Floaters

[light rain]

Extremely nearsighted even as a young child. I've always had floaters and honestly they don't bother me. (Except when I'm swatting at nonexistent gnats. )

I started having pvd in my early 40's and last year started developing a macular hole. It healed without surgery but there is not complete separation in that eye and it is still attached to the macula on the other eye. So I have scans done frequently. One of the things to look out for is more floaters. Really! (Lol).

Lynn

 

[Mark662]

I would be very cautious about laser treatment for floaters. Often the laser will simply break up the larger clumps into smaller fragments which may annoy the patient as much if not more than the original clump. There have also been instances where the laser has damaged the retina. Then you could be left with a black blind spot permanently.

This is true, but the practioner needs to be using a high enough laser power in order to vaporise the floaters, and not break them up into smaller fragments. Patients sometimes see tiny gas bubbles as the floaters are vaporised. The bubbles are then reabsorbed and disappear. Floaters present anywhere near the retina should never be treated in any case, therefore eliminating potential damage.

Dr John Karichoff has been treating patients with floaters for 27 years, "5 days a week" according to his website. I would assume, therefore, he is doing it without too many issues for his patients.

I suffer with floaters. I work outside so see them almost all the time. They spin in a vortex when I turn my head. I noticed them about 5 years ago. I got tinnitus about 30 years ago. Both conditions I could really do without.

 

[shasta0863]

Is there anyone with floaters here, and if so, has anyone recently done a FoV surgery to remove it?

As if tinnitus wasn't bad enough, this hell of floaters all over my vision is now basically trumping T, which is shocking to me. I'm only in my 20's, and I have a supposedly healthy eye with very mild nearsightedness yet it continues to worsen. Two lovely conditions with nothing easy in terms of assisting.

I had floaters for years before, but they've gotten worse. I've got dark black fuzzy ones, with crystal like worms attached to them that go on as long as I can see, seemingly never ending. It's so bad now I can't even function, go outside and even the computer, my one bastion of freedom, is now taken from me with seeing this crap all over. They move with the slightest movement. Large globs of strings and fuzzy cores just swashing back and forward. Can barely tolerate it in low lighting now.

I've heard FoV are being done more frequently now compared to 10 years ago, better instruments and such. Has anyone actually done this for floater removal? It's not an ideal thing to do for removal, but unlike tinnitus, at least it is something....even if you are risking retina damage and even blindness.

 

[shasta0863]

I can't seem to edit my post after it was moved here, but I'd like to add that mine are very much central vision. There's no sinking taking place after years. Young people with floaters have different types than those that age. The biggest issue is the progression of it worsening for me anyways. Going from 24 with few floaters, to 25 with mild, to now unbearable. All while eye health is fine and very, very mild nearsightedness.

It's officially worse than tinnitus, stunned I'd ever imagine a day. Outside has been ruined and even computer disgusts me and makes me angry and ill not being able to not see the screen without crap all over.

 

[shasta0863]

I was 31 when I got them I was 32 when I had them removed in Belgium (Leuven by Dr Stalmans) by FOV (Floaters Only Vitrectomy). It's daily business for them to remove eyefloaters. I had no side-effects after the surgery. I was 41 when I got T.... I do tVMS now....hope that it works!
PS I had severe eyefloaters

Hello, are you fine post-FOV now? No issue? I'm 28 and my floaters are now worse than my tinnitus issue, but FoV seems very dangerous. Especially since I've not had a PVD, just seems my vitreous degenerated worse than others. One of my concerns is the humor that is sucked out, supposedly helps protect eye from UV rays and other ocular diseases, and the saline put in its place can't mimic these protections. Do you know if this is true?

 

[canuhearmenow]

I've had one in the lower portion of the field of sight in my left eye for at least the last 22 years. It's usually not noticeable but I see it sometime when using the computer.

 

[John_415]

Lately I've been getting a lot of them in my right eye. It's very annoying cause I have a couple of dark ones dancing around the center of my vision, making it hard to concentrate on the computer or enjoy being outside.

View attachment 368

Any chance they will go away, move or anything?
Gets my mind a little off the tinnitus, but really it just adds to the depressive state that I'm in...

Doesn't everyone have these??
And how does one fotograph his own eyefloaters to get that image anyway?

 

[Dij111]

I've noticed I have 1 black floater on left eye, 2 transparent ones on right eye.

I think I've had them for a while, did not notice or care enough.

Such a mild annoyance compared to the debilitating T.

 

[dpdx]

does T cause floaters? what causes floaters? eye damage? eye strain?

