Vision problems: Floaters

[Paccy66]

In the last couple of years I have developed several spots, lines and squiggly objects in my vision. They are called 'floaters', which is caused by the vitreous in the eye (the middle bit) pulling away from the retina (the back bit). This causes tiny bits of vitreous gel to break loose and cast shadows on the retina, hence the appearance of floaters... they kind of dart away when you try to look at them directly, and they settle to the bottom of your vision when looking straight ahead. They are opaque, so are not overly intrusive, and can apparently settle over time. Floaters are supposed to be fairly common and appear with age (I'm 32). They are most obvious against a light background such as a white wall or blue sky.
Luckily it doesn't affect my riding, as I can still see clearly and the floaters can't be seen against the blur of trees, rocks and trail.
Has anyone else experienced this or something similar? If so, how bad, or has it decreased over time? (which apparently it can).
Would like to hear from others with this condition.

[|Matt|]

I have a couple (is that how you'd say it?).

They don't appear often, but sometimes I can see a little squiggly line in my left eye. It doesn't bother me because as you said, my vision isn't impaired by it and I don't think twice about it.

I'd like to hope that it doesn't get worse, but if it stays like this I don't really mind.

FTR, I'm 16. I've had it for a long time.

[AngoXC]

Yep. I get them as well (I thought it was just me!) Im short sighted...for anyone who knows about VA figures, mine is 6/92. (Meaning for a person with 'perfect' vision, what I can see at 6m is what they can see at 92.) Pretty bad eh for an 18 year old?

I dont really notice it anymore but its never really bothered me to tell you the truth...Airforce applications and tests earlier (if i knew my eyesight was that bad, I wouldnt have bothered) this year never revealed any diseases with my eyes so I dunno...did you get this info. off an optomotrist?

[Paccy66]

I'd like to hope that it doesn't get worse, but if it stays like this I don't really mind.

Exactly. As long as it doesn't get worse.... I can live with it. It started in the right eye as a small spot and is now in both eyes. Annoying but bearable.

[johnny]

I have had heaps ever since I can remember...., and I mean farkin heaps!

Sometimes I can even use them to follow a line of text I'm reading.

I've also had tinitus, eczema, hay fever, bleeding noses, severe heart burn and farked knees..., ALL MY LIFE. None of these things came on with age, they were always there.

But, I really don't mind too much. The hay fever gets me down a bit.

Right now I am covered head to toe, inside my mouth too with an allergic reaction to god knows what. Spent 4 hours in a Western clinnic over here today and walked out with about $200 worth of puffers, creams, antibiotics and god knows what. I also have three glaring "plaques" on my legs of scaley psoriosis..., sexy stuff.

But, it doesn't bother me too much as I still have a sexy girlfriend, heaps of mates, a great life and things could be way worse. One of my best mates has a back so farked he can hardly walk and he's only 35. I see sad, homeless people here every day. I see blind Chinese violin players with fark all clothing in below zero temperatures copping abuse from passers by.

As I said, things could be much worse.

Anyway, back on topic, yes, I have floaters.

[Paccy66]

Yep. I get them as well (I thought it was just me!) Im short sighted...did you get this info. off an optomotrist?

Just googled "eye diseases" and studied a heap of sites. Also info from GPs.
Is also common in people who are near sighted.

[johnny]

Hmm, I have pretty much 20/20 vision. No glasses and can read all signs at distances further than most. Up close is just as simple.

I actually always thought that floaters were just tiny specs of dust or something.

[soty]

Wow... i didn't even realise i had such a condition :confused:. But yes, it seems i do have floaters. Maybe 1 or 2.

I'm 17, and about a year ago my vision rapidly decreased in quality. I STILL haven't got contact lenses, been wanting to just tough it out with occaisional glasses but since then my eyesight has kept dropping.. I can't see peoples faces with detail from about 10-15m.. I can't read anything thats smaller than about 10cm high from 10-15m either.

Seems i'll need contact lenses soon. It doesn't affect my riding, nor does it affect my sport (hockey, a fast game with a small ball, although i sometimes can't see whos passing the ball to me).

[mongoosedh]

Dude this is bad, I think you should see an optometrist(sp?) because each persons eyes are very different. So conditions may vary, I was told if it was to happen to me to stop whatever I was doing and see them immidiatly.

[Paccy66]

I have had heaps ever since I can remember...., and I mean farkin heaps!

Sometimes I can even use them to follow a line of text I'm reading.

