Floaters, age and vitrectomy

I know there are tons of floater questions, but I've not been able to find
the answer to this: vitreous breakdown/separation is noted as 'normal with
age'. What sort of 'age' are we talking about? I began developing floaters
(primarily strings, sometimes large) in my mid-20s and they have slowly
increased. I'm now 33 and I have a few small blobs here or there, but my
eyes are full of cobwebs and strings. Looking at a sunny backdrop reveals a
whole other set of cobwebs I normally don't see. The most annoying thing is
how cobwebs and strings that I don't actually see as black lines seem to
nevertheless catch light and cause these ever-so-slightly glowing
impressions swimming around as I look at something.

I had an opth exam in late November of 2003, and he said everything 'looked
good'. In case he hadn't seen floaters, I mentioned that I had them (in
both eyes) and that they were there in droves. He seemed unconcerned, and
noted again that the retina looked healthy. I do not have distortions on
grid tests, no fuzzy or blurry or dark spots in my vision. I do have lots
and lots of tiny flashes going on with regularity, probably a few times per
hour on average. Am I just suffering from early vitreous breakdown?

I've also read the many stories and cautions about vitrectomies, but I've
read lately that the truly bad experiences (use of gas bubbles or silicon
gels and having to remain prone for months) generally come from a vitrectomy
done after a trauma to the retina (hole, tear, etc.). I've read of several
people who have had this fluid replaced simply to clear our the garbage from
their eyes. I'm aware of the risks and seriousness of the procedure, but is
it accurate that vitrectomies for this reason (no trauma, just cleaning)
tend to be recovered from more quickly and more easily? I work a good 10
hours a day on computers, and am constantly reading the screen or something
else, and the constant, slow increase in floaters has made it difficult to
habituate to them. They are becoming very obtrusive for my line of work.
(Which involves a lot of reading of small text as well as graphic design.)

 

As a small follow-up, I forgot to mention that the small flashes I've been
getting are in my central vision, or actually in my entire field of vision -
not just at the periphery. Does this indicate anything unusual? Someone
elsewhere mentioned the possibility that if I have a great many floaters,
cobwebs and strings that it's possible they could be striking the retina and
creating these very brief twinges of light. These are not large flashes,
they're just tiny, usually white specs of light that go off. Sometimes
there is a larger blob as though I'd been looking at a light bulb or other
bright light in the past minute, the blob is sort of purple and large and
then fades away, and these are much more rare. This is definitely happening
in both eyes separately.

 

Age is relative. Some of us, and the various parts of our bodies, are
genetically prone to aging at different rates. Floaters can start to appear
at age 30 or even younger. What you are seeing are shadows of vitreous
debris that has pulled away from your retina. You can read more about the
condition at:

http://www.mdsupport.org/library/floaters.html

In cases where floaters are causing significant vision difficulties, a
vitrectomy (i.e. replacement of the vitreous) can take care of this. Also,
some doctors have had success using lasers to break up floaters. You can
read about the vitrectomy procedure, and you can view photos of an actual
operation (if you aren't squeamish) on the MD Support site at:

http://www.mdsupport.org/library/vitrect.html

The flashes of light can be an indication of a retinal problem, as can the
dark image you are seeing. I suggest that you make an appointment with a
retinal specialist to have an angiogram done (photos of your retina). This
will identify anything that might be going on.

After your exam, if you are told that you have a retinal condition which
might lead to vision loss, please remember that you can find information and
help on the MD Support site linked below.

Best regards,

Dan Roberts, Director
Macular Degeneration Support
Web site: http://www.mdsupport.org
Email:

 

Excuse me, do you wear eyeglasses or had some sort of contacts or surgery?

What is your visual acuity before a snellen chart?

What is the distance at the near point where you can still read fine
print without straining?

Thank you.

--
Please visit
http://www.stores.ebay.it/juppiterconsultingrishi
and you can buy a replica of the Original Dr. Bates book
"Perfect Sight Without Glasses"
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Excuse me, do you wear eyeglasses or had some sort of contacts or surgery?

I wear glasses for distance vision. I'm correctable to 20/20, though I'm
honestly not certain what I am beforehand.

Not sure, maybe 2 or 3 inches from the tip of my nose.

 

Without glasses, right?

 

Not sure, maybe 2 or 3 inches from the tip of my nose.

Yup, I never wear glasses for anything within computer monitor range.

 

But what do you see in the distance without glasses?

 

If you had a thorough dilated retinal exam in November and the provider
didn't see anything abnormal (horseshoe tears,holes, etc) I wouldn't be
overly concerned. I realize that your numerous floaters (and possibly syneresis)
is a major nuisance but a vitrectomy is not done in your type of situation (at least
none of the retinal guys I know would do the procedure). BTW, is this both
eyes or just the one? Posterior vitreal separations usually increase in frequency
as one gets older but I've seen many in your age group (especially those who
are highly myopic).

