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

[abeastthesizeofahill]

Also, Rather than looking online for a diagnosis, you may find it helpful to instead look for peoples stories, to offer reassurance and kindness. You will see for yourself that you have it within you to think in those ways. The emotion presents the problem, being alive presents opportunity. If you had a button to switch the severe anxiety off, would you push it? It can and is being done all around you. I for one have a problem with the idea of pretending something doesn't exist which means I have to learn true effectiveness in my measures and true acceptance when something is truly beyond my control. Anything I can do is within the grasp of every human being

[michaelg37]

Just wondering how u are doing now

[michaelg37]

Just wondering how you're doing

[Midl1985]

Hi everyone,

It is really encouraging reading the stories and would also love to know how you are doing now? I feel like I'm in a situation all of my own. I've had (or at least been aware I've had) eye floaters for around 5 years now, when I first noticed them they really freaked me out but literally after getting my eyes checked (and confirmed all ok) I stopped noticing them after about a month. I would then only notice them if I looked up on purpose to the white ceiling or against a white wall etc.

However, around 5 weeks ago things changed dramatically and I started noticing them everywhere, and alot worse. I first thought 'this is just my brain tuning back into them, don't worry and they'll go away again and it will be just like before'. But they haven't and they are absolutely worse than they've ever been. The reason I know this is that they cover the top, middle and bottom of my vision now - so now I have many black dots, cobwebs, lines etc clumped together and there isn't a segment of my vision that doesn't have them - and I honestly don't ever remember having this many. I notice things that I never noticed before. I get a weird blurring of my vision when I move my eyes in front of certain light as the floaters are reflecting that light back to me - does anyone else get this? I used to be fine watching TV in a dark room but now I can still see them on the screen as they blur a reflected light back at me if I move my eyes. Whereas before I would only notice them in a very light room or outside I can now even see them in relatively dark rooms. Admittedly I cannot see them at all in a very dark to pitch black room but how often am I in them!!??

I'm not really sure what to do and I cannot believe they've got worse. Not sure why I thought they wouldn't but unlike before, this time I cannot see a way out as there are so many and alot of them float right through the very centre of my vision....how can I ever possibly ignore these?

I have read up on vitrectomy operations but the fact that they can lead to retinal tears and detachments leaves me feeling in a no-win situation.

Really not sure what the future looks like now as I'm only 29 and they are only likely to get worse....even if they stay the same I can't imagine having to put up with this.

Can anyone relate to the exact symptoms I have expressed above?

Thanks guys

[PersonOfInterest]

Hi hope you're ok.

I've had floaters for decades (in my 30's). I think they're always there, but sometimes I notice them much more. Such as when I'm already feeling stressed or anxious. Then they freak me out a bit and I have to just try and accept them.

Other things that make them worse are brightness, light backgrounds and I suspect PMS.

I'm also very short sighted and suffer from dry eyes.

They are very common, I think its true to say they are a variation of normal. I'm not aware that they're a sign of old age.

I used to suffer them in silence but mentioned them recently and discovered that both my parents have them, one particularly badly. He just never mentioned it. I think they're probably more common that we imagine. Its just that most people don't notice/worry/comment.

Why do you think you might lose your vision? Has someone suggested this?

[PersonOfInterest]

Midl - sorry, that sounds horrible, I wouldn't really compare mine with what you're describing. Have you been to see an optician since this started 5 weeks ago. If its new and you haven't had your eyes checked for 5 years, I would do that first.

However, if it went away once hopefully it will go away again on its own.

Best wishes.

[Badvoc123]

Yep
Had loads for decades.
I am 42.
I can still see :)

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

46 here... -6.00 shortsighted and loads of floaters since I was a child. I kind of like watching them drift! They really really are of no significance!

[Jaydeelee]

Hi, OP here. Have just revisited this thread after a year or so, as have been PMed by another Mumsnetter recently who's going through the same as I did.

Just thought I'd give an update to my situation, in case there's anyone else who's living through 'floater hell'!

