Eye Floaters anyone?

I had a detached retina when i was in my 20s (I'm seriously nearsighted) and knew the symptoms. Nonetheless, when i had flashes and increased floaters over the winter I freaked out a bit, thinking it might be cancer. Just like Shirley, I had vitreous detachment. I just saw my ophthalmologist again a few days ago. She said this is a natural part of the aging process, but for those of us who are severely nearsighted it occurs earlier. It is really, really important to get it checked out because you don't want to have a detached retina. Mine was repaired successfully, but if the detachment reaches a certain point the vision loss is permanent.

Anneshirley sorry to hear about your eye, and floaters are irritating. I've had floaters for a long time and was warned that if I start seeing flashes and get bad pain to get right to the hospital.  When I was told that I was in my invincible stage and ignored the floaters.  I often shake my head to move them it sounds strange but I should deal with them properly.  And now that Anne wrote about detached retina thats what the op warned me about.  So I guess it's another thing to have checked now.  I suppose it's wise to have everything checked now. I'd love to find a Dr. that would give me a complete physical without the cancer word mentioned just to see how I'm doing.  Good luck with your eye Anne Shirley and Shirley.  I still do the shake of the head it seems to make them move, looks really silly though.

I'm trying to find someone to help me fiquire things out. My sister called just sobbing yesterday, her sil had a tumour in the brain, they operated and removed, the surgeon just on Wed gave them the it went so perfect, textbook you'll be fine etc. etc.  I warned my sister that they need to find out what the pathology report says and not get to carried away with ther surgeons opinion.  Well yesterday my sister was sobbing because her sister in law was told the tumour is a rare type of brain cancer and that it will come back and then gave her 3months to a year and half to live.  Well we both just sat and cried.  Her sil is going to do rads and take a chemo pill to get more time.  But what upsets me so damn much is the timeline again, why do they alway do that no one knows but God when our time is up. I'm so sad and shocked. What type of chemo pill can they give her my sis said she will tell next week and what if they're wrong, she's selling her business and giving things away already I just think it's premature. Help.

What happens is that the vitreous pulls on the retina and this causes the flashes and floaters. Sometimes -- but not always -- it pulls hard enough to make a tear in the retina. They can't know this is happening until it happens. Usually when someone has a vitreous detachment they will ask them to come back in a month or two to recheck the retina.



Signs of a detached retina:



1. Flashes

2. Loss of peripheral vision. This can be tricky because the other eye will compensate. I only realized it was happening when I close one eye and noticed that a third of my vision was gone in the other eye. If you are having flashes, see the ophthalmologist and if you get the all clear, periodically close the other eye to check your vision.

3. When I had a detached retina I saw brownish bubbles cross my vision. I have never read this as a symptom of a detached retina, but it happened to me, so I put it out there.



Keep in mind that vitreous detachment is a natural part of the aging process so everyone will eventually get floaters and flashes. Don't be alarmed, just get it checked out.

I have had floaters for over 20 years. I'm 58. They were sort of oval scraggly rainbows passing in front of my eye. They would usualy stay for 15 mins or so. This would maybe occur evy 5 months or so. Doctor exam said they were a natural part of aging. So basically ignored them. Then about 2 months ago, I started having different kind of floater-black sqiggly lines and circles-sort of like a fly passing before my eye. Had a thorough exam at eye hospital-they checked to make sure it wasn't a retinal tear. Everything was okay. They told me it probably wouldn't go away-but it did(after about a week).They also told me though to come back for another exam-to recheck it. I haven't been able to get to it-with all the cancer stuff going on. Well good luck to you. Definately have it checked.

I don't know that continued flashes necessarily means a detached retina. I've had them since December and my retina is fine. For me the flashes will probably continue until the vitreous detaches completely. But it is definitely something that should be checked.



The test for a detached retina is dilating your eye and examining it. They can't predict it, they just can see it if it happens. If they catch it when it is just a tear, and not detached, it can be fixed without surgery.