I've also had tinitus, eczema, hay fever, bleeding noses, severe heart burn and farked knees..., ALL MY LIFE. None of these things came on with age, they were always there.

But, I really don't mind too much. The hay fever gets me down a bit.

Right now I am covered head to toe, inside my mouth too with an allergic reaction to god knows what. Spent 4 hours in a Western clinnic over here today and walked out with about $200 worth of puffers, creams, antibiotics and god knows what. I also have three glaring "plaques" on my legs of scaley psoriosis..., sexy stuff.

But, it doesn't bother me too much as I still have a sexy girlfriend, heaps of mates, a great life and things could be way worse. One of my best mates has a back so farked he can hardly walk and he's only 35. I see sad, homeless people here every day. I see blind Chinese violin players with fark all clothing in below zero temperatures copping abuse from passers by.

As I said, things could be much worse.

Anyway, back on topic, yes, I have floaters.

Thanks johnny, I feel much better now! Things could certainly be worse, yes.
I am lucky to have my reasonably good but deteriorating health...

[|Matt|]

Hmm, I have pretty much 20/20 vision. No glasses and can read all signs at distances further than most. Up close is just as simple.

I actually always thought that floaters were just tiny specs of dust or something.

I thought the same thing. That they were just little bits of assorted shit in your eye fluid. But if thats true, I must have something different cos when I can see them, they are always the same.

[Paccy66]

I thought the same thing. That they were just little bits of assorted shit in your eye fluid. But if thats true, I must have something different cos when I can see them, they are always the same.

I have 20/20 vision also. Floaters are basically that: bits of shit in your eye fluid.
They are generally in the same spot, but tend to float around and maybe change
shape or angle a little.

[stringbean]

i used to look at them when i was bored in a test or something like that, try look at them, but they kept getting away. haha it was interesting at the time i guess.

[|Matt|]

I have 20/20 vision also. Floaters are basically that: bits of shit in your eye fluid.
They are generally in the same spot, but tend to float around and maybe change
shape or angle a little.
Can you get your eye fluid flushed or cleaned?

i used to look at them when i was bored in a test or something like that, try look at them, but they kept getting away. haha it was interesting at the time i guess.

"Oh squiggly line, in my eye fluid, I see you there, lurking on the periphery of my vision but when I try to look at you, you scurry away. Are you shy, squiggly line? Why only when I ignore you, do you return to the centre of my eye? Oh squiggly line, it's alright, you are forgiven"

[Ryan]

While you mob claim 'floaters', I know the real problem is HPPD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinogen_persisting_perception_disorder).

Trippers, the lot of you.

[Paccy66]

Can you get your eye fluid flushed or cleaned?

I don't think it's that simple. From what I have learned, surgery is the only option with 'floaters', and is rare unless vision is very obscured. When I say eye fluid I'm referring to the inside of the eye.

[Paccy66]

While you mob claim 'floaters', I know the real problem is HPPD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinogen_persisting_perception_disorder).

Trippers, the lot of you.

Too many mushies back in the day ya reckon?:D

[Elbo]

I actually always thought that floaters were just tiny specs of dust or something.
I've had them for ages as well. I was also under the impression that they were dead cells, floating around in the eye. I am also short sighted. I can't tell who someone is at all, who would be standing maybe 20-30m away, without my glasses on. I first got glasses when I was 15, and only needed them to read off the Blackboard at school. Now I'm 19 and I've had 3 prescription changes in that time period. I wear them nearly all the time now. I don't think staring at a computer screen and working out tax, etc, all day doesn't help too much either. I need to get contacts! Back on topic, I haven't noticed any link between being Short-sighted and these floaters.

[wombat]

I swear I've read this post before!
You didn't post this thread on OCAU by any chance did you?

[ajay]

Your eyes are better than mine, count your self lucky in that regard!:)

[Pebble]

I've got them as well, I'm 28 and I think they've been there for a fair while. I do find them annoying at times because I don't have 100% field vision but it's kind of a moot point compared to the eye disease with no cure, thankfully I haven't started losing any more of my fireld vision yet but it's always a scary prospect down the road. Can't see shit in the dark, so you'll never find me at a 24hr race:p

[TheBofh]

Wow... i didn't even realise i had such a condition :confused:. But yes, it seems i do have floaters. Maybe 1 or 2.