 

[Dij111]

does T cause floaters? what causes floaters? eye damage? eye strain?

If you notice a lot of them all of a sudden it could be damage to the retina, otherwise they just appear naturally as we age.

 

[Jcb]

I've noticed some since I got T, I'm not sure if I've had them all along or since I got T? I only seem to really notice them when I'm outside in the daylight.... anybody else the same?

 

[dpdx]

If you notice a lot of them all of a sudden it could be damage to the retina, otherwise they just appear naturally as we age.

Should I go to the optometrist?

 

[Rubenslash]

I've noticed I have 1 black floater on left eye, 2 transparent ones on right eye.

I think I've had them for a while, did not notice or care enough.

Such a mild annoyance compared to the debilitating T.

Mild annoyance? Lol not if you see 30 floaters in sun light.

 

[Suzerman]

I've noticed I have 1 black floater on left eye, 2 transparent ones on right eye.

I think I've had them for a while, did not notice or care enough.

Such a mild annoyance compared to the debilitating T.

Yeah but you have a very mild case of eyefloaters. I have like 15 brown ones (as far as Im able to count them anymore) some large some smaller, and then all the debris you can see through. Far from being just a mild annoyance in my case. Ive had them since I was 16 years old, and it was one of the hardest things I had to deal with

 

[Ambassador]

Most people have them and don't ever notice them. I have to look for mine and they are there but if 'm not looking for them I don't see them.

 

[Pero1234]

Inspired by all the research done for a T / treatments, I started wondering...

What is happening in the field of eye floaters?

I have been struggling with floaters from when I was 18 years old. After 10 years of Flixonase (steroid spray) for chronic sinus issues, I noticed they increased steadily. Together with my doctor, we got me off the spray, even though it was never proven that sprays cause floaters.

But the damage that's done, is done.

When I talked to my eye doctor, she told me the floater-cure was worse than the problem: eye surgery.

Now I read this from 2017:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/503005/scientists-are-working-way-treat-eye-floaters-lasers

Any news on this or other treatments?

I don't think a pill will ever solve floaters... lasers might.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Hmm, there is already a treatment with laser, no? at least a few clinics in my country offer this treatment via laser.....there is a small risk to the procedure but then there always is.....when a cure to T is found there is probably also going to be a small risk in getting the cure whether by surgery, pills or another procedure.

 

[Kratos]

When I have seen this thread, I have noticed my floaters after ~2 months without noticing them, LOL.

 

[MBH]

I have eye flasher that look like lighting, it was real surprise when I was driving my car. Although it is mild at this point, don't know when it is going to get worse, but I'm thankful it is not, but mine is definitely from T.

 

[dpdx]

I have dark eye floaters on my left eye.
And guess on which ear I have severe tinnitus?
The left one, so there is some connection. I had no dark eye floaters until February 2018.

 

[Mr Worried]

Hmm, there is already a treatment with laser, no?

Yes, but it's terrible unless you're an old person (40+) with old person type floaters (the big type that are far away from the retina). Most young people have very tiny floaters that sit right next to the retina, so they're too dangerous to try and remove with lasers.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Yes, but it's terrible unless you're an old person (40+) with old person type floaters (the big type that are far away from the retina). Most young people have very tiny floaters that sit right next to the retina, so they're too dangerous to try and remove with lasers.

I see. I have a whole web of dots all over my vision and I don't thing they are small dots but they are not big either.

I wrote with another member on here, who had his floaters remowed 100% by surgery, and that is want I want to have.....but it is fairly pricey so it won't be an option for some years, but at least it is comforting knowing that I can have them remowed, because they are starting to bother me more and more. It is hard having 2 of your 5 senses impaired (eyes and ears)

 

[Tamara]

When I had acute acoustic trauma, along with tinnitus, I began to notice many floaters on the same side of the tinnitus, left ear, left eye. After about two years I did not see the floaters anymore.The tinnitus and hyperacusis getting worse almost five years later.

 

[BobK544]

yes i have floaters and they increased right around the time i got my 2nd Tinnitus affliction in Dec 2017 and i'm wondering if maybe floaters are another indication or affect of something that also caused my T, in other words some kind of poisoning that affected a number of sensitve areas. And i'm pretty sure that the NasaCort was the culprit as about a week after using it, all this happened, so if there are any future investigations into NasaCort and others are reporting Tinnitus and Floater increases, then i honestly thing that NasaCort would be a likely suspect!

