"Floaters" in the eye

[seb1982]

Hi guys and galls!

I'm a student PPL. I went to my optician yesterday complaining of small "floaters" in my eyes. He gave me a thorough check up and said that my eyesight was excellent in itself, save for the floaters. He gave me a clean bill of health as far as the Class 2 medical goes (turns out his son is an ATPL).

I was just wondering whether anyone else has had this. It's one of those things that now I've noticed, I can't seem to stop noticing them.

Any advice from anyone?

Thanks.

[helimutt]

Got floaters too. Had them for years now. Just have to live with it. It's just detritus in the vitreous fluid, or so I think I was told. There is an operation which can suck the fluid out, clean it then put it back but personally, i'd rather be flailed with chains and then rubbed down with salted acid soaked rags.
I also am lucky enough to have 20/20 (6/6?) vision.

[Loose rivets]

Use search.

Loose rivets / this forum / anytime / floaters

You will find 13 of my posts and masses of other stuff.


My advice right now would be do NOT consider a vitrectomy unless you absolutely have to. Your floaters stand a good chance of just fading away.

Limit your intake of hard booze, and get good UV filter sunglasses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitrectomy

[MAKOLO]

hi Seb,
I am 56,B 777 capt , and noticed I had floaters when I was 24.so far it's not a big concern.Good luck

[corsair]

My floaters faded away for the most part and in any case I got used to them after a while. I can see a couple now just because it was mentioned but most of the time I don't notice them at all.

[gingernut]

I think most people seem to suffer from them at sometime in their life.

Worth getting checked out if they are of sudden onset, or are accompanied by other visual symptoms, but otherwise probably inconsequential.

[I Just Drive]

Ive had them for years too. They are worse when I am tired or hungover but generally I have learned to live with them just fine. For me they stand out more against a uniform colour background (cloudy sky, plain walls etc..). After many conversations with doctors / opticians the concensus is nothing to worry about unless you notice a sudden cascading effect (as this is your retina detatching).

[Hombre]

Floaters: It can also be precurser to blood pressure issues in some individuals

[dontpickit]

I also am lucky enough to have 20/20 (6/6?) vision.

Helimutt 20/20 is average, not lucky! I was measured at 20/8 and have loads of stringy floaters which don't seem to affect visual acuity.

Vitrectomy - last resort according to my doc. I wouldn't worry about them, learn to ignore.

[liverpooleyesurgeon]

Floaters occur in loads of normal people. Tend to be noticed more when no other visual reference (white clouds, clear blue sky) Worrying symptoms are showers of floaters which are going worse, flashes which persist mainly in night conditions (twinkling lights usually) and a sensation of a curtain being pulled over the field of vision. Most floaters become less prominent in time. I have them in both eyes. If you get any of the worrying symtoms, get down to an Eye Casualty Dept at the hospital. Detached retinas occur more frequently in myopes (short sighted - need specs for distance but easily read for near) Caught early they have good outlook from surgery