Horseshoe shaped eye floater. Is this a problem?

[Apolloanddaphne]

I noticed I have a black horseshoe shaped eye floater in my left eye. It is quite intrusive and unlike anything I have ever had previously. My eyes have been very dry and tired today but I haven't been rubbing them.

I googled it and there seems to be some info saying there may be an issue with the retina. Has anyone experienced this before?

I really want to know if I need to contact the optician tomorrow or if this is quite a common thing which will go away on its own.

Thanks

A floater is like a fine thread. If you have a larger shadow that could be a detached retina and you need A&E.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/detached-retina-retinal-detachment/

I've never had a floater that was so obvious. I may go and talk to the optician tomorrow when I am in town. I don't think it is A&E worthy.

Could be a migraine but without the pain? It’s called an ocular migraine and can present as a horse shoe shape.

I had an ocular migraine on Saturday night, it was like looking through a kaleidoscope, it only lasted about 30 mins but left me feeling sick. Will take those over the usual 3 day killer migraines.

Are you very short sighted? If it is a detached retina they are more common on those that are short sighted.

Sorry, a horseshoe shape in your vision. It’s like a zigzag pattern and is very disturbing!

I'm long sighted.

If you have suddenly developed a large black spot in your vision, or equally any flashing lights, then you need to go to hospital and be checked for retinal detachment. If you do have retinal detachment and don’t get it operated on pretty quickly you could be left with permanent vision damage. At the very least call 111.

Call 111 and let them decide whether it’s urgent.

Do you mind me asking how old you are? If it’s horseshoe shaped, it might be a sign of a PVD. That’s quite a classic presentation. You should get it seen by an optician as soon as possible (within the next day or so), to rule out retinal detachment but it sounds more like vitreous detachment which typically happens to us all as we age. Do get it checked promptly, though. Your brain will learn to accommodate the floater so that won’t last, as annoying as it is now.

If there is any ‘curtain like’ effect coming across your eye from the side or a massive increase in the number of floaters, it’s more likely to be your retina. In that case, you should go to A&E but as you’ve described it above, much more likely to be PVD.

Get it checked Asap.

I have no flashing lights. Just an annoying horseshoe shaped floater sort of hovering in and out of my left side of vision. I am certain A&E is not required.

@MacaroniSaysShetlandPony I am 57. Is age significant?

Yes, age is significant. Your vitreous (the jelly in your eye) dries out as we get older and as it does so, it starts to pull away from the back of the eye. When it does this, it creates flusters in the shape you describe.

Obviously I’m a random stranger on the web but I think you’re taking the right approach - get it checked but it doesn’t sound like retinal detachment from what you’ve described and your age demographic fits here too.

Rest assured, in a few weeks time, it’ll be much less obvious and annoying, if it is PVD.

Flusters = floaters (although it’s quite an apt typo! I’ve got dozens of floaters and they make me flustered sometime!)

Sounds like a PVD, OP. Annoying but very common. I have this. I would see your optician to confirm, though.

My eyes have been very dry so that makes sense. I will get it checked out tomorrow. Thanks.

OP
Go to any opticians and ask if they do MECS appointments. These are free appointments:

What is MECS? The Minor Eye Conditions Service enables opticians to see patients for a non-sight test related examination under the NHS where they would not previously have been able to. Patients who present with a red eye or flashes and floaters would otherwise have been sent to A&E or charged privately.

My opticians are fab and have seen me loads as I have had other issues with my eyes. I am sure they will sort something out.

If you're not getting flashing lights/showers of spots or a curtain effect across your vision then seeing the optician tomorrow will be fine.
You probably have had a PVD, but they can sometimes cause a retinal tear so needs to be checked fully.

The floater is still there this morning and my eyes are very sore, scratchy and tired. I will call the optician at 9 and hope they can fit me in. I have a lot of reading to do in advance of writing an essay and i am finding it hard to focus.

Hope you got it sorted today

Have you been seen yet OP?

I have an appointment at 3.30pm today. Will update later.