[Mich]

Sure we can, Brian. You've certainly come to the right place for support from people who live each day trying to focus on the positive. It's how we all make it through this stuff.

On a practical note, try this. I found when I had spots of blood in my vitreous, I could look hard in the opposite direction from where the dot was and actually move it. It helped to be able to "shove it aside" for just a while. If it was in the center, I looked up hard for a few seconds and it would move down where I couldn't see it for a while. I don't know if this will work for you, but heck, give it a try.

If that fails, it may be time to name them... (The annoying little suckers!)

Mich

[brian_999]

How do I know if it's blood in the vitreous or just tissue?

[peej07]

I think that blood looks whispy and trails around. Brian I was just like you 6 months ago. I've learned to try and cope with it. I look at what I can control in my life that effects my health and that's all I can do. You have to take a buhda approach. Right now I have a cronic bleeder that clears and the looks like a snow globe and then clears and then bleeds again.......I just had laser that is supposed to help in the long term but in the short term can cause more bleeding. It's a tough road but you've got support here.

[Diana]

Hi,
Sorry to butt in here, but I have a question. When you are all talking about floaters, what colour are they/what do they look like? I seem to have lots of them recently, but they are just clear little flecks or patterns that move slowly or jump when I move my eyes around. Its strange, because I actually started noticing them almost immediately after my last optho appt. I was wondering if the bright light would have anything to do with me suddenly noticing them so much more. Am going to my endo next week, will mention it then as well. For the record, I have very minor non proliferative D.R.

[mho357]

Diana,

Mine are colorless but appear a little gray because they are blocking some of the light.

I've never heard of the bright exam light causing them but I'm not a doctor.

Mark

[Wildbill]

Originally Posted by brian_999

I guess I'm over-reacting. But I can't seem to stop obsessing over the floaters.

When you stop obsessing about them they will no longer be a problem.

[xMenace]

Can anyone relate to what I'm saying?

**** yea! Try adding a reduced field of vision and additional blind spots.

My floaters are small black dots. I have one larger one in my 'good' eye and two smaller ones in my 'bad' eye (vitrectomy). None of them move. After surgery I had some that moved around, but I haven't seen any of those in months.

Sitting here at my computer I can't see any. None. I can't find them. But if I go play tennis, for some reason they are very prominent. Strange things they are.

[Cinnabon]

I have had major eye problems, then again, Ive had DIabetes for 24 years. I am being attended now by Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in SOuth Fl. YOu nmight want to check them out. I live with floaters everyday. I have had surgeries and thats a normal part of th "living Vitreous gel"
http://www.bpei.med.miami.edu/site/default.asp

[brian_999]

Diana - I have one floater in my left eye that appears as a black dot with a couple long lines that are connected to it. Everytime I move my eye from left to right I can make it jump out in my vision. It will swing by and then sail down below my line of sight. In my right eye I don't have a dot, but I have one long vein looking flaoter that looks like an "S". Most of the time I can't see these floaters, unless I'm out in the sun, driving or directly in front of my PC. They are highly annoying. I must admit, I'm trying to cope with it better now that I've read all the replies in this thread and spoke to my therapist about it. My opthamologist claims I don't have any eye problems but I suspect I do.

[brian_999]

Originally Posted by Cinnabon

I have had major eye problems, then again, Ive had DIabetes for 24 years. I am being attended now by Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in SOuth Fl. YOu nmight want to check them out. I live with floaters everyday. I have had surgeries and thats a normal part of th "living Vitreous gel"
http://www.bpei.med.miami.edu/site/default.asp

I will look into that. Thank you.

[brian_999]

Originally Posted by Wildbill

When you stop obsessing about them they will no longer be a problem.

That's only partially true. I can stop obsessing on them and I will feel better when I'm not in the direct sunlight. But as soon as I step outside and move my eyes I will be reminded of them. I can try to block them out, not focus on them and hope they improve but they still annoy the **** out of me. I appreciate your intentions but I'm not good at coping with health problems.

[princesslinda]

I've had floaters for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I remember looking at the white walls in the house and watching the "threads" go up and down.

Even while i'm typing right now, i'm aware of them. I guess i've hand them so like I can't remember any other way, so it doesn't bother me. My ophthalmologist told me that most people have them at some point in their lives and that those who do "computer-work" may have more than the average person. He did tell me if I started noticing red ones, that could signal a problem.

Also, i've read that looking up and down, then from side to side rapidly with your eyes can move them from your field of vision.

[ngueld]

I remember when I got my first floater I was so freaked out...I thought I was going blind or something. Then my mom told me shes had them her whole life and the eye doctor wasn't too worried about it. He told me you should only be worried if your vision is starting to look "greyed" because of so many little floaters.

[Diana]

Sounds like floaters can vary a lot from one person to another! I guess I'm lucky that mine are not too annoying at the moment. Will mention it to my doc though.

[ketchuplover]

I find that flushing takes care of floaters. On a more serious note I have little spots in my field of vision. Just sayin'