When I met the ophthalmologist that evening, boy did he EVER exam my eye.  I can't explain what he did.  Of course the eye was also dilated.  When I went back for a recheck it wasn't quite as extreme.  They can see behind the eye.  They often lay you upside down...LOL...and look at your eyes with this horrid bright light.

My floaters looked like dark, mascaraed (is that a word?) eyelashes floating horizontally.  I still have them, but not as dark.

Shirley

I've had various little floaters for years.  But one Sunday evening, I very suddenly started to have flashes of light in my peripheral vision, and massive amounts of floaters in the same eye.  Scared me to death.  Went to the ophthmologist (hate trying to spell that) the next day and had it checked out.  Thank goodness there WAS no problem with my retina -- but I'm glad I had it checked out and wouldn't hesitate to do that again when there's a distinct change.

Yes, my floaters looked like eyelashes and spiders.  At times, when i get up in the middle of the night to get to the bathroom, I see movement.... and after my heart calms down, I just realize that I had caught sight of a floater (*laugh*).

Most likely it is not a detached retina but the only way to know is to have it checked out. Go to the doctor ASAP, today if you can. You will most likely get reassurance. If you can catch it when it is just a tear and not detached, it can be fixed without fill-blown surgery.

There is a difference between ocular migraines and flashes. Ocular migraines last for 10, 20, 30 minutes -- they grow and expand. Flashed are literally a split second. Also, flashes are usually at the periphery of the vision while ocular migraines can be central.

Wonderful news Anne Shirley---Glad you got to enjoy your HS reunion.

I never had any desire to see any of my high school classmates.---I was a very Bohemian Art student and I stuck out like a sore thumb in High School.

A Pratt Institute or Tyler reunion would be quite a different matter.  I look back on those days with fondness. 

What you describe is exactly what is happening to me when I cough hard

and it does only happen in the dark.  You've eased my mind but I guess its time to get it checked out as well.

PS I didn't get teased until college about my eye because although I have Strabismic Amblyopia it's not evident unless I get tired and the eye

takes a hike and travels off the side of my face--Its more of a functioning problem with the two sides of my brain not operating together. Yes- it would freak out friends now and then.  Mine turns outward.  Interesting what that Doctor told you---probably why my depth perception is non existent-- mine was discovered at 5 years only because of a routine exam but I probably had it from birth. 

Yep--Nearly side swiping everything while driving is a way of life.---Didn't your friends love to drive with you?  LOL   Now I only travel

two lane back roads and that is very precarious.

has anyone ever had flashes of color??

I have them and they float around, pink and purple, aqua!!

sounds nuts I know, talked to family doc. and she said it

sounds beautiful!!!

they are colorful, BUT not pretty when you try and sleep!!

am I nuts????

I do have brain problems, will have surgery the 13th of may

for a Annie, and a skull biopsy on the large bump on my head...

maybe this is why I have them, But I have never heared of them before.... Please help!!!

Puppy

Puppy, perhaps you should ask your surgeon.  I don't recall having flashing colors.  That would be pretty -- like fireworks. LOL

awb, when I had my vitreous detachment I noticed little specks also.  But not until a couple of days later.  I kept the room darkened because I didn't like those darn things floating around.  I called the ophthalmologist (I can't believe I spelled that OPH right according to spell check..I'm so proud of myself!) and talked to his assistant.  She said he had noted that.  Hmmm..amazing what these doctors can see.  It was tiny pin point spots..tiny, tiny.

The thing about those pinpoint specks of light is that we all see them all the time, but we aren't aware of them. Sometimes something happens that makes you hyper-vigilant and then you notice them. But they are totally normal.



Puppy, do you have a neurologist? I think you should mention the colors, because it sounds more like a brain thing than an eye thing. That may be a migraine. But I have had EVERYTHING that could possibly happen in the eyeball happen (or at least it feels that way ) and I've never experienced that particular symptoms. Good luck with all those procedures.