Comment from: 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: October 14
I have had problems with floaters my whole life. Several years ago I had a partial detachment of the retina and the floaters took over my vision. Then the same thing happened in my other eye. My ophthalmologist told me that nothing could be done, yet referred me to a retinal specialist who took one look, said "those are the worst floaters I have ever seen" and scheduled me for surgery the following month.
I've had two surgeries to remove the vitreous fluid from my eyes and the floaters with them. For a couple of months, I had beautiful, perfect (with glasses) vision. Then the cataracts started advancing. At first I was OK ... I had been told that my cataracts would get worse. My eyes are "interesting" said one surgeon who passed on doing my cataract surgeries and referred me to another specialist. I cannot have my astigmatism repaired due to the lack of vitreous fluid. I am 51 years old, and there is a strong possibility that I may never see well again.
A good, solid refractive surgery would probably cure me of all my eye problems, but my insurance considers refractive surgery to be cosmetic. It would cost me $5,000 per eye to pay for it myself. If I had the money, (or even the credit), I would definitely have refractive surgery and stop worrying about detaching my retinas.
Comment from: duhon78, 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: October 14
I am severely myopic and have noticed floaters over the last six months. I am 30 years old and wonder if this age is abnormally young for floaters. I've been trying to wear my coke bottle glasses more often, and this seems to relieve some eye irritation, but not the floaters.
Comment from: hazel193, 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: October 14
I've had floaters for as long as I can remember ... a lot of them. I don't fit any of the usual profiles. I'm extremely far-sighted. I don't have diabetes. I've never had surgery on my eyes. I don't and have never had any of the other diseases mentioned in the article. They are annoying. I was told an acupuncturist can help.
Comment from: Andy, 25-34 MalePublished: October 14
I'm a 32-year-old man, who has eye floaters mostly in my right eye. Sometimes they are annoying, especially when looking at plain and light surfaces (like the sky or bright walls). Some days they are more annoying than others. If I could, I would get rid of them.
I think I have had them since I can remember. They initially seemed like small dots of hot air (almost transparent). I used to turn my head around chasing these "dots of air." Now my vision looks like some dark lines and spots. It's worse than it used to be.
Comment from: patient, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: October 30
I have had large floater in left eye since May 07. I was told nothing could be done with it and I have gotten used to it. This past weekend I developed a black spot in right eye. I went to eye doctor Tuesday and was told it was another floater and nothing could be done and to come back for recheck in six weeks. Yesterday the black spot turned into a large floater, so now I have what looks like long black ink spot floating in both eyes. I am going back to eye doctor tomorrow but I am not hopeful. I am sure I will be told that it needs to be watched and to come back for rechecks and call asap if there is any pain or flashing lights or black areas in my vision. I am very nearsighted and feel that my eyesight has been a major pain in the neck for the last 20 years between the progressively stronger and stronger prescriptions due to not being able to see basically anything with out glasses or contacts and now the floater thing. I am worried I will eventually lose my sight but the doctor says I won't, so I hope he is right.
Comment from: Pegasus, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: October 30
I have experienced floaters since being treated for Toxoplasmosis in 1973. I was a healthy young adult with no compromised immune system. The Toxo manifested in my right eye only and so far the only place that I can detect the floaters. Most of them appear like strands of algae, but there is one small dense spot that I sometimes think is an insect flying past my head. For the most part, I am not bothered by them except when I am tired or my eyes have been under additional strain from work, etc. At those times, it can be a little annoying. So far, I have not noticed them worsening with age.
Comment from: Annie , 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: October 24
I started having some floaters in my right eye during the week and then by the weekend they got a lot worse. It looks like wispy strands of black cobwebs and then I was trying to see a thin curtain. I went to my eye doctor because I was also seeing two silver bands of light from the right side of my eye. I thought I had a torn retina but my doctor said that I didn't. I have an appointment to see a Retina Specialist. About a year ago I begin having some blurring in my right eye caused by bleeding in the back of my eye. I went to the same Retina Specialist and had a injection in my eye and then some laser zapping of some of the blood vessels. My eye improved quite a bit and that had been over a year now.
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Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood cells in which the growth and development of the blood cells are abnormal. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to cancer of the white blood cells (the leukocytes) but in practice it can apply to malignancy of any cellular element in the blood or bone marrow, as in red cell leukemia (erythroleukemia).
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Symptoms include weakness, fever, weight loss, night sweats and in worse cases, chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing up blood. A person with an active infection (a positive TB skin test, abnormal chest x-ray and TB bacteria in their sputum) requires treatment with izoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinaide.
