to them. I freaked out since at first thought it was a detached retina (saw flashing lights) but eye Dr calmed me saying since I suffered from migraines that they were the cause. Gave me huge anxiety so I understand what you're going through. Though DO see a specialist soon! Get a referral from your family doctor. Even though your optometrist is well trained, he/she isn't an ophthalmologist.

[JamesM]

They're my little buddies!

 

It did take me a while to get used to them. I freaked out since at first thought it was a detached retina (saw flashing lights) but eye Dr calmed me saying since I suffered from migraines that they were the cause. Gave me huge anxiety so I understand what you're going through. Though DO see a specialist soon! Get a referral from your family doctor. Even though your optometrist is well trained, he/she isn't an ophthalmologist.

 

That is literally the best way to deal with them based on what I have read. It helps alot to "make them your friends." Good attitude.

 

I am over most of the anxiety now. Last year wasn't the best of years with the second PVD and other stuff, but now I am learning to treat these moving circles as part of me.

 

Yes, I may have to see a "real eye doctor" sometime this year, even though I have been cleared after four eye dilations since the PVD.

[SJS]

Thanks for posting this thread! I've had floaters for as long as I remember, both white and black ones, and at my last eye exam my OD said I'm on track to having a detachment. I'm near-sighted but my prescription is actually correcting itself (in fact my prescription has improved every year for several years). He said although that in general is good, the lining is thinning faster than normal and started listing off what will happen during a detachment and at what point I need to hurry to get back in to see him. It didn't really worry me at the time until I looked into it more, everything says this is an age-related thing and is rare in people under 40. I was almost 39 at my last appointment, and he was pretty insistent that I knew the signs.

[JamesM]

Thanks for posting this thread! I've had floaters for as long as I remember, both white and black ones, and at my last eye exam my OD said I'm on track to having a detachment. I'm near-sighted but my prescription is actually correcting itself (in fact my prescription has improved every year for several years). He said although that in general is good, the lining is thinning faster than normal and started listing off what will happen during a detachment and at what point I need to hurry to get back in to see him. It didn't really worry me at the time until I looked into it more, everything says this is an age-related thing and is rare in people under 40. I was almost 39 at my last appointment, and he was pretty insistent that I knew the signs.

 

You are welcome.

 

Which kind of detachment? Detachment as in post vitreous detachment or as in retinal detachment? Big difference. One is "normal," the other is a concern.

 

You are lucky if your eyes are healing. My eyes were thinning too for years, but my eye doc did not overreact except tell me to watch for floaters and flashers.

 

I still panicked when it happened.

 

It is good to know the signs. Be glad he told you. Just don't get too worried. If it is the PVD he is talking about, then while it is possible to have a retinal detachment, it is not a probable thing.

 

You may have a few years yet before anything happens.

 

Thanks for posting.