Sunday evening I had a sudden large floater in my left eye. My vision was mildly obscured at the bottom and so I did go see the eye doctor on Monday they fit me in. It sounds like it was the very beginning of posterior vitreal detachment which I didn’t even realize was a thing.
Monday night it’s got significantly worse, with lots of flashers and the next day with the significant increase in floaters as well as some of my central vision partially obscured. I went back in today and the detachment has advanced significantly in that short time, but there’s no retinal damage. Hopefully there won’t be any retinal damage.
Why didn’t anybody ever mention that this happens to lots of people as they age? Lots of people don’t even really notice the symptoms
Apparently it’s just a part of aging. If there is any retinal damage, leak, etc, then they would have to take action to protect my vision. But otherwise, just ride it out. Apparently not everyone has as dramatic a presentation.
Then there’s my mom who doesn’t even know what a floater is. What? Maybe because she’s not nearsighted, because she has other risk factors including prior eye surgery.
I’ll go back in a week and a half for further monitoring, and then I think once more within the next few months. Typically if something bad is going to happen it’s in the first weeks apparently. I just don’t understand how this can be so “normal” with aging yet I’ve never even heard of it. Let’s also point out that I’m in my early fifties, so not that old in the grand scheme of things.
This was a very sudden and obvious increase in quotas for me. Like I can tell you the moment that I noticed them. Apparently it can start in the 40s for some people, and I guess I’m just young for it. But it sort of makes sense because I’m nearsighted, I’ve had cataract surgery, and I suspect that the inflammation plays in as well
Well, I can share my experience! I had my first posterior vitreous detachment when I was 58 and it gave me a scare. I had squiggly jagged sort of flashes that always moved to the side when I tried to look at them and those dang floaters! I also was told that it happens all the time but most people don’t get the Northern Lights effect…consider yourself amongst the privileged. It calmed down in a few days and no more flashes BUT, unfortunately, the floaters can remain. I’ve caught myself even turning to the side when one races by looking like a bug or a bird. Just 2 days ago my other eye gave small squiggly psychedelic lines and flashes but cleared up in a few hours. Sometimes it pulls away all at once and other times in bits and pieces. It is wise to get things checked as it can be very similar to a retinal detachment. You’ll likely be good to go in a few days. I prefer to call it a “Virtuous Detachment”…sounds more positive! @Stoney, it sometimes helps if you sing Patsy Cline’s song, “I fall to pieces…” as one more thing gets added…or taken away!
I had exactly the same symptoms in 2019 after some tests i was diagnosed with Uveitis now my right eye has a permanent ring like floater in the middle and loads of black floaters and i am now sensitive to light and wear sun glasses most of the time many Psoriasis patients get the problem
I have had small floaters since I was an adolescent. I am now 75 years of age. Recently had a big swirling black floater which went away after about a month. It just got smaller and smaller. Over the years I occassionally have had problems with my vision. It has been more like looking through faulty glass with flashes or stars. Been checked out by my then doctor and numerous visits to 2 Optometrists. None recognised Uvevitis when I had a red dry eye which felt like I had sand in it. Then more recently I went blind in my right eye for just a few minutes. I already had an appointment booked with my doctor so didn’t worry too much. Checked my blood pressure which is always a bit on the high side and was no worse than what it usually was. My doctor was very concerned and sent me off to the Emergency Dept at the nearest hospital. Turned out that I had a mini stroke called a TIA. More tests, Brain Scans, Ultrasounds, blood tests. Sent to a Vascular Surgeon. About a month later I had surgery on a blocked Carotoid Artery which saved me from having a full blown stroke. I only mention this because problems with the eyes should never be ignored. Going blind in one eye for a couple of minutes was a warning sign that I was high risk for having a full stroke. I consider myself very luckly that my quality of life such as it is did not turn out to be a whole lot worse.
I definitely don’t ignore eye problems. I’ve had a lot of inflammatory problems over the years. I really like my eye doctor, and when there were some odd problems he sent me off to a specialist. I always appreciate that.
I’m glad you got diagnosed and cared for before having a full blown stroke.
The left eye is looking good overall. The flashers are now at a minimum. The vision is not as good as I’d like it to be. There’s still a gob of floaters that are impacting my central vision. My eye doctor said it could take 2-6 months for them to settle and/or for my brain to accommodate. So I still need to be patient.
What’s really funny is that I presented him with a problem that I THOUGHT I had mentioned previously, but I didn’t. A number of times a year I will wake up (night or nap) with extremely blurry vision in one eye that takes well over an hour to clear. We decided that I would monitor, including frequency, which eye, how long to clear, etc. It will give him a better idea of what direction to start off in.
Yes, I had this happen a few years ago. I was assured that it is a normal part of aging. It bugged me a lot at first and now I don’t even notice it. I was told that your brain just compensates for it, or gets used to it.