Eye floater - driving me mad! How long will it be there?

[MargoLivebetter]

I have what I think is a floater in my left eye and it is like a bloody fly that keeps appearing in my peripheral vision. It is driving me slightly mental.

How long do floaters last for?

Might be as well to book an optician's appt. They can check that it actually is a floater and advise you further. I've had a few, which I had checked as I'm very short sighted and wanted to make sure things were ok. They were and I was told that our brain compensates for the floaters and we don't notice them - like when we stop noticing the edge of new specs. Once my mind was put at rest, I stopped noticing. Difficult to say how long that took - sorry. Good luck, but do get it checked out.

Edit: Just remembered the optician said that dry eyes can make them seem worse. They can suggest drops which will help that.

I've had some of mine since I was a child, so...30+ years? Depends what yours is caused by, I agree with seeing an optician.

I would see the optician in case you had a PVD, I had that and had floaters and they checked my retina was ok, PVD is likely if you are over about 55 or so. Your brain gets used to them over time so you hardly see them

I had 'spiders' in both eyes complete with flashing lights at the side.

Had booked a appointment at the opticians but they told me to go to a walk in eye clinic at a hospital to get checked, which I did and it turns out to be PVD in both eyes, short sighted and age related unfortunately.

They come and go (around 3 years now) when I'm tired they appear worse or reading.

I was also told the brain adjusts over time, but this us slow going.

As your opticians advice.

I've had some strange flashes of light too (more noticeable at night), so I should probably go to the optician. I wondered if I was getting a migraine, but that doesn't seem to have happened. Thank you all.

In that case (the light flashes) definitely book an appt as soon as possible, mentioning the light flashes. Don't panic though; if it is PVD, it can be treated and they will monitor it. I think it's something to do with the thickening of the vitreous fluid (?) and is another of those fun things which come with getting older.
Good luck.

I had those flashes with PVD, I would definitely go to opticians to have it checked, they referred me to the hospital, not urgently for a more thorough check as it looked ok but just to be sure

Thank you. I've just spoken to my Optician and they've suggested I go to the local emergency eye clinic. I shall be heading there in my lunch break.

I take a supplement called Clearer and find it has massively reduced floaters. Well worth trying. You can read the science behind it

@RedRiverShore6 , @Knitterlybliss , @Canxancanular you were all on the money! It is indeed a PVD in my left eye. At least I know what it is now and can just ignore the pesky fly that isn't really fly and the mad disco going on! The ophthalmologist said that it is the vitreous sac thing is just starting to peel away and that I may well experience more visual disturbance as it comes away entirely (barf).

Anyhow, I appreciate the sensible advice from everyone and I'm glad I had it checked.

You're welcome. That's excellent news. Well not excellent exactly, but at least you know. Always best to check things out with eyes and it's not as if you could have ignored a flippin' great fly! Did they suggest any way to see him off? Drops maybe?

@Knitterlybliss stuck with the bugger unfortunately! He is a permanent feature in my life now, but apparently my brain will get used to him and stop "seeing" him!

That's good news, they do get better but could take a year or so, mine are barely noticeable now. I don't think it's advised to go bungee jumping or on a rollercoaster if you have this but I imagine you weren't going to do this anyway.

I think mine is still be there too. I've mostly learned to ignore him, except when he (it must be a He of course) invites his mates round for a party.

Your brain will learn to accept him - and his random mates! Good luck. Glad you came here and asked for advice.
Slightly off topic but related, I have a test next week when I'm hoping there's a simple answer to why my eyes are somewhere under a fog. I'm hoping my specs just need a deep clean, but it's probably cataracts which is a whole new ball game. Gulp.

@RedRiverShore6 my roller coaster / bungee jumping days are definitely behind me. Just being driven in the car by DS or DD makes me want to puke these days 😂

Sorry to hear about the fog descending @Knitterlybliss . I hope it is just a deep clean required (and not of your eyes!).

Glad you had it checked out, my opticians would not even see me just straight to eye urgent care (opticians thought it was a detached retina which can present the same as PVD, But until it's checked properly you don't know). Put you mind at least.

My spiders from Mars drive me crazy at times and the kind of thick liquid that when I blink to get rid of, feels like I'm looking through a car windscreen with washer wipers to clear.....if that makes any sense at all!

@Canxancanular yes, it was urgent eye care that I went to too. Clearly a quiet day, because I was in and out, anesthetised, dilated, examined and diagnosed and home again in just under 3 hours. I hope I don't get spiders from Mars!!!!!

Wow that's great care from your local urgent eye care, you too are lucky you could pop in.

Will add as well the vertical lights to the side have really subsided over the last few months, quite rare I get any now, so fingers crossed yours will settle

I'm wondering if that's what I've got. I'd assumed it was cataracts. Eye test next week so I should know more then. 🤞😵‍💫

I’ve had this - it was like lightening flashes in my eyes! I went to my optician to get it checked out because I had read up about tears in the lens or other such horrors.
Turns out it’s very common. The floaters and flashes lasted a few weeks

Wear sunglasses on bright days and they aren’t so noticeable.
You do get used to them but they also change over time moving and changing shape.
I only really notice mine now if I look at a light background.

I have PVD in both eyes as I'm very short sighted. The good thing is the floaters become less noticeable quickly and one day you realise you don't notice them. Get it checked again when you get a new one, just in case there's a fixable retinal tear.

I had PVD two years ago in one eye, the flashes only lasted about 3 days but I have a floater which looks like a small insect. The opthalmologist said I would stop noticing it, and it has got paler but I am still aware of it in bright light. I always wear sunglasses when I'm outdoors which helps.