Did any of you get used to big eye floaters?

[esgill]

If so, how? And how long did it take? I posted about this the other day but it was more about having new ones after having previously had surgery for them.

I now have a long one in my right eye that in some light looks like a tapeworm, in some more like an eyelash with a black dot or a dark cobweb. Also some shadows. I can't unsee them. They're really upsetting me.

I have a young baby and just want to focus my attention on her.

I’ve got loads and i only see them when I think about them. It’s so random! So I soon as I saw your post they appeared but your brain just ignores them.
its easier said than done but you kind of need to forget about them to stop seeing them!

Me.

Can’t remember how long it took as have had them for years now. They rarely bother me now but I sometimes need to move my eyes from side to side for a moment to get rid of the bigger ones from my field of vision.

I notice them more if I’m looking at light surfaces - walls/ ceilings etc but I truly barely think about them now.

It’s a nuisance to start with but you will get used to them and you will rarely ‘see’ them.

Feel for you though.

I've had floaters for many years in both eyes, having had vitreous detachments in both eyes. I still notice them at times, especially if I'm tired or if I'm looking towards bright lights (computer screens, or particularly when driving into the sun). But most of the time now I don't notice them.

They will never go away and you may always have some awareness of them but in time, that will decrease.

Thanks for answering. Can you enjoy things you used to do? Travel? Walks outside? Galleries? Or have you had to adapt your lives to avoid places where seeing so many floaters will stress you out?

I used to notice them all the time, and I very rarely do now- only if I'm looking at something against a pale sky.
And I know they used to drive me round the bend. So fear not, you can get used to them, and pay them nevermind.

I have awful floaters and very rarely notice them now. I used CBT techniques as they really impacted me for a while.

It might be something for you to look into if they bother you?

@esgill Have you ever had 'Vitreous detachments'?
I have had vitreous detachments in both eyes, and the amount of floaters was terrible...and a Weiss ring, too.
Like looking through a dirty cobweb and a crumpled plastic bag.

I was told by the eye hospital they the brain learns to ''filter out'' the horrible things.

Thankfully it appears to be the case.

They are annoying, but far less noticeable then when I had them initially.

I've used this analogy on here before. It's like a relation break up. at first you think constantly about the other person and gradually it gets less, maybe a couple of times a day. Then you realise you haven't thought about them for week, then a month, then longer. But no matter how long it is occasionally you will see something or hear something that reminds you of them and for a little while you find yourself thinking about them more often.

The only thing in my life it ever affects now is when someone says 'look at that bird way up in the sky' and I can't work out what is floater and what is bird. Sometimes I'm more aware of them if i've been staring at a screen for too long and they settle in the middle of my vision.

I have just started to notice my floaters again since you mentioned them!
But normally I don't - At one point they were distressing me so much I contemplated flying to USA to have them zapped -but it would have bene prohibitively expensive.
What surgery did you have to remove them, @esgill ?

Do you know why you have the floaters? Is it due to vitreal detachments? If so, you hopefully won't get any more and will get used to them, plus they may fade to grey. If you have them due to some form of uveitis, then depending on how well the inflammation is controlled, you may keep getting new ones. I've found that much harder to ignore, but partly because I know it's a symptom of ongoing potential sight loss.

Yes, I suspect most of us with floaters are currently looking at them :-) ! I've learnt to accept that will never stop happening..

@helpfulperson Wonderful analogy! That is definitely my experience.
I drew on my phone what I was seeing when I first had them..

100% enjoy everything just as much as before.
I also have PVD in both eyes just worse in the right.
Had an eye check recently and they remarked on the ones in the right eye but they truly don’t bother me.

I do remember it was worse when it started but truly ok now.

I notice mine much more when my eyes are dry or tired. Eye drops help.

And sunglasses, as they’re much more noticeable in sunshine.

I've had floaters for many years. I'm very short-sighted. They are annoying at times but I've got used to them. I notice them more in bright light, so tend to wear sunglasses a lot. I went skiing this year and found them much more noticeable and irritating then.

Does anyone get a floater that's a small perfect circle with a black dot in the middle? The rest of my floaters are 'blobby' for want of a better word.

@Queijo worth a try for sure. What type of CBT techniques did you try?

@Izzy24 that's reassuring. My new floaters aren't as bad as before but still feeling very much like "my life as it once was it over" and "how am I going to enjoy life with my baby?"

@oakleaffy They look quite severe. How long did it take you to get used to them? My surgeon was Niall Patton and he was very good. I've had many years of clear vision. I will go back to him for cataract surgery and ask him to remove any floaters and remaining vitreous at the same time.

@helpfulperson Good analogy. I feel that heaviness that comes after a breakup. I wake up and suddenly remember this is my life now. How long did it take for you to get used to them?

@Heavenssakes reassuring... How long did it take for you?

It was probably a few months before I stopped thinking about them every day. But (and this isn't a criticism of you) I will probably think of them every day for the next few days because of this thread.

I have hundreds of floaters apparently, but only one big one that led me to having it investigated. I was told I would get used to it, which I didn't believe, , but over time it really did stop bothering me, even though is very much still there. Not sure exactly how long, I'd guess more than a couple of weeks but less than a couple of months

I've had them for years , not too many though. I find they're worse on windy days

I’m sorry! But yes this makes sense.

I’ll try and avoid the word for the next six months, after a week of mourning (which I’m allowing myself).

I am curious about how bad your floaters are.

-can you see them inside?
-in the bathroom?
-what do they appear like inside vs outside?
-on computer screens/your phone?