Eye floaters and severe anxiety

[Jaydeelee]

Back in August last year I developed several eye floaters. They made me quite panicky, but I was seen by a couple of opticians who said they're not dangerous, just irritating (and permanent). Since then I've become very anxious about them, and have developed many more - there are dozens in each eye, and unless I'm wearing dark glasses they are really disturbing my vision. I've had them checked out again by a consultant ophthalmologist and was told the same thing. I'm so frightened that long term I won't be able to actually see my children (4 and 2) grow up and it's affecting my work life terribly too - I have been having panic attacks that mean I spend hours cowering in the loos or driving home, as they're even more noticeable (if that's possible) when I use a computer.

The floaters are awful and I am not enjoying life now. I'm fearful for my children's future and I worry about everything, all because of these dreadful permanent fixtures to my vision - what if they get worse?! I'm having high intensity CBT and have been put on a low mood and stress course, but these are not working. Anything I find on the internet is negative and I'm at my wits' end. My poor husband, children and parents are also affected by my floaters, as they're all I can focus on.

Does anyone else have really bad eye floaters, and if so, have you managed to learn to cope with them? I'm desperate to feel normal again and enjoy my beautiful family, but at the moment I can't see how this is possible. I'd love to hear some positive stories, so if you have any, please, please share - I'm desperate to feel a little hope that life can be enjoyable again.

Thank you so much. x

[ppeatfruit]

bruffin Have you read the Blood Type? It's author IS an effing scientist! (BTW thumbwitch who is a scientist is on it too and it has improved her health if you go on their FB site you'll see there are people who have been cured of many, many 'incurable' diseases by it) IMO and E unless you are in an accident or breathing in noxious fumes all day then your lifestyle DOES affect your health big time.

[Jaydeelee]

Thanks everyone. Today was a not too bad day, mostly spent with my sunglasses on or in low-light places! Am very nervous about going back to work tomorrow, as last time I was there I had a (quiet) meltdown. I hope I can get past this, as I'm am undoubtedly wasting my life at the moment. I definitely feel a little more positive (or should that be less negative, lol) having read some of your experiences, but think I have a long way to go yet. x

[wizzler]

I have always had floaters and like Sciencerocks I was surprised to learn that not everyone has them. I struggle in bright light and wear sunglasses a lot, but other than that am absolutely fine !

[bruffin]

PPeatfruit

One reason its rubbish is that it claims type B can eat dairy. I am a type B and its rare in the UK, but most type Bs are asian (Im not) and most Asian people are lactose intolerant irrelevant of their blood type. I dont take annecdotes on the internet of miraculous cures very seriously.

[bruffin]

And as said previously floaters have absolutely nothing to do with diet so why you are bringing it in to this thread i have no idea. The OP has an anxiety problem, floaters are not the problem and dont need to be cured especially by quack theories.

[ppeatfruit]

Thats interesting bruffin because of course the genotypes are also important Peter D'Adamo's new book is about genotypes. He talks about lactose intolerance in African people as well. I'm not saying it's a miracle but for a good number of people it works well.

I'm mentioning it because if it were me i'd want to find out any way of helping myself. So many people are ill and although quite complicated the BT can help lot.

[ppeatfruit]

Oh and there's really no need for your attitude. Just because mainstream medicine is such a wonderful thing and can cure everything (not) people are frightened of ANYTHING alternative.

[kelda]

I'm also very light sensitive. I've had temporary floaters in the past and often get 'opthalmic migraines' now. These occasionally progress to real migraines, which are very debilitating.

I am short sighted as well, -5.5, I never realised the connection before.

It's the light sensitivity that bothers me most. I see imprints all the time and I'm in agony if I go out in the sun without my sunglasses. Even with sunglasses I still need to walk in the shade.

The comment about only being a 'bit' shortsighted rather then very short sighted is unhelpful and unneccessary.

You have my sympathy OP.

