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My macula detached a bit and now I have a huge floater in my left eye, practically right in line with my straight ahead vision. I'm told it will eventually settle down and in 6 months or in the event that something else happens (whichever comes first) I'll be back in for a check up.
Meantime I'm sitting here trying to read and do other things with what feel like a big water splotch on my glass lens.
Is there anyone out there who can tell me that there's light - literally - at the end of this tunnel? Or any coping solutions, short of alcohol and drugs. OK, I know that wasn't funny.
Well, it was sort of funny.
It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't keep catching it in my field of view and swatting at it, thinking it's a gnat or something. *grumble, grumble, grumble*
I'm sure there's lot's of folks that will chime in with their actual experiences. My wife had floaters 14 years ago, and when she was told she had a detached retina, she had scleral buckle surgery. Without going into details, 14 years later she's doing well, and has had laser surgery on her other eye.
My original floater came on all of a sudden, as I was getting ready to leave my eye doctor's! I thought there was a wisp of hair fallen down over my forehead and kept absentmindedly sliding my hand across my face to get rid of it, then I finally looked in the mirror and there was no hair there! Duh! That was about 10 years ago and the floater is basically the same but my brain has learned to ignore it.
In the years since, I have gained one other biggish one, in the other eye, and several little tiny dots. None of these has changed much, if any, but I am lucky in that they are not right exactly in my line of vision directly ahead. They have not reabsorbed, so I guess they are a little different from one my husband got which the eye doctor said would eventually reabsorb, and it mostly has.
Hopefully you are in the care of a good ophthalmologist who can keep an eye on it and let you know if he thinks there are things he can do. Sometimes there are, I understand. Good luck with it. It's not a unique thing but a really bothersome one.
Floaters come with the aging process. Most are a nuisance, serious problems should be looked at by an ophthalmologist. I've had them for 25 years, got used to them. Doc said there are procedures to rid them but it's expensive and generally if you can adjust to having them it's not worth the cost. Also they can return later after a procedure.
I'd suggest you talk to the eye doctor, ophthalmologist for further evaluation.
My mother got one once when driving - she thought a snake had jumped over her shoulder! She, and now I, got used to them. It just takes your brain a little time to ignore them.
Thanks, everyone. I've already been to the ophthalmologist. They already have some concerns about the macula tearing a bit and that's why I go back in 6 months, but the retina is fine. I think there was some talk about maybe taking care of the floater when I have my cataracts taken out. But that might not be for another decade or two. *big sigh*
I wonder if the one I have was caused when a branch went into my right eye (The end of the branch poked my eye) -- I didnt notice it right then but shortly after that....... (A little black circle (If I really focus I can see what it is) like the tip of a branch would make if it punctured the lens)
There's nothing you can do OP. Sorry. I've worked as an ophthalmic technician about 15 years, and I have heard this complaint from many patients. Unfortunately floaters are a natural process of aging, just as many other undesirable things are, however, many patients who have them end up not noticing them as much. They are still there, just less noticeable after a while. Just be sure and keep your follow up appointment with your retina specialist to be sure all is well, although the symptoms of retinal detachment are pretty obvious, such as the sudden appearance of what looks like a black curtain obstructing the vision in part or all of your visual field.
I guess anybody over a certain age gets them. At first I thought I had something on my contact lens; mine are little black dots that look like a very small bug. It's most noticeable if I'm laying in the sun and close my eyes. I always thought they went away on their own, either that or I just got used to them. They can be annoying especially if they are smack dab in the middle of your eye.
I have several large floaters in my right eye from a vitreous detachment. As a result I'm having some trouble driving on overcast days.
They're supposed to go away, the ophthamologist said. I sure hope so.
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