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Original poster

Eye Floaters - feeling desperate - positive stories only please

92 replies

echops · 21/05/2010 13:57

I'm not sure if anyone can help me but I'm feeling terribly frightened and desperate. My darling daughter is 3 months old and absolutely gorgeous. However, during the last few months of pregnancy I seemed to develope a few stringy eye floaters that I ocassionally saw on white walls etc.

However, during the last 6 weeks these have become far far worse - I have dots / cobwebs in both eyes. They are totally distracting when I move my eyes as they swirl about. I've seen a consultant who didn't seem at all bothered by them and said I'd just have to get used to them. This seems impossible as they are so incredibly intrusive (I have about 9 in each eye). Has anyone a positive story about eye floaters and how they no longer see them despite feeling as desperate as me? I realise they never go away but I can't believe my brain will eventually stop seeing them. They really are terrible and I'm getting to the point where I don't think I can cope with them anymore - they are totally exhausting me.

OP posts:
Original poster
echops · 29/05/2010 09:07

Ladies, I can't thank you enough. You really have made a difference to my mindset.

OP posts:
Original poster
echops · 14/06/2010 09:15

Hi ladies. Just returned from week by the seaside. Found it very hard as everyone I looked at the sea I saw large cobwebs and dots. Have decided to go to Docs for some antidepressents to help me cope with the anxiety I'm experiencing ( made worse by arrival of a new large floater!). Will still keep in mind all your positive stories - i'm sure mine aren't the worst. In the world and if others cope with lots of large and small floaters I'll have to believe I can too.

OP posts:
OCV · 17/07/2010 12:12

One Clear Vision is the leading international charity working for people with Degenerative Vitreous Syndrome (severe eye floaters): raising awareness and promoting a better understanding through fundraising, providing information and support to sufferers and collaborating with eye specialists and researchers to help achieve clear sight for everyone affected.

www.oneclearvision.org

flowergal · 22/07/2010 17:12

@ echops, am 28 my problem is same as urs it started just 4 dyz back am currently breast feeding my 3 month old son nd am seeing a fly shaped floater on my left eye its very annoying my vision is otherwise good and i don have any risk factors which can cause a floater ..can anybody tell me wat triggers formation of floaters as collagen degeneration is uncommon for young adults..also want to know how soon these floaters increase in number..i am trying to digest the fact that it cannot be treated and have to live with it,..will changes in diet be of any help.. any information wud be helpful..thanks

Original poster
echops · 22/07/2010 19:01

Hi Flowergal - if you've just got the one floater you'll probably be able to ignore it pretty quickly. My friend developed 2 right in the middle of her right eye when she was pregnant - she no longer sees them and says they've faded to pale grey (me moaning about my floaters all the time has made her notice it a lot more though!). I'm still terribly fed up with mine (really do have a lot which move all over both eyes - some quite large and blur vision which I can't ever imagine them ignoring) but am trying my damndest to ignore them and stay positive. The comments from other ladies on here has really helped (don't go searching the net like I did - people write the most depressing things!).

OP posts:
flowergal · 23/07/2010 08:29

thnx 4 d reply echops...not able to stop browsing about floaters, am just worried that it increases, each day i wake up hoping i wont see a new floater, am from india nd no alternative treatment like hypnosis available here

buttercupsndaisies · 17/08/2010 16:55

Hi am am new to this but vert desperate for some help. I am 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby and so distressed because i literally developed a floater over night:( I can't see how i can learn to live with it when its right in my line of sight, and guess i am looking for re assurance that this will happen Confused. i can really relate to echops when you said you couldn't cope with them, i feel exactly the same. I feel so sad and very teary and just want to look forward to my baby arriving, is there anything that can be done to make this go away. Please help x

Karoleann · 17/08/2010 17:58

buttercupsndasies - if you haven't had your retina checked please do, floaters can be a sign of retinal problems - any Optometrist can have a good look.
There is a procedure called YAG laser vitreolysis available privately that can reduce the severity of large floaters by turning them into little ones. I'f fairly sure its only available privately.

buttercupsndaisies · 17/08/2010 18:39

Hi Karoleann, Thanks for your reply, i have been to my optician and he checked everything out for me and said "it's just a floater, you'll get used to it" which sort of distressed me a bit. I cant see how anyone could get used to it. I am so scared that i will get more or it will get worse and can't stop getting upset about it. Do you know any more about the YAG laser, or anyone thats had it done? I'm so grateful for any advice that you have. Many Thanks xx

Karoleann · 17/08/2010 21:14

I don't know a huge amount about it, there was an article in one of our professional journals a month or so ago - but to be honest I've never even heard of it prior to that. I'd give it a google and see if there's anyone locally who you can consult.
I know its only really suitable for large floaters.

flowergal · 08/10/2010 21:24

@ buttercupsndaisies did ur doc tell floaters r side effects of pregnency?...i wonder y most of them get dem during pregnency

verytellytubby · 08/10/2010 21:53

I've been too scared to read this thread. I get black floaters in bright sunlight. Scares me.

