I've noticed them since about 1987 and I suppose I have got used to them.

Do you have them and do they bother you? They are only really a problem in bright conditions.

They got a lot worse once when I was on antibiotics and felt almost overwhelmed by them as they became spider- like.

Jackieboo, I had these for about 25 years, and then they became spider-like. I don't want to give you cause for concern, but from my experience seeing a big increase of spider-like floaters signaled a detached retina for me. I would have this checked out by a good opthalmologist. I really got the run around from a few opthalmologists before I went to a good one and he put a scleral buckle on my eye. The opthalmologist will dilate your eyes so they can see inside your eye. I never lost vision with my detached retina, but my floaters increased dramatically. If you've seen a large increase in them you should definitely have it checked out. Another signal of a detached retian is flashing lights. I myself never had this symptom.

I hope it's nothing (many people have floaters), but I'd go as soon as possible. I think I could have had a less invasive procedure (laser treatment), instead of actual surgery, if my doctor had found this soooner.

Again, I don't want to alarm you, but it's worth checking out. Keep us posted on what's going on with it. There's lots of information about detached retinas and symptoms on the internet. Most eye departments of major hospitals have good information on their sites. I wish I had known about these symptoms before my retina detached.

Frisbee

I've had these things since I was a kid. I've heard that people who are extremely nearsighted (I'm blind as a bat) are more susceptible to these than other people. I started off with one and slowly got more and more.

I agree with frisbee293. It's probably nothing, as most things are, but if they bother you or if they got more numerous suddenly you should get it checked out. I've heard the detached retina diagnosis, but also there is an issue with broken blood vessels in your eyes if you're diabetic. My stepfather got those as his diabetes progressed and he went through round after round of laser shots in his eyes -- hundreds of them -- to seal them off. He said it wasn't fun.

Like I said, you're probably fine, but you'll be finer if you get it checked out and be assured that it's nothing. Good luck!

I had the floaters a couple years ago, for a few months---turned out I had low iron. I took iron supplements for a couple months and noticed the diff within a couple weeks. I don't have them anymore. Something else to think about or check out.

I've had these for years.....so weird...I kept swiping my hand in front of my eye when I first got them and nothing happened....say eye doctor and he told me what they were....so weird.

I have had these for years too and don't really notice them unless I am in bright sunlight or outside. I have found that they are worse when I have sinus congestion. They are usually nothing to worry about.

Dor

I have had these for years too and don't really notice them unless I am in bright sunlight or outside. I have found that they are worse when I have sinus congestion. They are usually nothing to worry about.

Dor

Sorry for the double post. Dor

I've also had these for years and I am also very near sighted. Like everyone else mine are definitely worse in the sun or bright light. I've had them checked out a few times.

Thanks. I'm very long sighted.

I have had them checked at eye tests over the past two years, and was fascinated that he could see them too. They are small curled stringy ones. I've tried to stop them moving but can never do it enough to focus on them. My eyesight was near perfect and didn't need glasses until about 4 years ago I have presbyopia.

Apparently they are debris left over from when you are forming in the womb. Not sure how true that is.

It's interesting to read about the anaemia as I always am a bit. Funny I never noticed them before I had children - and noticed them a year after when I might have been run down. I'll get into the habit of takin my iron tonic again and keep a note of any change thanks. I have just bought an expensive one my Mu always swore by, Floradix.

Had blood test today yet again to see where I stand hormone wise and for anaemia strangely enough. Whenever I go to give blood they always say my count is too low to accept the the droplet of blood never sinks to the bottom of the test tube in the liquid!. Maybe it's the heavy periods.

I've just started a cours of iron tablets so will be interested to find out if there's any change of appearance of my "floaters". I know what they look like so will be able to determine anything different.

Hope it works for you. I think it took a couple weeks before I noticed the difference after starting iron pills.

Hi ladies!
I am 51 years old and have had floaters for years, went to the opthalmologist and he didn't seem too concerned with them. But they aggravate the heck out of me sometimes, especially when I am doing computer work and looking at a white paper-- they really stand out then! The floaters don't seem to be getting worse, but my distance and up-close vision sure is, so I think I'll make an appointment for a vision check soon.

Take care and have a great day, everyone!

Mary Jo

Hi my menosisters, i blame on my sinus problems for my floaters.

menoqueen

tell me about it! I've had sinus problems - which involve my teeth at times - all my life. Poor you.

Are they actually gone now??? It would be fanastic not to have them. I'm very interested in this.

http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a66/iluvt...ingGirl_Cat.gif

Yes, the floaters are actually gone now, have been for a long time since taking the iron pills.

I don't understand the link to my pics in photobucket. Huh??

I hate floaters -- I have quite a few - some days are worse than others. I also notice them a lot in bright light --

has anyone had problems with blurry vision too? This is a recent symptom that is bugging me --- I used to get blurry vision when I took my make-up off that contained an oily base -- it lasted for only a short time ... its a bit like that feeing...anyone know what I mean?

