Anyone had a floater in their eye?

[gorcorps]

You went to the opto for a floater? They're so common they even made it to a family guy episode.

 

[destrekor]

I get them whenever I'm looking at a well-light sky, most noticeable with a sunny blue sky.
I should say, I see them when in such a situation... I think I have a whole bunch of permanent little annoying things floating around in my eyes, or they at least come and go so frequently I hardly notice they are or aren't there. Basically, I only notice them when the lighting makes them obvious, and then only if I really pay attention to the little micro-shadows that are moving about... sometimes hard to see if I'm actively focusing elsewhere and then bam! oh hey these are funny

 

[RU482]

I had a floater once. She wasn't so bad in the water, but wow, on land....what a bone crusher

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I get little tiny ones every once in a while, I think they're cool.

My thoughts exactly.

I get them when scratching my eyes.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Holy crap... I always thought I was literally seeing some kind of huge (still tiny in terms of my field of vision, but huge considering there's no microscope involved) amoeba or something like that. I had heard of people talking about floaters before, but every time I heard them described I thought it would be some kind of opaque spot or object floating through my vision. Now I know.

I see them maybe once or twice a month, rarely two at a time. There's a history of eye conditions on both sides of my family, and luckily my last eye exam (~2 weeks ago) came back excellent. Unfortunately I told the doctor that I didn't see floaters, since I had no idea what they are.

Now I'm a little freaked. I'm sure it's probably normal, but I wish I had at least mentioned it to them. Would help if I had known what they are.

See! ATOT is actually good for advice! ...kinda.

 

[bhanson]

Here is what my physical assessment literature says:

Subjective Data: Spots, floaters
Description: Patient describes seeing spots, "spiderwebs," "curtain," or floaters within the field of vision
Possible etiology and significance: Most common cause is vitreous liquefaction (benign phenomenon); other possible causes include hemorrhage into vitreous humor, retinal holes or tears

Vitreous humor is the gel-like substance that fills the bulk of your eye and is responsible for its shape. Light passes through this substance to reach your optic nerve so any obstructions would be visible for you. As a natural process of aging, the vitreous humor becomes less viscous and may eventually detach from the retina, therefore causing the floaters. Trauma may also be related.

An ophthalmoscope can visualize the posterior portion of the eye (e.g. vitreous, optic nerve, retina, etc.) and I'd presume any complications such as bleeds, holes or tears would be apparent [in a doctor's examination].

Obligatory: I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ACTION RESULTING FROM INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS POST.

 

[SirStev0]

hoping you see a doc about that.

 

[DarkWarrior2]

Had them since elementary school. Never went away.

 

[Teknic]

You want surgery for a floater? LOL

There are many types of floaters. Some are normal, some are not. Only your opto knows what type you have, seeing as how he's the only one who's looked inside your dilated eyes.

 

[Bill Brasky]

I've had floaters all my life....

IN THE TOILET

 

[MustangSVT]

I've had floaters all my life....

IN THE TOILET

if your shit is floating ALL the time, something is wrong. please go see a DOCTOR ASAP!!!!!!!:ninja:

 

[Corporate Thug]

You went to the opto for a floater? They're so common they even made it to a family guy episode.

umm yeah. I suffered head trauma and wanted to make sure the retina was not damaged.