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

Hi! Thought I'd replied to you but it doesn't seem to be here. I've got a lovely gp who's very understanding about anxiety. I'm also having Christian counselling and have been referred for cbt. I'm not eating much as I can't when I'm anxious so am feeling spacey and giddy a lot which obviously doesn't help my eyesight issues! I wake up a lot at night feeling panicky and am constantly checking my vision so am very tired too!
I'm not sure how much worse my floaters have got, it feels like they're worse but maybe I'm just focusing on them more because of the anxiety? They're over my whole vision a lot of the time and I have to blink them to move them when I'm reading. I also have a lot of light sensitive issues like some of the other people on this thread. If I'm talking with someone on a bright day the floaters are so noticeable and I find it hard to concentrate! I'm also experiencing wobbly vision where things wobble when I try to focus on them and blurred vision too! That could be tiredness, lack of food though. Anxiety is awful and I'm finding my health anxiety very distressing.

Oh my other reply appeared too!

OP - I'm the same prescription as you. I'm in my 40s now and I really can't remember not having them. I went to have them checked out about 10 years ago after a conversation with my ex made me realise that not everyone has them. He was like when I was describing it.

You're only seeing them because you know they're there. You will get to a point where you won't notice them. In the meantime, leave Google alone.

LizzyScott74 health anxiety is hard & I feel like mine is creeping back but like i say the tablets really really helped me. Floaters are just so annoying but sometimes I think there are a lot of worse things to have! Buy tgty u worry about them getting worse it's just a vicious circle. I worry about everything

Me too! That's anxiety disorder though. You can get reassured about one thing but you'll find something else to obsess about instead! What gets me is how real the symptoms are and however much you tell yourself it's anxiety, it's still really scary. You're not alone! So many people have this and I'm thinking of you! My vision is my major issue at the moment. Very blurry and misty. I've had my eyes checked again today though so I have to try and believe it's tiredness and anxiety causing the vision problems.

I know this thread is old but there are some recent responses on it so I figured I would jump on too. I was googling for discussion about eye floaters AND anxiety & this one was in the list. I found it to be extremely helpful. Truly, a great thread about people living with their floaters & being happy despite them!

I'm having a similar issue right now. I'm 35 & first noticed floaters at 22. They honestly never bothered me until about 5 months ago. My stress & anxiety levels were very high. I noticed that when I looked out the window of my office, I saw little sparkly things going around. This scared me to death. I later found out that they are something called Blue Field Entoptic Phenomenon & are harmless (do any of you have it?). But at the time, I had no idea what it was & it started me into a spiral of anxiety about my vision. Once I noticed the sparkly things, I started noticing my floaters. Then I started looking to see how many more I had acquired over the years (big mistake!). Then I started seeing them ALL THE TIME. Then I started noticing everything in my vision & convincing myself I had all sorts of visual disturbances. I've had two eye exams in the last four months & they turned up nothing serious. But still, I worry every day. The most troubling thing, by far, is the floaters. THEY CAN DRIVE YOU MAD! It's a daily struggle for me right now to try to keep them off my mind.

I do believe, deep down, that my anxiety is making my floaters, and all my visual "issues" much worse than they are. Making me see things. Making me feel crazy. I also believe that in time this can pass. But in the meantime, it's SO incredibly hard. I identify so much with the other floater sufferers on this thread!

I'm here if anyone wants to chat more... :)

Hi Pinkharts9! Sorry just seen your message. Wow that all resonates so strongly with me just now! I've had another sleepless night worrying about my vision. Every time I wake up (which is about every hour in a state of panic) I check again and again that I can focus. My eyes wouldn't work together to focus this morning and I spiralled off into a panic. I'm getting that a lot, feeling like they aren't working together. I 'zone out' and go blurry a lot when I try to focus on things, especially at a distance. I've had my eyes checked and my prescription has changed and I'm not sure it's right.
The 'sparkly things' are a BIG DEAL for me too! Such a relief to know someone else has that! Most people I tell about it say it's not normal and they don't have it! When I look at the sky it's very twinkly and lots of pinpricks of light. I also get that in dim light, everything looks fuzzy and like billions of grains of sparkly dust everywhere. Also if I look at white walls, or any light surface, they look like they're made up of billions of tiny twinkly lights or sparkly dust. They twinkle and move! Do you get that??
The floaters too are a major worry for me, they feel like they're getting worse all the time and I find it hard to see through them, especially when I'm driving or reading. They settle in front of my eyes and I have to try and blink them to move. It's stopping me going out, taking my children out or doing much at all as I constantly feel like I can't see properly and feel like I've got haze over me. ??

