Increase in floaters in one eye?

[Arraminta]

Over the last few days have noticed an increase in floaters/squiggles in my left eye. No pain or soreness but it's really annoying me.

I vaguely remember my optician mentioning something about my left eye at my last exam, but cannot for the life of me remember what it was?

Is there anything I can do to get rid of them?

No advice but exactly the same thing has been happening to me for about 5 days now

A sudden increase in floaters can be a sign of a detached retina so you might want to get seen ASAP

Opticians will be quiet today, phone and ask for an appointment for a supplementary eye examination, explaining your symptoms.

Mine too, Optician wasn't worried at all, but it is wise to get it checked out of course

Definitely go and see your optician. This is one of those things that can be very serious or irrelevant and you need a professional to tell you which. And if it makes you feel any better my optician said it was these type of appointments that made the job more interesting than just another changed prescription.

if you’re over 40 it could be posterior vitreous detachment.

See RNIB site
www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/posterior-vitreous-detachment/

@Arraminta Posterior vitreous detachment- Very common , massive increase in floaters a f “flashing” light in low light conditions

Go and see optician or visit local eye hospital if you are near one.

Don’t drive though as they put a belladonna type drug in your eyes that makes them blurry to expand the pupil.

You need it checked OP, could be something minor or serious and there's no way for you to be the judge. I have PVD as per the link above and my symptom was flashing lights on outside of my vision field. I went to A&E as it was a Sunday and my optician was always clear that I was at risk of retinal detachment and any change to my vision must be checked ASAP. Whether there was a change in number of floaters was one of the questions asked by a& E when assessing me

@Arraminta If it is PVD your brain learns to filter them out in time.

I still see mine but only when reminded of them!

When it happened I had a dirty cobweb in each eye- a gross Weiss ring.

i had a sudden increase in floaters then in the evening flashing lights at the side of my vision.

Optician had recently done routine eye check and said everything was fine so it was a shock.

Went to A&E and triage nurse took my bp then I had to wait overnight till 6am to see a dr who referred me to the eye clinic.

Saw the eye surgeon a few hours later, he found a retinal tear and did a laser repair. Eye was fine afterwards.

V scary how quickly it can happen isn't it. My optician wasn't thrilled with my treatment in A&E given the on call consultant was consulted about my case without actually seeing me and they referred me to eye clinic for the next morning

Thank you. I'll make an appointment to see my optician after Boxing Day x

I would see if you can get seen tomorrow. Opticians will fit you in if you explain. Floaters are less of a worry, squiggles could be a retinal detachment.

I agree, if they are open tomorrow I'd ring for their opinion at least

My mum had something similar and it was a macular hole

Yes that’s what I’d do. You really don’t want to be sitting in A&E on a bank holiday.

If your eye gets worse and you see flashing lights it means there could be a tear which needs repairing asap to avoid detached retina.

I was told not to delay should this happen just in case. Good luck.

Yes go tomorrow OP, it's really not a thing to take a chance with.

Your hospital may have an eye casualty dept that an optician or GP could refer you to directly. In my case my optician gave me a referral letter and sent me straight there.

No. Do not wait til after Boxing Day. Go tomorrow. As pps have said, this might be something very trivial (PVD), or something much more serious (retinal detachment)

Phone your regular optician tomorrow . They may want to dilate your eyes so won’t be able to drive .

like others said it may be minor but also could be more serious and they may want to see you tomorrow

Thank you, but I'm really not going to spend Christmas Eve/Day on this. Have an appointment booked for the 27th.

@Arraminta with due respect, if you have a problem with your retina, leaving it a few days may result in a permanent loss of your sight. Surely nothing is more important than your sight????

I speak as someone who received emergency laser treatment within a day of seeing floaters and squiggles.

A & E now. You are at risk of a detached retina. Look up how serious this is!