[brian_999]

I've never posted on here before but I figured I would today. I wanted to vent about this terrible illness and the horrible complications we suffer from it as a result. I was diagnosed on November 14th 2006 (almost a year ago). At the time of diagnosis, my A1C was a whopping 11.9!!! I started taking some various oral meds and then started byetta. I've lost 90 pounds in one year.
In May, I developed serious vision problems. A floater appeared in my left eye. Then a few months later another floater appeared in the right eye. I've been to several opthamologists and a retina specialist twice. They assure me there's no damage to my eyes and they only see vitreous debris. My A1C for the last 6 months ahs been 5.5 but yet I still seem to be getting the floaters. I hate them. They depress me and make driving, reading or enjoying anything in the sun impossible. I'm obsessed with getting rid of these things. I'm considering having some laser surgery performed by a doctor named Scott Geller in South Florida. Anyone ever been to him?

He's one of only two doctors in the country that perform this procedure. From what I understand, the floaters can't be zapped away entirely, but he can minimize some of the annoyance they bring. I saw an opthamologist yesterday to have a 3 month exam and and he wasn't my regular eye doctor. He was a total dick and said that guy is a quack and I shouldn't waste my money. I explained to him that if he was the one with floaters and was told "just deal with them" that he'd probably search for another method of relief as well. We argued about it and then he checked my eyes. He said your eyes are fine, waste your money if you want. I left upset and frustrated. I'm willing to pay the $1600 to have this performed. If it doesn't work, I'll insist on a virectomy. Here's his website. Any thoughts???

http://www.vitreousfloaters.com/

[Injecto]

I'll agree, floaters do suck. I've had them now for just over two years, but so far (knock on wood), none related to eye troubles.

[Simon]

This all sounds a bit drastic. Floaters are a normal part of anyone's vision. They are only a problem when they hang about over the fovea where most of your detailed vision is. You can't zap that bit or you would be almost blind if they did. With an HbA1c like that you shouldn't be getting many new floaters and the old ones should re-absorb in time.

[brian_999]

Originally Posted by Simon

This all sounds a bit drastic. Floaters are a normal part of anyone's vision. They are only a problem when they hang about over the fovea where most of your detailed vision is. You can't zap that bit or you would be almost blind if they did. With an HbA1c like that you shouldn't be getting many new floaters and the old ones should re-absorb in time.

Floaters aren't normal in my view. I used to see just fine, then I got T2 and my vision went downhill fast. I'm nearsighted and that sucks too , but each time I look to the left or right I see the floaters jump out in my field of vision. It's making me go nuts trying to cope with them. I can't drive without seeing them, and if I'm out in the sun or the beach I start having panic attacks because I keep seeing this **** everywhere I look. I'm told diabetics are more prone to getting floaters then normal people. If my a1c is fine, why do I keep getting them?

[brian_999]

Originally Posted by Injecto

I'll agree, floaters do suck. I've had them now for just over two years, but so far (knock on wood), none related to eye troubles.

I'm told the floaters aren't related to eye trobule either, but how do you explain the fact that we have them?

[peej07]

They do suck but after 6 months with them I'm learning to cope with them. Some days are good and so aren't.

[brian_999]

Originally Posted by peej07

They do suck but after 6 months with them I'm learning to cope with them. Some days are good and so aren't.

How do you cope with them?

[mho357]

I've had them nearly my entire life but I've had eye problems my whole life too. Floaters are a real pain. I've had one in my one working eye for about two years that pops up at the worst times - driving, reading, etc.

I've seen an ophthalmologist yearly since I was 6 or 7 and they have never been overly concerned with floaters - I think most people just have to live with them.

I have found when the bad one pops up I can look up quickly and it will move out of the way.

Mark

[brian_999]

Originally Posted by mho357

I've had them nearly my entire life but I've had eye problems my whole life too. Floaters are a real pain. I've had one in my one working eye for about two years that pops up at the worst times - driving, reading, etc.

I've seen an ophthalmologist yearly since I was 6 or 7 and they have never been overly concerned with floaters - I think most people just have to live with them.