Eye exam soon anyway --- I never look forward to those either -- I hate the bright light they shine in your eye and the glare is horrible afterwards ---

Ladies, I've posted before about this topic since I've had a detached retina and could have lost my eyesight in one eye if it hadn't been corrected. I suggest that anyone who has floaters should see a GOOD opthalmologist, and have their eyes dilated so he/she can really look into your eyes. I had a horrific experience before I had my surgery with 2 groups of eye doctors (both large practices). and one practicing privately The first opthalmologist that I had been going to for years decided he didn't like my insurance anymore (didn't pay him enough), and told me to see a retina specialist at the next place I go to. I was used to him and even offered to pay myself for the treatment but he refused. The second opthalmologist detected it then waited 6 weeks before he gave me an appointment at his practice for a retinal specialist (which is what I had originally asked to see, since I'm very nearsighted). 6 weeks later they "confirmed" it, then they sent me driving with my eyes dilated to a horrible doctor almost an hour away (imagine driving with your eyes dilated to a nearby city trying to read road signs). He wanted to do the surgery immediately, but of course I had my mother's health issues to deal with (blood transfusions), and of course my siblings were once again useless--I had to handle everything. Then he was going on vacation, so he said either have it done immediatley or wait 3 weeks and sleep with my head almost dangling off the bed (just so he could get his fat surgical fee). I very reluctantly agreed for him to do the surgery, but didn't have a good feeling about it. He wanted to do a 3 very invasive procedures where I'd have to lie flat on my back for months.

I needed a pre-op physical for the surgery and my doctor didn't like what I told him about both groups and recommended his opthalmologist. He STILL didn't quite know what was going on and referred me to specialists in Boston, who took care of it very well. The whole experience was very disturbing and I certainly lost faith in opthalmologists after that. So my advice is try to find one associated with a hospital that does eye surgeries if you can to have your floaters checked out--I could have had laser surgery instead of more invasive surgery had this been detected sooner. Also, my new doctor didn't do the very invasive surgery and said another procedure would re-attach the retina, so I didn't have to be flat on my back for months. I suspect the other surgery was a fatter fee for this other opthalmologist.

I don't want to frighten anyonre, but with eyes you need real specialists--not optometrists, and don't go to small town opthalmologists. Go directly to the largest city you can and get checked out by a good opthalmologist who is hopefully afffiliated with a good hospital. I was terrified I might lose my sight. Thank goodness I still have it, but I go for checkups regularly. So don't ignore floaters--insist on getting your eyes dilated. And if you have a bad feeling about a doctor get another opinion--I still can't believe the experience I had.

I learned a lot through all the doctors I saw through this experience and now I'm extremely careful with my daughter's eyesight. Laser surgery (I've had this in the other eye) is far less invasive than repairing a retina once it is detached. Many people have floaters, but those who are extremely nearsighted (and I have larger eyes too which stretches the retina more) should have them checked out.

Frisbee

Frisbee -

I appreciate you posting this and I'm very sorry you had such a bad experience I had my eyes dilated about two years ago and they told me everything was normal. Do you think I should get them tested again? ..


(((hugs)))
Gez~

Thanks very much, Gez. It was a very bad experience and I hope no one goes through what I went through. It is rare for this to happen. I'm very nearsighted and my eyes are a bit larger so the retina is stretched more. I had a weak spot on my eye (didn't affect vision), but the opthalmologist described it like a pair of jeans that was getting frayed. Eventually my retina tore and detached. I had been seeing floaters since I was about 18, as I recall. If you're nearsighted and/or your eyes are a bit larger I would recommend it, just to be safe. The eye surgery wasn't fun to go through--you're awake and someone is working on your eye (with anesthesia, of course, but it wore off a bit during the surgery). I've had laser surgery on my other eye, where the retina "pulling" doesn't seem to be as bad as the other eye, where I needed a "buckle" to repair it. When I went in for the surgery the anesthesiologist just assumed I was diabetic, since I had it done at 41 (which I think is young for this type of surgery). I forget why diabetics are more prone to this.

There's lots of info in the internet about this, and even a chat room somewhere that I really studied before my surgery. When I take my daughter in for her eye exams I've had more than one doctor comment about how bad my eyesight is, so if you wear glasses and have a stronger prescription I would have it checked out.

It's a nuisance to have the eyes dilated, but if the doctor I had didn't have me go elsewhere since he didn't want my insurance I may have been able to just have laser surgery instead of the buckle, which is far less invasive.. But because I waited a few months (and to me it wasn't that long a time period) since I had recently moved and had to deal with my mother's ongoing health issues, I would have gone a few months sooner. So I would have them done again, and if you have an increase in floaters (I did, but I had been seeing them for so long I just thought it was getting a bit worse) or see flashing lights go immediately. I went from seeing general floaters to seeing like a "cobweb". I had moved to a new kitchen with a bright white ceiling and I thought it was just that they were more visible.

I really think that because my eyesight is so bad I should have been given a pamphlet about detached retinas. I guess it all worked out, since I can see and I have a much better doctor now. My husband has a friend who saw my original opthalmologist for surgery (the one who didn't like my insurance), and he has not been happy with the outcome. This opthalmologist seemed to be just out for the money, not really caring out his patients. So look for one who takes his/her time with you and really tells you what to look for, and what your risks are (age, eyesight, etc.)

So, a long post, but don't worry. Just consider your risk factors, read up about it a little if you have time, and just be aware of any changes in your eyes.


Frisbee

I'm sorry you've had a much worse case than I have.

I have always had the "stringy" ones and they turned into cobwebby ones when I was on strong antibiotics once but changed back again after.

I am long sighted. I've looked into this a lot over the last few years.

Most of the time they're harmless and nothing more than an annoyance for people. People who are nearsighted have a much higher risk of getting a detached retina, since I think it's stretched. That's interesting about the antibiotics having an effect on them. I've heard that some people suspect artificiial sweeteners can affect the retina, and I was drinking a lot of diet sodas before this happened. But I had a long history of nearsightedness, so who knows if it was just a coincidence.