I'm 17, and about a year ago my vision rapidly decreased in quality. I STILL haven't got contact lenses, been wanting to just tough it out with occaisional glasses but since then my eyesight has kept dropping.. I can't see peoples faces with detail from about 10-15m.. I can't read anything thats smaller than about 10cm high from 10-15m either.

Seems i'll need contact lenses soon. It doesn't affect my riding, nor does it affect my sport (hockey, a fast game with a small ball, although i sometimes can't see whos passing the ball to me).

Generally your eyesight will deteriorate until you are in your mid 20's & then slowly improve a little into your 40's or 50's. I'm getting weaker prescriptions every time I get my eyes tested now. I had to occasionally wear glasses until I was 18 or so, then always when driving, reading, watching TV until I was 21 & then had to give in and wear them all the time. I didn't get contacts until I was 33. I have an astigmatism in my left eye but it's not bad enough to require hard contacts so I can get away with disposables.

I've also had tinitus, eczema, hay fever, bleeding noses, severe heart burn and farked knees..., ALL MY LIFE. None of these things came on with age, they were always there.

But, I really don't mind too much. The hay fever gets me down a bit.Hay fever is a bastard, I never had it until I came here & now I'm the sinus beast for most of the year :(

A lot of people I know who've come here from Europe have developed allergies, hayever, asthma etc since they've arrived.

I've got a hiatus hernia, not good when you love curry & spicy stuff. I've learned not to lie down or bend over after eating a vindaloo though :eek: The nexium keeps it under control most of the time, apples are good for settling the tummy.

EDIT: My Dad has had to have the surface of his eyes laser scraped* to repair the damage done by working in dusty conditions all his life. Wear safety glasses people.

* My term for it, not sure what the correct name is.

[Drop_Bear]

Wow Johnny you are such a catch! I'm not but if I was I def would *wink*.

I have a few floaters. Dr Karl talked about them a while ago on his show in JJJ.
Wiki has an interesting article on them http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floater

No real treatment is available unless they are a severe visual impediment as surgery is pretty drastic and not always effective. I always thought I was nuts when I was a kid because it's such a weird thing to explain to someone. I have 1 large one that is like the triangle the Predator uses to target shit with. When I'm bored on a train etc I try to use it to target people but it's impossible. Am I really 28 years old ?!!

[flying high dh killer]

I'm 18, have 20/20 vision and get them all the time. I never actually realized they were 'anything' I just assumed they were a normal occurence like itchy skin.

[Pebble]

Generally your eyesight will deteriorate until you are in your mid 20's & then slowly improve a little into your 40's or 50's.

Interesting! I actually noticed this as well, I've got astigmatism and maybe combo of short sighted / long sighted (not sure), I could get by without my glasses so it's not that bad (everything would just look a bit smaller:p). But around the age of 22 I noticed my prescription seemed out for one eye - I could see slightly better when I took the glasses off, turns out the vision had improved by a bit, must say I was pretty happy with that!
Unfortunately the trend didn't continue, but I'm not complaining I haven't needed a prescription change either way in ages.

[TheBofh]

Interesting! I actually noticed this as well, I've got astigmatism and maybe combo of short sighted / long sighted (not sure), I could get by without my glasses so it's not that bad (everything would just look a bit smaller:p). But around the age of 22 I noticed my prescription seemed out for one eye - I could see slightly better when I took the glasses off, turns out the vision had improved by a bit, must say I was pretty happy with that!
Unfortunately the trend didn't continue, but I'm not complaining I haven't needed a prescription change either way in ages.I found that it didn't change much between 25 & 30 & then gradually started improving again. I've had 4 eye tests in 5 years & it's improved every time.

[Badams]

i havnt exactly got floaters, sometimes when i blink i get blurry ripples and sections of my vision but a rub of the eye for a lil while and its gone, i seem to get it quiet often and im 14 haha, oh well as has been said it could always be worse

[Tripper2]

Thats creepy.
I would hate that.
I am 14, but I have had random squiggles sometimes go over my vision for a second or 2, its like looking at a little transluscent worm? I'm hoping I dont have little see-through worms in my eye though ahaha. Its not often but they are very small, almost like tiny tiny tiny bubbles that are there and basically slide down till I cant see them anymore.

[Paccy66]

I swear I've read this post before!
You didn't post this thread on OCAU by any chance did you?

Nope. Never heard of OCAU. Never really discussed it much until recently, when it started to become noticable.

[wombat]

Oh well, I just got a mad deja vu last night then!