Sorry don't know where those two question marks at the end came from!

Very bad day today, an overcast day but my floaters horrendous. Just can't ignore them and constantly blinking to move them around so I can try and look through them. So frightened they're going to get worse and worse until I can't see through them. They seem darker and more solid black spots at the end of the clear lines. The lines seem more defined and less see through too. I am VERY anxious at the moment though and clinging to the hope that this is making them seem worse. ??

I have days what are much worse than others... my work is very bright bright lights & really light walls and flooring so sometimes it's horrendous and when im not thinking about them as much I do not notice them as much... mine are more noticeable on bright days but not sunny like other people say.. do you know other people what have them?? Because my Bf has them has done since he wqs a child & he swears blind her never sees them..

You said you have had them years am I right? How did u feel when u first got them?? Do u think they av really for worse or your anxiety has??

I've been much more aware of them this year but have had really bad anxiety so could be linked to that. Worse this weekend too, I'm seeing them all the time. They're floating around and blurring my vision this evening when I usually wouldn't notice them so much. Floating in front of lights and reflecting in them to blur. They were so awful when I was out today. I know some people on this thread have said they come and go but I've been told they're permanent? The optician can see them in my eyes. Once the jelly is broken off and floating around then it doesn't go back? So I'm so scared they'll just get worse and worse.

Yes I've had them since I was a teenager I think. They used to just bother me when looking at the sky. So I guess they must have got worse for me to see them so much. I only googled and found out what they are recently. I used to think they were dust in the eye so could get better! Now I've found out they're permanent and degenerative it's made me much more worried about them.

It's always good to know we're not alone when dealing with these things!

I'm currently enduring the worst bout of anxiety of my entire life. It's mostly centered around my vision, which is torture, as I spend all day noticing new things that I think I shouldn't be seeing. I'm constantly checking my vision & panicking over every little thing. It's unbearable at times. Floaters are a big part of this as I see them all the time & I'm constantly looking for new ones. I'm desperate for it to stop but don't know how to make it happen.

I am seeing a therapist (not too often, can't afford it) and I also started on an SSRI 10 days ago.

One thing I can tell you for SURE is that the more you think about them, the more you will see them. Trying not to see them only makes them stand out more. You truly have to get them off your mind in order to stop noticing them. I don't think we can force it to happen. I think we have to just wait it out. We're hyperfocused on our vision right now & so everything is causing us fear, including floaters.

Oh Pinkharts9 we have a lot in common! I'm also going through an awful period of anxiety which started about a year ago. Mine has centred around my vision too, I've also become obsessed about checking again and again all the things that are worrying me. I only sleep for a couple of hours then wake up and panic about my vision all night. I've resisted going on medication but gave in this week and started on anxiety meds. Day three today and it's been awful so far. Much more panicky, double vision and just feeling like I can't cope. I went to the docs today and apparently it's common to feel worse in the first few days of taking the drug. I'm just terrified and have that horrible feeling of dread nearly all the time.
What's an SSRI 10? I've been referred for psychology and counselling on the NHS so could you ask for that if you're finding private too expensive?

Hi Lizzy! I started an SSRI (Lexapro/Escitalopram) 10 days ago is what I meant. Today is my 11th day. Which one are you on? Unfortunately, with all SSRIs, there tends to be an increase in anxiety for a few weeks as your body adjusts. I also have no appetite, dry mouth, tension headaches & a hard time staying asleep at night. But the increase in anxiety has been incredible. My therapist & GP both want me to tough it out if I can. They asked me to at least stay on it for 4-6 weeks. So that's what I'm going to do. But it is tough!

I'm sorry you've been suffering for a year. I've been suffering since May, so about 6 months. Never had anxiety this intense that lasted this long. I'm trying to eat well, exercise, meditate & sleep well. Also, taking my meds & going to therapy. But is really hard & trust me, I know the agony of constantly checking your vision & feeling panicky when something seems off. This happens at least once a day, every day for me. And usually it's about five times a day.

How old are you? Do you suffer from generalized anxiety disorder or healthy anxiety? Is this your first time feeling like this or has it happened before?

-Pink

Hi, I'm 41. I've had anxiety since childhood. Very focused on health anxiety since my 20s. I also have OCD which is worse when I'm anxious. I still don't know what SSRI stands for? I check my vision every five minutes! I've not been eating properly for a few months, have list a lot of weight. I also only get a couple of hours sleep before I wake up in a panic. So the tiredness and lack of food isn't helping with the anxiety. I'm waiting for a psychology apt and am also going to try counselling. Are you American? Just wondered as you said 'therapist' !