[wonkylegs]

I've had quite a few floaters for the past 5yrs (mid 30's) however I've managed to tune them out for most of the time and the only time I regularly see them is in the shower. It took quite a long time to get to the point where they weren't driving me mad though. The more you think about them the harder it gets unfortunately.
Hopefully CBT will help you. But for me it was focusing in a disaster at work, that distracted me and then suddenly I realised one day that they'd stopped bothering me so much, I'd just been too busy to notice.

[musickeepsmesane]

When I first got floaters I thought I had worms and eggs in my eyes

Have you thought of learning relaxation techniques OP? Sounds like you are projecting your anxieties onto your eyesight. My mum had MD and every time I have unexplainable shadows in my vision I panic. You can be proactive though and follow a good diet. My optician is very helpful.

[ScienceRocks]

Though i wasn't the poster who said the OP was shortsighted and not very shortsighted, i do feel compelled to state that it is a fact that the more shortsighted you are, the worse your floaters are likely to be. This is because your eyeball becomes more and more distorted, which in turn affects the consistency of the fluid inside. This is what causes floaters.

When I say I am extremely shortsighted, I am. Minus 18 in fact. Hence my terrible floaters. It's fine, I'm used to them. They are part of me

[musickeepsmesane]

I would like to make clear that you can follow a good diet for MD. Which OP says her Nana has. You cannot do anything about floaters.

[kylief123]

Hello I too have lots of eye floaters n my anxiety is taking over my life, I have always had anxiety but has just getting worse since I've had my 2nd child who is six and a half month, I've been worried I've had a brain tumour for 2 years and now with these eye floaters makes me even worse, I'm on antidepressants now that really help as before I was taking them I wasn't eating and was very shaky all the time, I wake up and see them and when I'm outside I see them a lot there r very worrying , I have a twins sister and she also has them too she said. I've been to doctors and opticians and both keep telling me I'm fine , also seen a neurologist in 2011 and he also said I'm fine, its so hard to believe I'm also scared I won't see my sons grow up its awful. Hope this helps, its helping me slowly reading that other people have these and they r common x

[leobear]

I wonder whether they are related to childbirth? I got them really badly after the birth of my first, and got very anxious about it. Bizarrely, they went once I stopped breast feeding, which made me wonder whether hormones are a factor??

[Jaydeelee]

Sorry kylief123, have had computer issues, so have only just seen your post. The replies to this thread have helped me a lot, as I don't feel so alone in dealing with the irritating little blighters! Sometimes I can really chill out about the floaters, but other times I feel terribly panicky about them. They make me feel ancient, even though I'm only mid-thirties, and then I start focussing on other aspects of ageing, such as wrinkles that I've developed, and the possibility that I have a white hair or two on my head! This panic then makes me start thinking about mine and my loved ones' mortality, which leads to crippling anxiety. I still worry that the floaters will get significantly worse (they seem terrible already), but I guess I need to keep re-reading the replies I've had on here, as it seems lots of people have accepted them and are no longer overly bothered by them.

If anyone else has any experience with eye floaters, I'd be grateful to hear from them - I'm going through the 'seeking reassurance' phase of health anxiety according to the therapist who's doing the CBT with me (gosh I sound like a headcase, lol!)! x

[Jaydeelee]

So sorry to bother people again about this, but having a really terrible day today. I have tingling in my legs and arms, probably caused by the stress of the floaters. Please if anyone can give me any more reassurance that my dozens upon dozens of floaters will eventually stop bothering me, I'd be so grateful. I'm sure I've developed more recently, and somehow I really need to accept them and move on from the fear they put into me. Sorry again, really don't mean to keep bringing my eye issues up! Thank you. x

[greenfern]

So sorry Jaydeelee your having a bad day.The tingling is your anxiety.Your floaters are nothing to worry about I have loads my sister has them and probably half the population has them too. I took mine worse after I had my DD, the optician said to me they are very common.

Your anxiety is getting the better of you creeping in to your brain and playing tricks with you. Take baby steps in some kind of relaxation techniques, distraction. Have you tried CBT, some people do great with it. Deep breathing, when in an anxiety attack can lessen it.

I have a health anxiety I struggle with at times I do try and tell myself I have had reassurance from doctors everything is okay its just my mind and my obsessive thoughts that are creating this anxiety. Its not an easy illness to deal with and some can become frustrated with you, as I know.