I'm going to the optician next week. They go though if I wear sunglasses!

Floaters01 · 01/12/2014 19:36

Hi echops I realise a few years have passed since this thread was posted but I have recently started to have a very similar experience to what you describe with eye floaters and I wondered if you would mind letting me know how things progressed for you?
With thanks.

Catsmamma · 01/12/2014 19:46

I'd imagine the op is LONG gone

the floaters to be worried about are

  1. new ones, lots of little ones or anything different from your usual ones.
  2. Any sudden increase in number
  3. Any new major shadowing in your vision
  4. Any flashing lights...spots or arcs although it can be hard to tell.
theliverpoolone · 09/12/2014 21:49

I developed lots of spiders web type floaters in one eye just yesterday and have been scared stiff that I'm going to have them now for ever. Feel really depressed that I may just have to live with them. I've never had them before, so they're 'new', which worries me. Have a hospital appointment on Friday to have them checked out, but am really struggling to work at a PC, read etc at the moment Sad. Would also love to know how the original OP's progressed.

CatsClaus · 09/12/2014 21:58

go to an optician tomorrow if these floaters are new, if it's nothing then you won't be worrying yourself silly until friday. AND if it is something then getting it looked at sooner is important.

theliverpoolone · 11/12/2014 12:28

Thanks, Cats. Was impossible to get an opticians appointment yesterday - tried to bring forwards the hospital appointment but not much luck there either, so am holding out till tomorrow. They got worse yesterday, but are still the same today ....

LightastheBreeze · 11/12/2014 17:04

I had a PVD last February and loads of floaters, a lot of them have disappeared and the few that are left, I think my brain blocks them out so they don't bother me at all now. They just gradually disappeared over a few months.

Malagu · 27/12/2014 03:09

echops hi hun i saw your post bout floater did you still see your? im 32 week pregnant i got them im 36 weeks now i go to eye dr my eye is healthy but im still scared

Nursed123 · 14/04/2016 13:57

Hi ladies,
I've just found this post - some 6 years later I am aware! lol
Having the exact same problem, couldn't have described it better myself and am driving myself doolally with this array of extremely floaty floaters that I now have!
Anybody found theirs have got better since this post was written?
Thanks :)

Tlslone21 · 18/04/2016 23:32

I know exactly what you are talking about they are overwhelming

Tlslone21 · 19/04/2016 00:35

Have you been able to ignore the floaters?

tobee · 19/04/2016 11:08

Hello. I have floaters that I first noticed over 5 years ago. I got myself in a right state about them. Have severe anxiety issues in the past and sometimes now. I got to the stage where I was constantly going outside to look at blue skies or overcast skies to look at them. And worry. And then I was too scared to go to the opticians. I also constantly googled and google imaged floaters to see if mine looked the same. Anyway, I now barely notice them. And if I do, I almost think of them as old friends!! My last eye check was fine.

MrsOs · 19/04/2016 14:19

Hi I also noticed these things last June time when I had bad health anxiety. I got very depressed at the time and Dr wanted to put me on anti depressants but I resisted and am now having counselling. I find that if I get anxious about stuff they get worse. I'm having days now where they aren't that bad but then I have other days when they are worse and I get very upset about them again. It's difficult. I think the anxiety makes them worse which in turn makes my anxiety worse. so I go around and around in circles. I know I need to get to a place of acceptance but I still feel really angry about them and just want them to go away. I think back to a time when I didn't notice them and wish myself back there. I think I have had them a while but just didn't notice them.. it's hard to ignore something that floats about in your vision isn't it.. any tips gratefully received as I'm finding I'm avoiding doing things which is limiting my enjoyment in life. I have a little boy and I find I don't want to go out as much as I used to.. because outside it's much worse than inside. These things have changed me as a person. I'm not who I used to be which is sad. I tell myself there are others worse off than me..

Tlslone21 · 19/04/2016 22:45

I know exactly what your feeling they make you feel like your life will never be the same! I first noticed the floaters 20 years ago after my second child and they really stressed me out didn't know what they were. I was put on zoloft and after time I forgot about them. I recently went off zoloft for a year then started having anxiety and depression and that's when I noticed them again and it seems like they have multiplied and are enormous. I had to get back on zoloft they are so stressful