I'm 35. Yes, I'm American! Haha. We say PCP here (primary care physician) but I've picked up on the GP so usually remember to type that. :) What do you call a therapist over there? And that's also why my therapy appointments are so expensive - the wonderful American healthcare system! I have a $3,500 yearly deductible. Meaning, my insurance doesn't kick in AT ALL until I spent $3,500. Nice, right? But anyway...

Anxiety is the absolute worst. I suffered with social anxiety from age 20-24 really badly until I did CBT therapy & slowly got over it. But my general anxiety is always brewing & now I guess I have health anxiety because I can't stop worrying about my vision. It's been a complete nightmare & I would not wish this on anyone!

If you want to talk in email or anything, just let me know! I'll check this thread again later. :)

A SSRI is just a type of antidepressant it stands for you selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. I take sertraline 50 mg which had really really helped with my healthy anxiety I wish I cud up the dose but too worried about some side effects. . It's so weird I was bang in the middle of my anxiety at its worst when I got the shitty floaters & after that came some obsession with my eyesight like you 2.

For ages I was convinced I had blurred vision but I don't think I did at all. I've never been to the opticians because my res have only been fine. When I got the floaters I tried booking an appointment but they said cus they had just come on I had to go to the ey hospital, I went & the eye doctor couldn't see anything of any concern behind my eyes not even floaters which is strange.

Anyway hope your both having a not too bad day.

Hi both of you! I'm on sertraline 50mg too. On day 4 and I've been feeling awful. Massive 5 hour panic attack the first day and very anxious, dizzy and double vision too. My vision is very hazy and a double edge on things which is scaring me. Saw the doc yesterday and she said the drug can do that. Apparently you can feel worse in the first week but then the side effects should go and you start feeling less anxious? It's my vision that really panics me at the moment but I also have other anxiety triggers. It's been a tough year.

Can I ask your names? Feels weird calling you pinkharts and chocqueen!
A therapist in the UK is a councillor.

I also have them and they make me anxious sometimes. I have a massive one in my left eye that blocks people's faces. I got it checked out a few years ago and told it was completely normal.

I have one like that in my right eye. It hovers in the way when I read and I have to blink to move it. Mine catch the lights in the evenings too and make my vision blurry.

Mine too Lizzy! And it's in my right eye, no idea why I put left.

Hi ladies! It's not a coincidence that when we have a lot of anxiety, we also obsess about our eye floaters & other "normal" things. I'm obsessed with my vision & have been for months. It's terrifying & completely exhausting. I haven't been able to overcome it on my own whereas in the past, I've been able to get over my episodic anxiety after a few months without medication. But this time, it just has me by the throat & I can't push past it on my own.

For me, it started with "seeing stars" which I later found out is normal, like floaters. But at the time, I didn't know it was normal & it kicked off major vision anxiety. Then came the floaters, and more floaters. And then these weird "blurry" floaters that only pop up when I move my eyes over really bright lights (fluorescent lights at work) or when looking towards something bright (like a window) in a dark room. I move my eye one direction & a blur goes by in the other direction! That was the final straw & I went running to my optometrist. He wasn't concerned (or interested) in the floaters & told me everything looked good in my eyes EXCEPT he thought he saw cataracts forming. He said it might have been because I had to take a lot of prednisone when I was a child because I was very sick. Keep in mind, I hadn't really noticed any cataract symptoms at that point & I wasn't worried about them. But a week later, I was so worried about the blurry floaters (above all) that he sent me to an ophthalmologist. He did a scan of my eyes & some tests & told me everything was fine & he did NOT see cataracts. Which, at the time, was great news. I continued to suffer though with every visual symptom in the book. One day my vision was vibrating, another day I couldn't read well, and another I was obsessed with after images. I could name many more. But you get the idea, it was always something new. And floaters making me feel crazy every day. Then a few weeks ago, when out driving at night, I realized that I could see a glow around street lights & stop lights & I wasn't sure if that was normal or if it had been there before. I can also see lines coming off of some lights, especially car headlights. I swear I never saw lights like that before. But my anxiety is so bad, I can't tell if I have an eye problem or if it's anxiety. Maybe I do really have cataracts? I'm scared to go back to the doctor again already & I'm trying to stay calm.

Sorry for the long post but that's my story. My anxiety is a 9 out of 10 most days. Hoping the medication can help. Not sure if I have an eye problem or if my anxiety just has me so badly that it's making me see things. Floaters still bother me (though a little less than a few months ago) & now I worry about how lights look constantly. And if it's normal.

Ugh! Thanks for listening ladies. Oh and as I said before, feel free to email me privately if you'd rather talk there: [email protected]