Eye floaters...

Author
Discussion

Marf

22,907 posts

248 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
Yep, had them for as long as I can remember, I don't expect them to go anywhere soon.

Are you short sighted? I am and I think that lends itself to seeing them more as your focus point is closer to your eyes.

RegMolehusband

4,016 posts

264 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
I thought floaters were quite normal if you stare at the right background with the right lighting. I find them quite interesting to watch though I've never found them as intrusive as you describe.

Lefty Guns

16,630 posts

209 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
Marf said:
Yep, had them for as long as I can remember, I don't expect them to go anywhere soon.

Are you short sighted? I am and I think that lends itself to seeing them more as your focus point is closer to your eyes.
Me too, and I'm very short sighted. I have 2 or 3 in each eye but they never bother me.

Marf

22,907 posts

248 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
Lefty Guns said:
Marf said:
Yep, had them for as long as I can remember, I don't expect them to go anywhere soon.

Are you short sighted? I am and I think that lends itself to seeing them more as your focus point is closer to your eyes.
Me too, and I'm very short sighted. I have 2 or 3 in each eye but they never bother me.
2 or 3? you have it easy hehe

Staring at the wall just now I can count over 10 in each eye.

john_p

7,073 posts

257 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
I've had loads as long as I can remember (from at least 12 onwards). You get used to it. 968 used to post on here about them, do a search if you are worried. IIRC if they get significantly worse then off to hospital ASAP.

triggersbroom

2,437 posts

211 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
I have had these for years too. Nothing to worry about.

You have to train your brain to ignore them, and see through them if you see what I mean.

Think of it like trying to drive with a dirty windscreen. Most people can see through the dirt, but you are one of those people that look at the dirt!

Give it time, and you will learn to ignore them 90% of the time.

HTH smile

triggersbroom

2,437 posts

211 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
Tiredness can make it worse.

You will never stop seeing them, but you can get on with your life with only 10% of your time when they will catch you out and say boo!

Honestly, if you have been give the all-clear - just try to ignore them!

Give it time, you will hardly notice them in future. Promise! biggrin

968

12,004 posts

255 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
IL_JDM said:
Anyone 'suffer' from these?

I first noticed them around 6 months ago and feel they have steadily become more noticeable. I've been to the optician who referred me to hospital for a further check, but they said it seems OK and won't be anything serious such as a detached retina.

At first I felt sick, it felt like I was losing my eyesight and I wanted to get home and just close the blinds.. Working on a PC all day I just saw these retarded jelly like strands floating around my vision.

I notice it most when driving, I can see them whenever the sky is overcast, basically any background which is pretty plain.

Anyway, 6 months on I've got used to them but they still piss me off every now and again. Noticed this morning that I'm finding it quite hard to read number plates in my left eye, not sure if it's just a one-off or maybe there is a huge one in that eye causing the blurriness.

So, who suffers from them? Has anyone ever had these and notice them fade over time? Supposedly they do, but 6 months on mine are clearly still there frown
If you've had them for 6 months, it's highly unlikely that they will cause you a problem, in terms of a retinal detachment. You've been referred so that you can be thoroughly examined by an Ophthalmologist, who will look at the peripheral parts of the retina to ensure there are no tears or breaks in it.

The floaters will persist and will be noticeable from time to time, but over time you should start to ignore them as they tend to drift out of view due to gravity and also your brain learns to filter them out of view. Removing them is possible, if they are very visually disabling, but it requires a fairly big operation for the eye and lots of possible risks (though fairly uncommon). It's not an operation that is offered very often.

Lois

14,706 posts

259 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
I first got them when i was 21/22 and was told it was a sign of aging :-(
The 1st ones i got were really annoying and lasted nearly a year, not i just seem to get them intermittently.

Frankeh

12,558 posts

192 months

968

12,004 posts

255 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Nah not aging as such.... It represents change which happens to everyone after teenage years when the vitreous starts to deteriorate. smile

Lois

14,706 posts

259 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
Thanks, that makes me feel so much better :-p

968

12,004 posts

255 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
ummmmmm sorry old bean.....or should that be young bean?

Edited by 968 on Monday 28th September 12:50

StevenB

781 posts

204 months

Monday 28th September 2009
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Had them for years as well, Doc said nothing to worry about, they have not got worse only see them occasionly

HRG.

72,857 posts

246 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
Try and look at them, they always scurry away biggrin

968

12,004 posts

255 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
IL_JDM said:
Cheers 968, had a look through your previous posts on said subject, very informative beer
No probs. Just drop me an email if you have any further questions.

Lois

14,706 posts

259 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
968 said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
ummmmmm sorry old bean.....or should that be young bean?

Edited by 968 on Monday 28th September 12:50

When you're walking down the corridor at work and you all of a sudden get tripped up...that's me saying hi! ;-)

jas xjr

11,309 posts

246 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
had them since i was a kid. thought i could see bacteria and it was my super power

968

12,004 posts

255 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
LoL I was going to say, "but you don't know what I look like" but then thought, DOH! Facebook...... bugger.

oldbanger

4,316 posts

245 months

Monday 28th September 2009
quotequote all
john_p said:
I've had loads as long as I can remember (from at least 12 onwards).
Ditto