New floaters?

[Scaredandworried]

There are these weird new floaters that look like waves, I found someone asking about them on 0278 answers and it sums it up

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Wavy floating patterns in vision?
Hi all,

For about two weeks now I have been experiencing what I can only describe as moving wave patterns in my field of vision. This occurs in both eyes and usually only when looking at a light background like a computer monitor or tv. They are much different than eye floaters (which I am pretty familiar with) as eye floaters tend to be single hair like strands or small grey specs for me. These waves appear in sort of small sections and patterns and unlike floaters, only appear on light backgrounds.

They look very similar to this, except translucent and with no color.

http://cache2.artprintimages.com/lrg/27/…

http://www.cgsd.com/texture/sand1.jpg

I notice that they are much more visible if I squint or if my eyes are tired and kind of "droopy". These lines sometimes look like wrinkles or clear zebra-stripe-like patterns and move around while my vision is stationary, and disappear when I open my eyes very wide. I have no headaches or any other symptoms, can see them with either eye closed and have no eye pain or redness.

I went to an eye doctor today for a dilated exam and aside from the usual floaters, she said everything looked fine and that I should only worry about it if I see flashing lights or blind spots and said it could be stress related. I'm only concerned that if it were stress related, how come they disappear when I open my eyes wide? Wouldn't they be there all the time and on all backgrounds?

Does anyone have any idea/clues as to what this phenomena is?

Thank you much in advance!
1 year ago Report Abuse"

The thing is, they behave like floaters as I'm when you look at them they go away and I have to roll my eye from side to side to see them. They are big and scary and I once heard not to worry about floaters unless they are sheets or waves. Now I'm worrying!

Plus, I have sooo many big floaters at 16 and idk why. I used to only have one little blzck dot until I googled it and then BLAM they are everywhere


Help

[marc]

Your eyes should be OK if your pupils were dilated and nothing was found. I have had
floaters for many years and I have always been told not to worry. I have even seen flashing
lights and was examined and nothing was found.

[mollyfin]

I'm pretty sure I have what you're describing.  Just a different-looking floater.  I've had floaters since I was a little kid.  If the eye doctor isn't worried, you don't need to be.  Stressing about them makes them more noticeable. 

[oceanlover]

I have floaters! Small dark ones and transparent worm shapes. I just had a normal eye exam. No dilation this time, but I did have pictures taken of my retinas. :)

[vanilla1969]

I've had these since I was about 8-9 years old, I'm 43 now and I didn't notice it until my mom took me to the drive in and they were playing a horror movie and she didn't know the effect it would have on me, it was a movie called The Haunted Eyes, it was about this man that went around and gouged people's eyes out. For months I was afraid something was happening to my eyes and that's when I first notice floaters along with the waves. My mom and dad took me to the eye doctor test came back okay and the doc described when I was seeing was just small cells in the eye. It calmed me down.

So those exact waves have been around with me for years and I still can see. I don't see them all the time but I do see them sometimes.

[Scaredandworried]

I've never heard of floaters looking like this before though?

[Scaredandworried]

Thinking of going to the er cause of this, is it retinal detachment? I didn't have these when I had my eyes checked

[TooTiredOfThis]

I can't help you much as I never had that kind of floaters, but I had similar experience. A couple of weeks ago I was sure I was having retinal detachment as I had flashy lights when I closed my eyes and saw like hundred of black dots when I looked up the sky. I eventually called an ER and asked for advice, but the operator was clueless. A couple of days later I went to an eye doctor for many, many tests including pupil dilation. Everything was perfect - It was anxiety for sure.

[Scaredandworried]

I can't find much about them on google. I'm worried these are some rare kind or something

[vanilla1969]

I've Had The Wave Floaters Since I Was A Kid And I'm Fine. Don't Work Yourself Up.

[ahrimoniac]

Hee, this reminds me of a somewhat classic episode of mine. I spent all morning worried because I had a black line across my vision. It wasn't causing any discomfort, so I did my best to ignore it away.

Turns out it was a thread from when I had pulled my jumper over my head.

SO: it's not all bad! :)

On a serious note, I get floaters all the time - I think we all do. Most people don't 'see' them because they're so insignificant. I wouldn't worry :)

[Scaredandworried]

Hey guys, I'm noticing that in certain parts of my vision it's like I have a sheet of floaters, like patches of fog I guess? I don't notice them unless I look for them usually but it's freaking me out. Is it alot of floaters bunched up together or something? Thanks.

[sixpack]

you are talking yourself into stuff.


btw I do have an actual eye disease caused by excess cortisol due to stress.  you know what when the optha looked at it, he knew what it was.   


you could go to the ER in a panic and they would likely call in an opthmamologist to have a look.  at most you'd end up with the diagnosis that I have....

[Scaredandworried]

I'm noticing that I only see them if I squint, does this happen to you guys who have the same floaters?

[sixpack]

When I see floaters I can see them whether I squint or not..

any scary eye condition will be seen whether you squint or not....  so IF you only have these "floaters" when you squint, means you are looking for something---scanning for "uh ohs".  it is a red flag that you are allowing your anxious over thinking to take you for a ride. 

[LivD]

Agree with the others. 

Floaters are all made of the same stuff, no matter the shape. Never heard of different kinds of them!

[Scaredandworried]

Sorry, I meant to say they appear clearer if I squint, some are still there. I'm going to an eye doctor soon btw

[sixpack]

Sorry, I meant to say they appear clearer if I squint, some are still there. I'm going to an eye doctor soon btw

I don't know what the eye doc is going to do any differently than the last time you saw her.  Your eyes were fine then.  It seems your anxious thinking didn't relent with that office visit.  All you did was continue fixating on your eyes and "found" something "new" to add to your disease fear.  Which is pretty typical of a HA peep.   However, no one should tell you not to go to an eye doctor. It is your body, your prerogative.  Understand, though,  everybody gets floaters.   AND if you are truly concerned that you have a detached retina (which is unfounded, imo), you should see an opthamologist not an optometrist. 

[Scaredandworried]

Hey, so I went to get my prescription changed and I asked about it when doing that, I wasn't going solely for the floaters, I needed new glasses.

She looked in my eyeball, said it was very healthy and I'm only seeing so many cause I'm paying attention to them, haha, I know you guys told me that over and over so I'm sorry if it seemed like I didn't believe you guys, it's just the HA making me anxious

Thanks again everyone!

[LivD]

Yeah, that's how it works. 
But I'm glad everything is still ok!!