I have found when the bad one pops up I can look up quickly and it will move out of the way.

Mark

Thanks for the advice. I try to block them out but as you know, it's virtually impossible.

[xMenace]

Ask yourself where the laser goes when he misses. From everything I know, he sounds like a quack. I have them too and I hardly notice them anymore. Sometimes they are annoying; I do sympathize.

[lgvincent]

I don't care for them but they're not so bad. They come and go with me. Some will hang around for a few days and sometimes my vision field is full of them but so far, nothing permanent. I've got retinoschisis and started getting a lot of them after it was diagnosed.

I hope they will go away for you!

[Mich]

Brian, here's my take on it as one of the type 1's who has had all kinds of eye surgery.

Floaters and other eye problems (like bleeders) tend to take a slight and hopefully temporary turn for the worse when you bring your glucose readings under control quickly. If you do some research, you will find much documentation to back this up and there seem to be numerous explanations for it, all different.

The part that would concern me is the big picture. Floaters are a certified pain in the ____, but they are relatively mild compared to other complications. I found out the hard way that once you start with surgery, the law of unforseen consequences can kick in. I had laser, which caused some scar tissue which caused traction on my retina which caused a wisp of tissue to be pulled loose and drift across my macula. Presto, fine vision messed up.

That was only in my left eye.

I had laser in my right eye which caused scar tissue (I seem to be especially talented in growing scar tissue) which caused traction which caused numerous new bleeds and more traction which detached my retina on the nasal side. So I had a vitrectomy which put it back and caused more scarring and traction which caused my same retina to detach on the opposite side. (Are we seeing a pattern here?) Vitrectomy number two installed a scleral buckle which is a belt around your eyeball that makes a ledge so that your retina has something to adhere to. All fixed, right?

Noooo. My retina in it's determination to flap around in there let loose in the center. Hoooo boy. Okay, vitrectomy number three was to install a vitreous made of silicone oil--so thick it would push that macula back where it belonged.

It worked. I can actually see out of that eye although my vision from the two eyes doesn't "line up"right now. My original problem eye with the messy fine vision is now my good eye.

And I love it! I can read with glasses and still drive.

*********************
Like I said it's all relative, but think long and hard before you fix something that is just annoying and not really terribly broken.
It may not be something to be taken lightly in my humble opinion. Of course, not everyone grows this much scar tissue nor does everyone have such a dogpile of complications. Just one person's experience.
********************

Best of luck on whatever you choose. My thoughts will be with you. Mich

[mho357]

Brian,

I do sympathize with you - I hate them too. As xMenace stated, the "cure" might be worse than the symptom.

However, my perspective is a little different because I only have one working eye - if I lose it I'm done so I just have to put up with it.

Mark

[jerryn]

I've had floaters ever since I could see. They are not large.. actually it depends on how far I am looking. When I played football in highshool if I got tackled hard the floaters would
be in my field of vision more often. I remember when I was 6 years old I used to play follow the bouncing ball with it.

I've got one that if you look close it looks like a vein and I have two others that look like bubbles.

The procedure you speak of can actually create more floaters
than what you are exeriencing now.

Also as you get older and the eye changes shape, you will get more floaters.

My largest floater look like a o

[brian_999]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I appreciate the quick responses. Most of you have made some very logical and sensible statements. I guess I'm over-reacting. But I can't seem to stop obsessing over the floaters. I enjoy activites outside and living in Florida the sun is always out. I notice them only when driving during the day or when I'm outside. Sometimes I see them on the computer screen but not as often as outside. Something Mich said really hit home. You said when you first get diagnosed and then gain control fast you see new floaters...Why is this? It seems to me that when my sugar was at 400 I would've experienced these problems and not once I got the sugar in control. How do you guys deal with them in the light? It depresses me. I've tried anti-depressants but they just make me have suicidal thoughts so I stay away from those. I really want to just learn how to accept this so I can focus on my health. But I feel paralyzed by these floaters. It's like a constant reminder that I have T2. Can anyone relate to what I'm saying?