Floaters suck

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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?

[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]

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]

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]

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'

[Cramster]

Very helpful thread. I was diagnosed less than a year ago, but started noticing my floaters in my early teens. Until now, I never knew what the heck they were... so I would tend to ignore them. Fortunately, I am able to. Mine look a lot like this picture in case someone wants to know what they look like.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Floaters.png

[MinimedPumper07]

yep floaters really really suck. when i am outside it looks like i am in a bee hive and there are dots floating everywhere around me. i like night time though, i dont really see any...

[sweetblood]

i have floaters too...caused by something called lattice degeneration. i seem to notice them more when im tired which is much of the time. they do suck but im used to them now...i just ignore 'em. lol

just my 2 cents worth

[Nikky]

yep floaters really really suck. when i am outside it looks like i am in a bee hive and there are dots floating everywhere around me. i like night time though, i dont really see any...

Another one chasing flies all over the place? :D
I have them too. Not just the flies but a big red one that scared the s**t out of me when first noticed it as I though it was another bleeding.
Its not, and they cant even see what it is when looking inside. I too have only one eye working, so I rather live with the spots and flies as trying to do something about them would probably cause more rice then roses.

[Cinnabon]

eVERYONE HERE KNOWS OF MY DRASTIC EYE TROUBLE. i WAS TOLD BY MY EYE DOCTORS THAT FLOATERS ARE VERY NORMAL TO ANYONE. tHEY COULD EVEN BE OIL IN OUR VITREOUS GEL. aS LONG AS THEY DONT SEEM TO GET THICKER OR OBSTRUCT YOUR VISION, IT SEEMS TO BE OK. ESPECIALLY TO THOSE OF US WHO AHVE HAD SURGERIES. I DO KNOW HOW FRUSTRATING THEY ARE.

[MinimedPumper07]

im thinking of getting some bad *** oakleys to wear all day and then take off at night but cant find the right ones. I want something that makes daytime look like nighttime

[Nikky]

...the weather always seem to be great in Wileyx too.

[MinimedPumper07]

yeah that sucks. i live in seattle and every other day is a cloudy rainy day...

[ladytaz]

Yes, they do suck! They're a PIA! BUT, I also know that they're normal, especially when one is aging. Though they're irritating, they don't block my vision any. They just distract me, some. I usually see mine when driving or when on the puter, sometimes while watching TV. They are most prominent in my right eye.

[MinimedPumper07]

its not only in aging people. that is just some bs the docs say. i signed a petition the other day to find a cure for floaters. 5000 people had signed it and a large chunk of them were from age 15-25. it seems i will only be in peace from floaters when i have a floater vitrectomy, which is like 3 years away :(

[MinimedPumper07]

i just contacted one of the best vitrectomy surgeons in the world and asked about info and risks. Pretty much the surgery does have its risks but they are not very likely and even if they do happen you can be lasered up so there isnt too much to worry about. Price is a bit steep at around 8 - 9k per eye, but who gives a **** about money, we have to live with these eyes for the rest of our lives.