Floaters in my eyes

I am monitored for posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) if I become dehydrated - the effect of a relapsing and remitting auto-immune condition when my body won’t absorb liquids.

I’m fine at the moment, in remission, but I also get the occasional bout of sciatica. This often needs a short, very low dose of Amitriptyline to relax the nerves. A few days of that drug and I get floaters. I’ve been checked by my optician who says the drug makes the eyes dry which triggers the floaters. I use lubricating drops for a few days until I stop the Amitriptyline after which the floaters disappear. Presumably the eye debris is eventually cleaned up by the lymphatic system.

I mention this in case people are suffering from floaters caused by meds they are taking for other conditions or could benefit from more hydration. Amitriptyline in larger doses is used an anti-depressant so it makes me wonder if there is a link between other drugs of this kind and eye conditions.

karmalady

I have had a few floaters all my life but had a big download in 2012. The optician said that I should get in touch with him if it happens again, he is good, very thorough specsavers.

It was disappointing to realise that I would not ever have clear vision again but believe me you do get used to them and the brain adapts. At first for weeks and weeks I let my glasses get dirty, so the floaters would not be so annoying

They do get absorbed slightly but never disappear. People with myopia are prone to floaters but anyone can get them

I had a sudden outbreak of floaters accompanied by flashing lights. I was sent to hospital and had lots if tests as they were worried my retina was detaching. Well it all settled and I did have floaters that gradually reduced and they have disappeared. There is hope.

I have very dry eyes andthe Consultant advised me to take flax seeds supplements do maybe that helped.

I too have suffered from floaters for years. Am around age 80 now, I find them most irritating when using the computer screen ( the bright frontal light).

My doctor shrugs and tells me to drink more liquids. Am trying to up my daily amount.

I too had floaters about six years ago and consulted the minor eye conditions service at my local Specsavers. The lace-like floaters were incessant and I asked for a referral to the Eye Hospital. However, he told me that it was nothing to worry about and happened with age; absolutely true in the majority of cases. The floaters continued and increased accompanied by weird flickers but I adjusted. Then about three months later I had what I thought was a particularly large black floater moving across my left eye. It wasn't a floater but my retina detaching. By the time I got to hospital it was completely detached and I couldn't see anything. I had an operation to reattach it but unfortunately over the next year it detached several more times and I now have no useful vision in that eye. The floaters in my right eye have reduced considerably.
I don't relate my experience to frighten anyone, because in the vast majority of cases floaters are a perfectly normal part of our bodies aging. However I strongly urge you, if they increase and particularly if you experience flickers or flashes of light to consult the Ophthalmology department at a hospital rather than an optician.

@Juno56 yes thanks for the warning, when I first had a sudden increase in floaters and flashing lights I went to hospital but the eye clinic said was just a slight bleed at the back of my eye and some detached vitreous, none of which was a concern. But I was told to be aware of a retinal detachment.
Sorry this happened to you 🌺🙏🏾

I had a sudden vitreous detachment when out shopping with GD several yrs ago, thought I'd got a detached retina and was really worried, accompanied by vision disturbances and pain. Eye hospital told me nothing to worry about but have since had floaters which have increased steadily over the years. Not as bad as some of you seem to have but often do a double take as I think there's a spider or something hanging next to me but just another floater.

I've had them all my life. I'm a " high myope " ie extremely short sighted and this seems linked.
They are debris floating in the vitreous humour..the gel in our eyeball. They come and go and are big ,small and different shapes.
There's not a jot you can do about them.
I rather enjoy mine. In moments of boredom I can focus on them and chase them around!

Floaters are a symptom of PVD but they can be present without PVD. But it is possible to have laser surgery to break up the floaters so they are less noticeable if you find them particularly distressing.

Oh my goodness. We had a horrible landlady called Lady Gracey when we were first married in 1971. I hope you are not her. But if you are you must be at least 100 years old by now.

I saw a video somewhere on Social media suggesting rolling your eyes round in a circle. I was very sceptical about it but i tried it and it seemed to work for me. No to get rid of them but to get my brain to ignore most of them. I only notice them if I'm tired now. I've had them for around 15 years or more, I'm 73 soon.

No I’m not your horrible landlady Etoile2701. I took my name from my ‘posh’ cat, a blue British Shorthair called Gracie.

My floaters are also visible when my eyes are photographed at the opticians. As for seeing a consultant again, as I live in Wales I think I would have a very long wait.

DH is having treatment for glaucoma he last saw the consultant on April 30th 2024 and was given a new prescription and was advised he would be seen in 12 weeks. He’s still waiting despite numerous phone calls to the hospital.

As I mentioned earlier I experienced about 50 floaters after my first cataract removal. At my final discharge over a year later the consultant who did the operation told me that the occasional floaters I still experience very occasionally may be due to staring at white walls. Our rental property only has white walls. I hope this might help others. I have found closing the affected eye for five minutes helps. The floater is still visible when the eye is closed but after some rest disappears. I feel blessed I had such good advice from people who trained for 14 years.

Some great replies, thanks to everyone, and keep them coming if anyone else suffers with this, is good to know we are not alone.
🌺🙏🏾

Usually they're due to a vitreous detachment & they're why I don't drive at night. They're a normal part of aging & can't be fixed. However, if you see flashing lights or something like a curtain covering part of your visual field, call an eye doctor immediately. Those are signs of a retinal detachment, which is serious & requires surgery asap.

I was glad I found this topic today on here after scaring myself silly using Dr Google! I’ve had small floaters for years which seem to bother me for a while then I stop noticing them. But 2 days ago I thought I had a mark on my glasses, turns out to be a new slightly bigger almost circular floater which is driving me mad, if you think of staring at a clock face it’s at about “1 o’clock” so right in my field on vision 😳 I’m not due an eye test until July 🤞