I still have TONS of floaters - black dots, squiggles, threads and blobs(!), and I do find them annoying on a regular basis. However, 'annoying' is a vast improvement, and something I can easily live with! I no longer suffer from the crippling anxiety that they gave me, and I rarely worry about my eyesight these days. I go to the opticians less frequently as a result (only once in the past year - must have been about 10 times in the first six months of getting them!).

As I said previously, I was receiving high intensity CBT, and whilst this probably helped, I think my very understanding doctor was probably key to my recovery from what was undoubtedly health anxiety. After seven months of resisting his recommendation of anti-depressants, I finally gave in and took them. Within four months, things started to get a little better, until finally I felt like myself again, and learnt to accept the floaters for what they are - irritating, but benign little b*stards! I am now gradually coming off the tablets, and life is good again.

Sorry if I've waffled, but I found positive stories really helped me, so wanted to share (there are far too many depressing forums about floaters out there!).

[Antshaw84]

Hi jadeelee I av as a read through this forum and jus wondered how now you are gettin on with your first post being 2 years ago now I av ad floaters many of years maybe 5/10 years from what I can remember I'm now 31 and never once av they bothered me I only ever noticed them when I looked for them I av always been very short sighted and last year as laser eye surgery my eyes are now perfect and it never changed the view of my floaters but I've recently started aving bad anxiety attacks which is makin me see them and think about them all the time to a point where am thinkin ahead and will they get worse even tho they have not in all the years av ad them well not that I have noticed anyway but I have 2 boys 3/1 and the thought that go through my head because of my anxiety is not nice I av been opticians so many time my eyes are fine so are my retinas which was my main worry I av also just started Cbt I feel as tho Al never get back to feeling happy again even tho av ad them years and always been fine the anxiety is takin over my life. Thanks.

[bruffin]

Glad your feeling better Jaydelee

I still have my little money spider and I'm quite fond of it

[Daimgirl]

How lovely to hear you're doing so much better, I was reading the thread and about to post that when I found out that not everyone had floater when I was about 7 or 8, I'm 40-something now.

I am very very shortsighted but but other than that.

When I was a teen and bored I could almost go in to a meditative state watching them and making them dance (which is why I failed geography ).

Hope things carry on so well for you

[Antshaw84]

Hello people. Does any1 have any tips as my floaters have never really bothered me that much in the 5 years plus I have had them but I've been suffering with bad anxiety due to a problem that is now in the past but now that anxiety has had me thinking about the floaters which is gettin me down a lot. I'm 31 male only really used to see them when I looked for them or out in Bright light but jus forgot about them out of mind out of sight sort of thing but last few week it's like av never had them in the past but now I av I know it's down to the anxiety which I have just started tablets for but don't seem to be helping much there are driving me mad feel like I will never overcome it but I know they av been there years and years and never caused me problems wish I knew how to switch off.

[MummySparkle]

I've had floaters all of my life. I can't remember not having them! They come and go. I'm longsighted - seems I'm the only one on the thread!

Reading through this thread I've realised that they are certainly worse when my anxiety / mental health isn't good. Probably due to me worrying about them more rather than them being worse. (For me I get more freaked out that I'm seeing things rather than the health anxiety)

Please try not to worry OP. I always assumed they were completely normal until my last eye test when the optician asked me 'do you have floaters?' I was like, 'yeah... Is that bad?!?'

Sending you big hugs. Have you thought about getting some very slightly tinted glasses? Not lots, just enough to take the glare away. Do you wear glasses all of the time, or just for certain things? Having them on the whole time might help, do you have the anti-glare coating on yours? Mine made a massive difference to my dislike of bright lights. Supermarkets are much less overwhelming now. Sending hugs xXx

[MummySparkle]

Oops, I didn't look at the dates on the posts, or read the last page before posting!! Glad to hear things are much more positive for you OP x

[Pixa]

My FIL has recently undergone surgery to have his floaters removed. Is that an option for you?

