another eye question

[jenny649]

I was just wondering if anyone else has eye floaters. Apparently they're pretty common in people in their 30s-50s, and people who are nearsighted, so I was just wondering if anyones experienced them. Because right now I'm having floaters and flashers and I'm really scared of having a retinal tear. I went to the eye doctor three days ago and he said there wasn't one, and I should come back in a month so he can keep checking it. I'm just worried and wondered if anyones ever gone through this? Thanks.

[Rocket90]

I haven't had them, but I would take the advice of the doctor and come back in a month.  If he looked at you the other day and didn't see one then that is a good sign.  I wouldn't worry about it until you get some bad news.  Are you seeing an opthamologist or an optometrist?

[Kate1982]

I have them and have for years.  I think they have something to do with the fluid in your eyes.  Alot of people have them and it's not usually any big deal from what I understand. 

[jenny649]

Rocket, I saw an opthamologist and am going back in a month. I'm also seeing an optomitrist in three weeks because I need new frames for my glasses, so I'm sure he'll check for tears too, since I'm planning on telling him about it.

[parrynoid]

I have had floaters for years.  Not to worry.  They are extremely common in all eyes but moreso in green and blue eyes (light eyes, not sure why?)  when you look into a light area the floaters can get worse.  if you will notice, they dont pop up as much in low light.

[jenny649]

Yep, I have blue eyes, never knew they were more common in light eyes. I learn something new everyday. But yeah, they're definitely more easy to see outside or against a white wall. I hardly ever see them when I'm in my house.

[parrynoid]

there you go.... you are perfectly normal :)

[Kate1982]

I didn't know they were more common in light eyes either, parrynoid.  I have green eyes.  I wonder why that is? 

[parrynoid]

Not sure, but that is what the opt. told me and my dad as well, who seems to have unlimited information.  I do know that it is not fluid in your eyes.  It is all about how your light eyes react with light.... if I come across that answer I will post it for sure.

[kitty]

Hi, Yes I have been having these too I have had the same floater in my left eye since July, but I do get the odd others and flashers too, they are very scary, I'm 25 went to the opticians they did not seem worried about them, maybe us health anxiety worriers seem to notice them more then anyone else?
Mine defiantly gets worst in the light...

So try not to worry they are common.

Take care

[jenny649]

Thanks for the reply Kitty. I do think that we tend to notice and worry about it more, because that's what we're best at, taking a symptom and blowing it out of proportion.

[Kymanne]

I have had eye floaters for about 10 years now, and went down the path of panic when I first got them...They turned out to be more annoying than anything, and this website might help for those worried about it:)

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/spotsfloats.htm

[jenny649]

Thanks for the article.

The only thing is that I have eye flashers along with the floaters. These usaully occur in older people when their vitreous gel gets more watery, but I'm only sixteen. Evry article I look at says you shoudl go to your doctor if you get these symptoms, and it scares me. I went to the doctor and he said there was no tear or detachement and that I should come back in a few weeks. I'm going to my optimistrist next week and my opthamologist in two weeks. But I'm really scared of losing my vision and it's really taking a toll on me. I also read that flashing lights can be a symptom of MS, and even though my doctor didn't even mention that as a possibility, I'm still worried about it since I already have an MS fear. Anyway, i just hope things will get better. I'm also going to a psychiatrist on Tuesday and I might possibly be getting meds, so maybe that will help.

[frenchpastry]

Don't want to scare you or anything, but floaters and light flashes can be a sign of an eye disease. Then again, anything to me is a sign of a disease, eh? ;) Maybe you should go to the doctor and check them out?

I think my hypocondriac-ness started when I had an eye problem and nobody knew what was wrong with me. I went blind in my left eye before they figured out what was wrong. It was this disease called Uveitis.. it's an inflammatory disease. I've met a lot of people online who have the same thing, and these people live with this disease for almost all of their life. I guess now, any sign of something being wrong makes me worry.

I'd just hate to see anyone go through what I went through, so please, go to the doctor. If it's not anything, atleast you won't worry anymore.

Sorry if this message was all over the place.. it's about 3 AM here, and I'm so uot of it.

[jenny649]

Hehe its okay frenchpastry, I went to the doctor and he dilated my pupils and couldn't find anything. Thanks for the concern though. How would they find out if you had the disease? I'm going back in a week so I might mention it.

[frenchpastry]

If they dilated your eyes and checked them out, then they would have seen weither you had the disease or not. When the doctor looks through the slit lamp, he can see if there are inflammation cells in your eye. So, you should be good. :) I'm glad it wasn't anything bad.

Ashley

[jenny649]

Thanks for he information. :)