Sarcoidosis, a disease resulting from chronic inflammation, causes small lumps (granulomas) to develop in a great range of body tissues and can appear in almost any body organ. However, sarcoidosis most often starts in the lungs or lymph nodes.
Retinal detachment is the separation of the retina from its attachments to the underlying eye tissue. Symptoms of retinal detachment include flashing lights and floaters. Highly nearsighted young adults and those who've had cataract surgery are at higher risk for retinal detachment.
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system with symptoms that include unexplained, recurring fevers, unexplained weight loss, itchy skin, and painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, and groin. Treatment for adult Hodgkin's disease depends on the staging of the disease, the lymph nodes' size, and the health of the patient.
A cataract is an eye disease that causes the eye's lens to become cloudy and opaque with decreased vision. Causes of cataracts include diabetes, hypothyroidism, certain genetic illnesses, hyperparathyroidism, atopic dermatitis, and certain medications. Symptoms and signs include a decrease in vision and a whitish color to the affected eye. Treatment depends upon the patient's specific visual needs and may involve cataract surgery.
Toxoplasmosis (toxo) is a parasitic infection that causes flulike symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches and pains that may last from a few days to several weeks. Toxoplasmosis can be contracted by touching the hands to the mouth after gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, or anything that came into contact with cat feces. Toxoplasmosis can also be contracted by eating raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork or lamb, or touching the hands to the mouth after contact with raw or undercooked meat.
Many common eye disorders resolve without treatment and some may be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) products. It's important to visit a physician or ophthalmologist is the problem involves the eyeball itself or the condition hasn't improved after 72 hours of use of an eye-care OTC product.
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, is caused by a microscopic, wormlike bacterial organism called a spirochete. There are three stages of syphilis. The first involves the formation of the chancre. The second stage often includes hair loss, a sore throat, white patches in the nose, mouth, and vagina, fever, headaches, and a skin rash. The third stage can cause extensive damage to the internal organs and the brain, and can lead to death. Though early infection often resolves on its own, treatment usually varies based on the stage of the infection at the time of diagnosis.
Uveitis is inflammation of the eye. Symptoms include blurred vision, eye pain, eye redness, and floating spots before the eyes. Treatment may involve prescription eyedrops, antibiotics, and wearing dark glasses.
Diabetes and eye problems are generally caused by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Types of eye problems in a person with diabetes include glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathy. Examples of symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, eye aches, pain, halos around lights, loss of vision, watering eyes. Treatment for eye problems in people with diabetes depend on the type of eye problem. Prevention of eye problems include reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, quitting smoking, and maintaining proper blood glucose levels.
eye. Read about symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
Coats' disease is a rare eye condition that typically progresses to vision loss or blindness in one eye. Gradual vision loss is usually the first symptom, followed by a cloudy white or yellow pupil due to the presence of a cataract. Treatment focuses on limiting the blood vessel progression and may involve cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation.
Cataracts are extremely
common, and most cataracts are a result of the aging process.
Although many
cataracts are not significant enough to require treatment, surgical removal of
cataracts is usually safe and effective, resulting in improvement of vision.
Cataract surgery should be performed when the visual loss from the cataract
significantly impacts the lifestyle of the individual patient.
What is a cataract?
A cataract is an eye disease in which the clear lens of the eye becomes
cloudy opaque, causing decrease in vision. Although the word cataract to
describe this condition has been part of the English language only since the
middle of the 16th century, the eye disease has been recognized and
surgically treated since ancient times.
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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I have had problems with floaters my whole life. Several years ago I had a partial detachment of the retina and the floaters took over my vision. Then the same thing happened in my other eye. My ophthalmologist told me that nothing could be done, yet referred me to a retinal specialist who took one look, said "those are the worst floaters I have ever seen" and scheduled me for surgery the following month. I've had two surgeries to remove the vitreous fluid from my eyes and the floaters with them. For a couple of months, I had beautiful, perfect (with glasses) vision. Then the cataracts started advancing. At first I was OK ... I had been told that my cataracts would get worse. My eyes are "interesting" said one surgeon who passed on doing my cataract surgeries and referred me to another specialist. I cannot have my astigmatism repaired due to the lack of vitreous fluid. I am 51 years old, and there is a strong possibility that I may never see well again. A good, solid refractive surgery would probably cure me of all my eye problems, but my insurance considers refractive surgery to be cosmetic. It would cost me $5,000 per eye to pay for it myself. If I had the money, (or even the credit), I would definitely have refractive surgery and stop worrying about detaching my retinas.
Related Reading: floaters | cataracts | astigmatism