[Antshaw84]

Hello Chris. Any pointers on how to controle my anxiety feels like it's getting worse I've Been doin Cbt for a week now had 2 sessions. I have had my floaters for many of years about 7-10 as I can remember and they av never caused be problems before. I'm now 31. Male and trying to controle my anxiety which worrying about somet which is now in the past but my anxiety is making me focus on the floaters which is making me think all sorts even tho I know these thoughts are jus all negative and will pass I can't seem to snap out of it been on tablets for my anxiety just over a week now and sleepers to help me sleep not sure if they helping much doesn't feel like they are at the minute. Thanks.

[helzapoppin2]

Antshaw, I recommend going to see an optometrist. You'll probably find one on your local High Street. They have very sophisticated equipment and can give you a free examination which, hopefully should set your mind at rest that there is nothing serious wrong.

[bruffin]

Antshaw, as i said above ×when this thread first started a few years back, i have appointments at the opthalmic clinic at my local hospital for over 15 years. My doctors there have never shown any concern about my floaters. I have high occular pressure and am under observation for glaucoma despite being on the young side at 52. It turns out i have thick corneas which can give high pressure readings.

[Antshaw84]

Thanks for reply guys. Been opticians everything is fine maybe it is just my anxiety that's the problem. I've had a read through all your posts bruffin and yes it makes sense what your saying. I suppose it's part of life and something you just av to get on with hey I'm feeling a lot less anxious today which is a start I suppose.

[LizzyScot74]

Hi Jaydeelee!
Your post came up when I googled eye floaters and anxiety. I realise it's a couple of years old but I wanted to reply as it really struck a chord with me. Is this thread still active?

[Chocqueen99]

I don't think the OP has posted since the beginning of the year but a few have. Are u suffering with floaters? I have them aswell they really got me depressed a few months ago

[LizzyScot74]

Hi Chocqueen99, yes I have loads of floaters. I've had them for many years but they've got worse recently. I've suffered from anxiety all my life and have had a really bad few months with it. I get very bad health anxiety and I've been very worried about my vision, especially the last few weeks. I've had blurry vision, tonnes of floaters - like trying to see through a net curtain! Also migrainy type symptoms of flashing lights and weird vision. I've had a couple of checks with the optician and they've said my eyes are ok but I don't feel reassured! I wake in the night regularly with panic attack symptoms and then panic about my vision as its so blurry and fuzzy when I wake up. I've read that lights with the floaters could be a retinal tear so I'm going to ask for a more thorough look at the back of my eyes. I know a lot of my symptoms could be the anxiety though. Bit of a vicious circle as the anxiety makes the symptoms worse but the symptoms cause anxiety too!

How are you feeling now? So sorry to hear you've been depressed. I can understand that, floaters can be so upsetting.

[Chocqueen99]

I understand how u feel I was exactly the same a few months ago I had terrible health anxiety an right in the middle of its worst I got a load of floaters! I tried to get in at an opticians but the told me dur to just getting them I had to go to the eye hospital. . U went an he said he couldn't see anything behind my eyes to worry about. . He couldn't see any floaters either which was weird. But after that I became obsessed with my eyes & though win was getting blurred vision all the time & was even obsessing over red veins in my eyes.

I think it was all in my head & from health anxiety which came quite out of the blue., but I'm a lot better now. Have you been to the doctors? ? I need after being to scared started on 50mg sertraline antidepressants & now feel totally different not fully better but a lot better. I woke up with dread every day & constant anxiety. Try going to your doctor.

My floaters are bad an I've only had them þ months have your got a lot worse since uve had them?I'm scared mine will.

[LizzyScot74]

It feels like they've got worse this year but it could be that my anxiety is making me more aware of them. I've got a lovely gp who is very understanding of anxiety and I've also been referred for cbt. I know what you mean about waking with that awful feeling of dread.
It sounds like your eyes are fine if a specialist has checked them. They can look to the back of your eye and check the retina. Very understandable that you're still upset by the floaters though. From what I've read they are harmless and don't get so bad that you can't see through them.