Sudden eye floaters??

[Anonymous]

Never had them before - just noticed them about an hour ago, out of the blue. No signs of stroke, seizure, etc - feel totally normal otherwise. I checked my BP and it’s normal. I initially thought it was something reflecting off my phone in the car, or something on my eyelash. They are like a couple small spots that dart around when I move my eyes (I think only my right eye?). I’ll see the eye doc tomorrow.

I’m feeling really panicky about it. Do floaters typically happen out of nowhere?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it does typically happen out of nowhere. They may settle down after a few weeks, or they might not. If you have an unreasonable number of floaters all of a sudden, you should get checked out for a detached retina which can be serious, but is rarely the case. There is no association between floaters and stroke or seizure.

[Anonymous]

Were you looking at something very bright or white (like a wall, or perhaps you're in a place with snow and you looked at it)? They show up against white much more easily, and sometimes I notice floaters when I'm staring into my white shower curtain on a sunny day.

Small ones that don't obscure much are no biggie.

Huge obtrusive ones all of a sudden can be signs of retinal detachment.

[Anonymous]

OP here. That’s reassuring, thank you. My appt. is tomorrow at 2 so hopefully they can rule out retinal tear or detachment?

[Anonymous]

I was looking down at my phone when it happened, btw. I know I strain my eyes a lot by reading on my phone without my reading glasses but I have not read of any association.

[Anonymous]

I’m not an eye expert, but it sounds like what happened to me. In my case, I suddenly noticed a large floater on the edge of my vision that moved as I moved my eye. The opthalmologist explained that it’s a normal part of aging (I was 49). Apparently the gel-like filling inside the eye constricts and pulls away from the edges, sometimes creating these floaters. It needs to be checked to make sure the process happens as it should so vision isn’t affected, but will ptobably not be a problem.

The opthalmologist said floaters were a bigger concern if you had a storm of them flashing across the eye, but even then you just needed to make an appointment ASAP and they could probably take care of things.

Again, this is my fuzzy memory of what a professional explained about my specific case, which may be off in the details or completely different from what you’re experiencing. I do suggest you see an expert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not an eye expert, but it sounds like what happened to me. In my case, I suddenly noticed a large floater on the edge of my vision that moved as I moved my eye. The opthalmologist explained that it’s a normal part of aging (I was 49). Apparently the gel-like filling inside the eye constricts and pulls away from the edges, sometimes creating these floaters. It needs to be checked to make sure the process happens as it should so vision isn’t affected, but will ptobably not be a problem.

The opthalmologist said floaters were a bigger concern if you had a storm of them flashing across the eye, but even then you just needed to make an appointment ASAP and they could probably take care of things.

Again, this is my fuzzy memory of what a professional explained about my specific case, which may be off in the details or completely different from what you’re experiencing. I do suggest you see an expert.

Thank you. Did your floater resolve or did you just get used to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That’s reassuring, thank you. My appt. is tomorrow at 2 so hopefully they can rule out retinal tear or detachment?

You would know if you had a retinal tear or detachment because you would see flashing lights. In the absence of that, your floaters are likely normal.

I have a ton, have had them since my teen years. I talk to my doctor about them all the time, she reassures me I'm fine and that your brain eventually learns how to ignore them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not an eye expert, but it sounds like what happened to me. In my case, I suddenly noticed a large floater on the edge of my vision that moved as I moved my eye. The opthalmologist explained that it’s a normal part of aging (I was 49). Apparently the gel-like filling inside the eye constricts and pulls away from the edges, sometimes creating these floaters. It needs to be checked to make sure the process happens as it should so vision isn’t affected, but will ptobably not be a problem.

The opthalmologist said floaters were a bigger concern if you had a storm of them flashing across the eye, but even then you just needed to make an appointment ASAP and they could probably take care of things.

Again, this is my fuzzy memory of what a professional explained about my specific case, which may be off in the details or completely different from what you’re experiencing. I do suggest you see an expert.

Thank you. Did your floater resolve or did you just get used to it?

I just had to get used to it. I think it’s permanent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not an eye expert, but it sounds like what happened to me. In my case, I suddenly noticed a large floater on the edge of my vision that moved as I moved my eye. The opthalmologist explained that it’s a normal part of aging (I was 49). Apparently the gel-like filling inside the eye constricts and pulls away from the edges, sometimes creating these floaters. It needs to be checked to make sure the process happens as it should so vision isn’t affected, but will ptobably not be a problem.

The opthalmologist said floaters were a bigger concern if you had a storm of them flashing across the eye, but even then you just needed to make an appointment ASAP and they could probably take care of things.

Again, this is my fuzzy memory of what a professional explained about my specific case, which may be off in the details or completely different from what you’re experiencing. I do suggest you see an expert.

Thank you. Did your floater resolve or did you just get used to it?

I just had to get used to it. I think it’s permanent.

Oh they're permanent alright! And you will likely get more of them as you age.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all! I’m a lot calmer. I can get used to anything that isn’t actually doing me harm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not an eye expert, but it sounds like what happened to me. In my case, I suddenly noticed a large floater on the edge of my vision that moved as I moved my eye. The opthalmologist explained that it’s a normal part of aging (I was 49). Apparently the gel-like filling inside the eye constricts and pulls away from the edges, sometimes creating these floaters. It needs to be checked to make sure the process happens as it should so vision isn’t affected, but will ptobably not be a problem.

The opthalmologist said floaters were a bigger concern if you had a storm of them flashing across the eye, but even then you just needed to make an appointment ASAP and they could probably take care of things.

Again, this is my fuzzy memory of what a professional explained about my specific case, which may be off in the details or completely different from what you’re experiencing. I do suggest you see an expert.

Thank you. Did your floater resolve or did you just get used to it?

I just had to get used to it. I think it’s permanent.

Oh they're permanent alright! And you will likely get more of them as you age.

PVD. Posterior vitreous detachment. Sounds really bad, but apparently it happens to many of us, especially with higher nearsightedness. The next 6 mos are the greatest risk for retinal tear. The floaters generally stay, although they may become smaller.

[Anonymous]

They're here to stay but your brain will learn to ignore them most of the time. They only bother me when I'm feeling tired, hungover or have a migraine. Try not to think about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're here to stay but your brain will learn to ignore them most of the time. They only bother me when I'm feeling tired, hungover or have a migraine. Try not to think about it.

Yes and also if it’s a cloudy day. Otherwise over time you will stop seeing them but there’s nothing they can do to get rid of them.

[Anonymous]

Are floaters more common in those with diabetes?