Eye Floaters & Medical renewal!?!?!
 

Dear colleagues……. I have a slight problem and I would your help and experience in this issue… I some times get floaters in my eyes…. I went to an eye specialist and he said being 40+ years old that is very normal and common and that they would eventually settle down or disappear….. I also consulted other pilots of greater experience and some had them themselves and said that they were not a problem…….

I have my medical renewal coming up in a month’s time and I am having my “Pre-Medical Jitters”!! Any comments, advice, would be appreciated. Has any one out there passed a medical while having eye floaters or do you know of any one who did?!?!

A million Thanks. In and Out.

I think everyone gets them to a greater or lesser extent, although if they are rapidly incresing in number, it could indicate an eye trauma, or retina preparing to detatch.

I seem to remember having one in my right eye some years ago. During the time it was there I was told that it was quite common.

I also passed JAA Dutch initial issue, Maltese CAA, German LBA and Swiss CAA as well as my class one's at home without any adverse comments.

However, as with all dealings with the CAA at Gatwick, the only way to do a medical these day's is to smile sweetly, and work on the principal that if there's anything wrong with you then they are being paid an exhorbitant fee to find it, so therefore let them get on with it without you helping. That way you get better value for money !! ;)

Good Luck.

[This message has been edited by BoeingBoy (edited 08 April 2000).]

[This message has been edited by BoeingBoy (edited 08 April 2000).]

I've experienced this problem, the eye doc didn't seem to think anything was untoward, I didn't mention it until he had finished having a good look around; this leads me to believe that only the owner can see them.
On another matter concerning the eyes, it is a good idea to get your interoccular pressure checked to see if you are at risk of suffering glaucoma. The doc says it is impossible to cure however it is relatively easy to prevent.
All the best with the medical.

I once mentioned to my optician that I seemed to be getting a lot of floaters in my left (and worse) eye. He said there was nothing to worry about, and that I had just as many in my right but they were easier to see in a more short sighted eye!

I got some in my left eye from sneezing (!) a few years ago. They went after a couple of months, and the medical was unaffected. Just dead blood cells in your eye jelly (or something of the sort). They settle out eventually.

Take it easy.

Busta

Please excuse my ignorance but what is a floater in the eye? I've heard about it and seen the term in books but can't find a discription of the condition. Just interested.

Markmatzi,

If you're really worried go see an eye doctor,but as others have said it's perfectly normal;my optician had some brouchures on the subject and they reckon it's just cells that aren't required anymore floating around prior to removal through the bloodstream,or something like that.

Markmatzi. Floaters are dead cells, are entirely normal and everyone has them to some degree. Once you see one it is almost inevitable that you will see more, as you tend then to look harder for them! So just forget about them, they are not a medical issue.

Floaters are like tiny little shadows in your vision. You can see them against white surfaces. If you try to look at them they float away in an irritating way. They are analagous to dirt on on windscreen or a speck on a pair of glasses, irritating but harmless.

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