Hopefully someone will come along with more in-depth coping techniques (as i am marking my place) take care xx

[Jaydeelee]

Thank you greenfern x

[Trazzletoes]

I'm sorry you're having a tough time, jaydeelee.

Are you able to focus on the fact that the professionals have said they are nothing to worry about? I guess not (I have family members with various anxiety disorders too) but just trying to help!

The floaters are not going to obscure your vision to the point of preventing you from seeing your children.

I have a reasonable number too (thanks to a detached retina, hi carrie!) I second trying to just ignore them, easier said than done though, I know. Is the CBT helping at all? I hope so.

[NotAroundTheEyes]

jaydelee

I hope this will reassure you

I've had quite a few floaters since I was a child (33 now) and used to'play' with then by watching them fall etc..

Until I read this thread I literally hadn't seen then for years. Seriously, years. I forgot I had them. Your post made me remember them and boom, there they were, and I find it really weird I haven't been looking at them all this time! In a bit I'll forget all about them again and they'll effectively vanish

In the nicest possible way it's not your floaters, it's you - that is, your anxiety and fixation on them. I know you're working on that and honestly, if in a few months you even give a thought to your floaters I'll eat my hat.

Lots of luck. It sounds so stressful and I hope you get out sorted

[MERLYPUSS]

I've had them since I was early 20ish. I tend to look through them or flick my eyes about to see if they move out the way. I have blothches and stripes and they are much more noticable in sunny weather. I also have epilepsy and a seizure will start with eye problems so I have learnt to chill out about them other wise I would be thinking I was going to have a fit all the time.

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

Jaydeelee - sorry if I have missed this but have you asked a health professional to help you address the root cause of all this - your health anxiety? Please do. There is a lot that they can do that will improve your quality of life. if you can't bring yourself to do this, there are lots of self help books which are worth a read.

Good luck.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I have tons of them as I am short sighted. .just a minor irritation and not a real concern :)

[abeastthesizeofahill]

Hi. My name is Chris. I have suffered with anxiety and panic about my floaters to the point of quiting my driving job because I believed I was distracted to the point of being a danger to myself and others. Fortunately what seemed like an unfortunate turn of events has lead me back to teaching music which makes me much happier and fulfilled in life

I too am currently practicing CBT and one thing they suggest is to consider the things you would tell a friend or loved one with the same problem and on that basis I feel compelled to share my thoughts with you.

Looking for floaters is to me practicing an ineffective form of control. The more I do it, the more powerless I feel

Floaters are not the first body or health concern I have experienced in my life. I am 31 now and I have experienced these kinds of issues since I was 12. I have however noticed that there are common themes in the feelings that have accompanied these issues despite their many different avenues of expression like floaters, believing myself to be disfigured, knee bouncing, Going bald

It's as if the thought that I have control to make it better 'and' worse means I can only make it worse

Many things within nature occur that impede our vision, Fog, Night time, People with big hair in the row in front at the cinema. Floaters are a part of the natural ageing process of the eyes. When you are in the womb they are like jelly to protect their structure but as this isn't necessary beyond that, they begin to liquify. It may be interesting to see how Jelly behaves when liquifying outside of the body. Im sure there would be many lines and miniature bubbles

I spare a thought for your family, I'm sure they love you and quite likely miss you. Fear is a blinding emotion. When someone we love dies, we will often try to recapture they joy they brought us even when it is accompanied by pain. Contact of any kind with your family is precious. Even in touch, smell and sound

Many times in life, emotion offers us the greatest problem, and lesson. When we die, The fear of the unknown presents the greatest problem in an event which is as natural as good to sleep or going to the toilet. If we lived our whole lives with no frame of reference for sleep or going to the toilet, those would probably be unsettling too

Confidence building cannot be underestimated. Setting goals and being specifically aware of what you want with 'effective' strategies to accomplish them. When something is beyond your control, you naturally move toward a place of acceptance. Your resistance will only slow this process, you will recover as most children recover from the reluctance to go to sleep at bed time

much love and peace

Chris