Eye Floaters & Retinal Detachment

[Duke Santos]

Just a head's up for everyone. While eye floaters are a natural part of ageing, should large amounts of them show up all at once, get yourself to an opthomologist. I had it happen to me--zero pain or loss of vision. By the weekend, a shadow started to appear at the bottom of my vision, and I knew something was up. Examined by the surgeon on Monday, and scheduled for surgery for Wednesday.

Surgery is a breeze with very little pain the next day. Recovery is a nightmare though, as a gas bubble was injected to hold everything together while the sutures and my body did their job. I spent 6 weeks at home lying face down all day (mercifully, I was allowed to sleep on my left side). The bubble took more than 9 weeks to fully dissolve. A month after that, vision is still blurry but improving.

The alternative is that I would have been blind in that eye within a week had I not gone in.

 

[Duke Santos]

No replies from anyone who's been through this. A lot of views though, so I hope I've raised some awareness about this, what the main symptom is and how important it is to get into an ophthalmologist surgeon's office as fast as you can.

 

[mhip]

No replies from anyone who's been through this. A lot of views though, so I hope I've raised some awareness about this, what the main symptom is and how important it is to get into an ophthalmologist surgeon's office as fast as you can.

I expected it to be an ad for the benefits of Conservative Dress Gummmies when I clicked on it.
I'm glad your situation was caught in time.

 

[double00]

No replies from anyone who's been through this. A lot of views though, so I hope I've raised some awareness about this, what the main symptom is and how important it is to get into an ophthalmologist surgeon's office as fast as you can.

a few years ago - i was circling the drain with cancer - i'd had an explosion of floaters when everything was coming to a head . worth checking out .

i'll edit to add : the floater thing was super sudden and one eye , i remember where i was when i first noticed it . no pain no vision loss also .

also to edit : 6 weeks face down wow

 

[Duke Santos]

a few years ago - i was circling the drain with cancer - i'd had an explosion of floaters when everything was coming to a head . worth checking out .

i'll edit to add : the floater thing was super sudden and one eye , i remember where i was when i first noticed it . no pain no vision loss also .

also to edit : 6 weeks face down wow

Sounds like exactly what I had. I'd still get it checked out, if it was a detachment several years ago, I think you would have lost sight in the eye long ago.

 

[double00]

Sounds like exactly what I had. I'd still get it checked out, if it was a detachment several years ago, I think you would have lost sight in the eye long ago.

i def reported it at the time and seen an optometrist since , an upstream nerve got rocked when i was getting sicker , nothing really works right on that side of my body now but it's better than it was ( i think the term is paresis ) . i'm not worried about detachment .

looking back at that experience what i desperately needed was a cancer diagnosis ... i'm not sure an eye doctor would've helped me any more than the doctors i was already talking to but ?

anyways your larger point stands i think : worth noticing sudden prolific floaters . a good psa thanks for sharing your story .

 

[WestLinn]

No replies from anyone who's been through this. A lot of views though, so I hope I've raised some awareness about this, what the main symptom is and how important it is to get into an ophthalmologist surgeon's office as fast as you can.

I was diagnosed with a retinal detachment that had reattached. This was years ago (14 or so) and during a recent visit (last year) to a retinal specialist, he stated that I never did have a detached retina. It was just scarring that had developed due to some other reason that he couldn't explain. About 7 years ago, I had cataract surgery (I was young for having them done as most patients are in their 60s or 70s according to my doctor). My eyes really give my optometrist fits because they have so many issues and she is extremely cautious. I completely agree with your sentiment about getting your eyes checked regularly and going in immediately if you sense something is changing.

 

[chobochobo]

Yes, I only clicked to check it wasn't spam. Glad it was dealt with (though I didn't really read it properly).

 

[sajesak]

Just a head's up for everyone. While eye floaters are a natural part of ageing, should large amounts of them show up all at once, get yourself to an opthomologist. I had it happen to me--zero pain or loss of vision. By the weekend, a shadow started to appear at the bottom of my vision, and I knew something was up. Examined by the surgeon on Monday, and scheduled for surgery for Wednesday.

Surgery is a breeze with very little pain the next day. Recovery is a nightmare though, as a gas bubble was injected to hold everything together while the sutures and my body did their job. I spent 6 weeks at home lying face down all day (mercifully, I was allowed to sleep on my left side). The bubble took more than 9 weeks to fully dissolve. A month after that, vision is still blurry but improving.

The alternative is that I would have been blind in that eye within a week had I not gone in mypascoconnect login.

My mom was ready to go out and do some gardening today when she suddenly experienced what she described as threads and spots in her eyes. These were more severe than the usual flashes everyone gets now and then which only persist for a few minutes. After over an hour they have lessened by are still present. She called an opthamologist to have it checked out but is there any reason to be overly concerned? I realize that any online help is no substitute for a doctor visit but I wonder if anyone else has had a similar problem and how they dealt with it.

Some info on my mom which might be helpful:

She'll be 68 in January. She is moderately overweight (about 20 pounds), height 5'1", weight about 140. She has no cardiovascular disease, no diabetes, no major health problems at all (she had a series of major exams when she changed health plans recently), and isn't on any medication. She was diagnosed with minor mitrial valve prolapse but from everything I've read this is nothing to be concerned with. Her BP has been a little higher than normal for the last year, roughly 140/100. She took her BP a few times today and it was elevated a bit more-about 155/105. However, we had Chinese food Saturday and ate the leftovers yesterday so that probably accounts for the higher BP. My BP was elevated a bit also (120/70) compared to my normal baseline (about 105/60). I think the salt in the soy sauce probably accounts for this. Nothing else about my mother's health stands out right now that may have caused this.

My mom seems a bit worried about this. I know in severe cases it can indicate retinal tear. Is there any possibility it might involve something more severe than that?

 

[Duke Santos]

My mom was ready to go out and do some gardening today when she suddenly experienced what she described as threads and spots in her eyes. These were more severe than the usual flashes everyone gets now and then which only persist for a few minutes. After over an hour they have lessened by are still present. She called an opthamologist to have it checked out but is there any reason to be overly concerned? I realize that any online help is no substitute for a doctor visit but I wonder if anyone else has had a similar problem and how they dealt with it.

Some info on my mom which might be helpful:

She'll be 68 in January. She is moderately overweight (about 20 pounds), height 5'1", weight about 140. She has no cardiovascular disease, no diabetes, no major health problems at all (she had a series of major exams when she changed health plans recently), and isn't on any medication. She was diagnosed with minor mitrial valve prolapse but from everything I've read this is nothing to be concerned with. Her BP has been a little higher than normal for the last year, roughly 140/100. She took her BP a few times today and it was elevated a bit more-about 155/105. However, we had Chinese food Saturday and ate the leftovers yesterday so that probably accounts for the higher BP. My BP was elevated a bit also (120/70) compared to my normal baseline (about 105/60). I think the salt in the soy sauce probably accounts for this. Nothing else about my mother's health stands out right now that may have caused this.

My mom seems a bit worried about this. I know in severe cases it can indicate retinal tear. Is there any possibility it might involve something more severe than that?

Have an ophthalmologist check her as soon as possible. If it's a false alarm, no harm done. If it has detached, you have a small window to get the surgery because if the Retina becomes fully separated it's game over for the eye.

 

[sajesak]

Have an ophthalmologist check her as soon as possible. If it's a false alarm, no harm done. If it has detached, you have a small window to get the surgery because if the Retina becomes fully separated it's game over for the eye.

thank you so much for your suggestion pto 540 vs 1001