 

[Pero1234]

I had to use Flixonase for 10 years... to deal with my chronic sinus infection...

I'm also convinced it attributed to my many floaters. After I stopped and switched to a nose horn with salt, no new floaters appeared.

My brain had adapted, and didn't notice them for the bigger part of two years.

Then I got T and I got depressed... and it was like my brain (the bastard!) reminded me: "oh, and don't forget these guys, floating in front of your eyes! Look, I can have them reappear and have you focus on them again."

I doubt it's T itself that's adding to them, but depending on your mood and focus... they may become more obvious.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

I had to use Flixonase for 10 years... to deal with my chronic sinus infection...

I'm also convinced it attributed to my many floaters. After I stopped and switched to a nose horn with salt, no new floaters appeared.

My brain had adapted, and didn't notice them for the bigger part of two years.

Then I got T and I got depressed... and it was like my brain (the bastard!) reminded me: "oh, and don't forget these guys, floating in front of your eyes! Look, I can have them reappear and have you focus on them again."

I doubt it's T itself that's adding to them, but depending on your mood and focus... they may become more obvious.

That is exactly what has happened to me too! I have had floaters for many years but I have never been heavily bothered by them, but after getting T I find I have a harder time ignoring them, and they are starting to bother me more and more.

 

[RicoS]

That is exactly what has happened to me too! I have had floaters for many years but I have never been heavily bothered by them, but after getting T I find I have a harder time ignoring them, and they are starting to bother me more and more.

That is a setup for an anxiety disorder... so be careful. It can be symptoms of major anxiety in the body. So your body goes on high alert and you notice stuff more and more....

 

[TheDanishGirl]

That is a setup for an anxiety disorder... so be careful. It can be symptoms of major anxiety in the body. So your body goes on high alert and you notice stuff more and more....

Be careful, how? I already have a anxiety disorder.

Btw I contacted the Belgian clinic about the FOV, and got a very nice response with a pamphlet that answered all my questions. Unfortunately the procedure costs 5500 EUR. I don't think I will ever have that kind of money :/

 

[RicoS]

Be careful, how? I already have a anxiety disorder.

Btw I contacted the belgian clinic about the FOV, and got a very nice response with a pamplet that answered all my quastions. Unfortunetly the procedure costs 5500 EUR. I don't think I will ever have that kind of money :/

Wow that is way more expensive then I had it done..... :-(
That means 11.000 for both eyes .... pffffffff..... Just like T a lot of people suffer from floaters. Before I had floaters i did not even know this existed. Until that gate to hell opened up...and like I said I was so happy when I had both FOVS done and was rid of it. And then T came after so many years.... I think the floaters were a first warning sign to take it easy...but I was a workaholic and made long days. Besides that I was always helping people with whatever.

But ok it is a lot of money....but you can at least set a goal or what ever...you know there is a treatment for floaters so there is at least that. Btw you can ask at your local hospital if they do vitrectomies ... it is very common but in Belgium they had it specific for floaters?

I also have an anxiety disorder....and it is hard to deal with sadly ....if I knew what it was in the first place I new what to do to prevent it to becoming worse. What I mean with be careful is to not take to much on you plate and take enough rest. Relaxing is hard with an anxiety disorder ....but if more symptoms rise ...you know you get deeper in the rabbit-hole.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Wow that is way more expensive then I had it done..... :-(
That means 11.000 for both eyes .... pffffffff..... Just like T a lot of people suffer from floaters. Before I had floaters i did not even know this existed. Until that gate to hell opened up...and like I said I was so happy when I had both FOVS done and was rid of it. And then T came after so many years.... I think the floaters were a first warning sign to take it easy...but I was a workaholic and made long days. Besides that I was always helping people with whatever.

But ok it is a lot of money....but you can at least set a goal or what ever...you know there is a treatment for floaters so there is at least that. Btw you can ask at your local hospital if they do vitrectomies ... it is very common but in Belgium they had it specific for floaters?

I also have an anxiety disorder....and it is hard to deal with sadly ....if I knew what it was in the first place I new what to do to prevent it to becoming worse. What I mean with be careful is to not take to much on you plate and take enough rest. Relaxing is hard with an anxiety disorder ....but if more symptoms rise ...you know you get deeper in the rabbit-hole.

Oh, I didn't even know it would be 11.000 for BOTH eyes NO WAY, am I ever gonna have that kind of money. I can't work full time because of T/H and also other issues so I will always have a low income that just gets me by. So unless I win the lottery or something it will probably never be a possibility for me, sadly.