Re: Eye floaters

On May 28, 5:40 am, a...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
On Tue, 27 May 2008 19:58:42 -0700, "Kathycarp"

<k@thyc@rp@xxxx@st.net> wrote:
Does anyone else have eye floaters that bother them. I've actually had them
all of my life, but in the last few years they are RIGHT SMACK DAB in the
middle of my focus and they are honestly driving me bats. I believe I just
got a new one today. I kept batting a "spider" at the far edge of my vision,
but every time I looked it was gone. And that eye looks (to me, looking out)
kind of like I'm looking through a pool of water.

What causes them? Is there anything they can do to get rid of them?

Floaters are usually harmless, but sometimes an increase in
number/size along with "flashes" or what appear to be "lighted"
floaters, is a  symptom of a vitreous detachment, so do see an
ophthalmologist to be checked. Your description of "looking through a
pool of water" is suspicious for vitreous detachment. (Different from
a retinal detachment which is truly serious.)

As mentioned in another post, a good eye drop to help dry eyes should
be helpful. Do not use the drops that "get the red out" without an
ophthalmologist's blessing, however--they're actually harmful in some
conditions. Refresh PM is a good moisturing ointment you can use at
night.

Anne/OH

And just to piggyback on what Anne said, particularly if you are near-
sighted, you are at increased risk for retinal detachment. A vitreous
detachment is relatively harmless, but if a retinal detachment begins
you have a very short window of time in which to get yourself in to
surgery to prevent complete detachment and potential blindness.

I have had floaters on and off and am extremely nearsighted ("count
fingers"), although I can see perfectly thanks to LASIK. On about 3
separate occasions I've gone in to have the floaters checked on an
emergent basis. You don't want to just let them go.

Sandi
.