OT: Question About Vision (I'm Seeing Things)

Jonathan Neal wrote on 10/12/2007, 11:47 AM
Hi Guys,

I'm seeing shadows, webs, floaters, whatever you call them. This summer I started noticing a little shadow in my left eye. While at my computer, it seemed like there was a little spider crawling down in the corner of my left eye. Eventually I realized that it was just a shadow or burnt pixel in my vision.

Now, over the last two or three weeks I've noticed about six or more of these little blurry, shadowy freckles across my vision in both eyes. They're especially visible when I'm looking at a single colored surface, like say a website with a white background. This is 1. starting to distract and annoy me during my work, and 2. instinctively drawing my eyes to try focusing these blurry spots, causing my eyes to hurt after a while.

I've read a little about these 'floaters' and learned that they're usually just an annoyance that will fade away after a while. I've also learned that unless I start seeing a large number, like several dozens, it's considered somewhat 'normal'. Has anyone here ever experienced anything like this? Is this just part of getting older? Should I see a doctor immediately?

I really like my vision and I'd like to keep it in as best condition as I'm able to.

Jonathan

Comments

RalphM wrote on 10/12/2007, 11:56 AM
This forum is a questionable place to seek medical advice.

I suggest seeing an opthalmologist immediately.

(That will be $75 for my consulting fee)
Catwell wrote on 10/12/2007, 11:57 AM

My wife had a similar problem. Her regular optometrist responded as you have stated saying they fade after a few months. They didn't. She eventually saw an ophthalmologist who looked closer and told her it was a "macular pucker". It was treated with laser surgery and the problem was solved.

I would recommend seeing an eye specialist, not just a lens prescriber, and at least get it checked out.
RalphM wrote on 10/12/2007, 11:57 AM
This forum is a questionable place to seek medical advice.

I suggest seeing an opthalmologist immediately.

(That will be $75 for my consulting fee)
John_Cline wrote on 10/12/2007, 11:59 AM
I have occasionally experienced some very minor "floaters" and, yes, it's a part of growing older. (I'm 54.) From what you describe, your floaters seem more severe than anything that I've experienced. Personally, I'd go see a doctor.

John

(RalphM, since you posted that message twice, does he now owe you $150?)
jrazz wrote on 10/12/2007, 12:01 PM
Not to make lite of the situation but is anyone else chuckling at the term "floaters"?

j razz
Steven Myers wrote on 10/12/2007, 12:18 PM
Personally, I'd go see a doctor.

And keep in mind that an optometrist is not a real "doctor."
SeaJohn2 wrote on 10/12/2007, 12:19 PM
Get to an eye doctor immediately. These are symptoms of a retinal detachment, which can easily lead to irreversible blindness. I've had 2 detachments, 1 in each eye; the symptoms of the first one did not involve floaters, just a black curtain across part of my vision. The second one did show up as a few floaters.

It is normal to see a few floaters (which are actually shadows on the retina cast by floating blood cells), but a sudden occurrence of them, or of a shadow across your vision can be symptom of a tear or detachment. It's quick and easy for your eye doctor to diagnose.
Soniclight wrote on 10/12/2007, 2:02 PM
"This forum is a questionable place to seek medical advice."

Fair enough, it's not a medical office, but it's also a rather supportive community. Topic one is editing, but we're also human beings in biosuits that have occasional problems.

The member contributions to my recent thread on upcoming cataract surgery was not only warm-hearted but also informative through shared experiences.

It was quite helpful to me and I'm not the naive idiot type (my father was a journalist so I don't believe everything I read online :)

That said, indeed, go see an ophthalmologist, the real eye doctor type.. Optometrists deal more with prescribing glasses.
Coursedesign wrote on 10/12/2007, 3:36 PM
SeaJohn is right on.

Floaters are no problem, or rather they are unfixable at this time.

Retinal detachment need IMMEDIATE intervention.

How immediate? When I had it (started with black snowfall in my left eye), I got HMO approval in 10 minutes. That's compared to 2 weeks for regular and one week for urgent...

I called the ophtalmologist's office, he referred me to a specialist surgeon who was an expert on "the rear half of the eye" (retina and vitreous tissue, the fluid in the eye). That surgeon told me to stop what I was doing and come over immediately.

If you don't catch retinal detachment in time, you can lose that eye. If caught early, you can expect no acute trouble afterwards from the retina tear.

This surgeon did 2 ops per day, and apparently this proficiency is important.
winrockpost wrote on 10/12/2007, 4:06 PM
now I'm not at all poo pooing off topics,, but this one may be the best ever. My expert vegas opinion is
1. a joint or two and 4 imported beers. If this has no effect, then
2. Post on an AVID forum,, those guys are pros.

SEE A DOCTOR !!!
craftech wrote on 10/12/2007, 4:12 PM
Jon,

A detaching retina is usually accompanied by flashes of light or a lot of floaters suddenly appearing. You didn't describe those as symptoms. Floaters are untreatable but often fade. Other times they break up and create a million little floaters, but that only usually lasts a few days to a week. Yet other times they can last for years especially if you started getting them at a young age.

When they "fade" they actually settle to the bottom of the eye so you don't see them. You also get used to them and the brain turns them off. They are most common in nearsighted people.

John