There is no good medical or surgical procedure for your problem I'm afraid.
Please disregard everything the nitwit "Rishigg" is telling you- he's one of the
group's resident trolls.

Be sure to get an annual (or sooner if additional symptoms "pop-up") dilated
retinal evaluation to be on the safe and prudent side.

frank

 

Interesting, he certainly perceives himself as a miracle worker and
compares himself to Jesus on several occasions.

Cya
Simon

 

You bet.
Anyway this name I did not choose, it was appointed to me.

--
Please visit
http://www.stores.ebay.it/juppiterconsultingrishi
and you can buy a replica of the Original Dr. Bates book
"Perfect Sight Without Glasses"
and if you are interested, join the group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PerfectSight/

 

If you had a thorough dilated retinal exam in November and the provider

Thanks for your reply. Actually, the flashes are the thing of most concern
at the moment, but less because they're obtrusive than that I'm concerned
that they might be a retinal nerve problem. In thinking the situation over
I realize I've had intermittent flashes like this for years and years
(dating back to the appearance of the floaters), this just appears more
frequent. I am getting larger flashes on the edge of my vision albeit much
less commonly, and the center flashes are just pinpricks.

I believe both eyes began doing this at roughly the same time. Initially it
was my left eye in which the floaters appeared, and my right eye followed
some months later. Currently most of the flashes appear to be in my right
eye.

I am definitely myopic, and have spent the better part of over the last
decade working at least 8 hours daily (even on weekends) on computer
screens, often much more. Does this generally occur in both eyes at roughly
the same time?

 

Excuse me, what I do not understand is if you WEAR OR NOT your glasses
while working at the computer.

Because, if you DO WEAR them while working on the computer, just discard
them and you will see your flashes disappear.

If you DO NOT wear them, well, I am wrong.


--
Please visit
http://www.stores.ebay.it/juppiterconsultingrishi
and you can buy a replica of the Original Dr. Bates book
"Perfect Sight Without Glasses"
and if you are interested, join the group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PerfectSight/

 

none of the retinal guys I know would do the procedure). BTW, is this both

I really would like to know if you have some cases of myopic people with
retinal detachment who had never worn glasses.

How can you be so sure that glasses are not a predisposing cause of this
retinal detachment and all that???

It seems to me that all the diseases of the eye have a story, a
background, of eyeglasses correction.

Does ever anybody had such problems without using glasses?

This will be interesting to know because I think that the correction,
the "cure" you sell, is really dangerous.

 

what happens to farsighetd people?
does they get macular degeneration?
what about presbyopic people?
are their eyes immune to macular degeneration?

I do not know the facts, I am here to learn from you !

The topic of shoes was raised not so long ago, and it was an interesting
one.

Numbers, please!!!

 

It is true that vitrectomy surgery is not favored as a method for removing
floaters, but it is being done successfully in severe cases. Here is some
reliable information on that subject, as well as use of laser surgery for
the same purpose:

http://www.agingeye.net/visionbasics/flashesandfloaters.php

I hope this is helpful.

Dan Roberts, Director
Macular Degeneration Support
Web site: http://www.mdsupport.org
Email:

 

I cannot say that: I say that it is strange that everybody who has
macular degeneration or retinal detachment DO WEAR GLASSES.

But develop cataracts.

You are lying. You say you have the information and the science,
nonetheless you are not able to help anybody, so you have no information
nor sience, so you are liars.

You should use it and then discard it, if I understand the word.
Why this does not happen for the eyes?

It is clear to me that if you use glasses, and do not take care of your
imperfect sight in the right way, you develop all sorts of ill
conditions in the eyes and in the mind too.

Just look around yourself: do you see people truly happy?

I see you do not answer the question.

Is there anybody with macular degeneration AND no glasses (no imperfect
sight)?

Tell me about that 10% who DO has macular degeneration. Is there at
least ONE person that hasn't got glasses?

How do you explain this absence of occourrences?

It should be meaningful!

If the strain produces macular degeneration, and there are many levels
of strain, then correcting the strain by glasses is impossible, hence
the macular degeneration develops despite the glasses, if not because of
the glasses.

Please give complete numbers, at least from what age do you start to count!

Nobody has ever enquired about habits impressed on the child by
relatives or parents, I think. Have you checked this in animals, born in
non-families? It should be interesting to know the genetics of this
experiment.

It seems to me that children acquire bad habits from parents.

Imperfect sight is just a bad habit.

If you have numbers, please share them!

Women have 5 more years of age and also population, so it's not
difficult to believe that.

Of course, they lack the great healing power of the Sun.

Probably because it is taught to them to defend themselves from the Sun.

Heart disease is a classical sign of mental strain!!!

Of course health is a wholeness.

Smoke is the first sign of mental strain. No wonder it is so.

 

Don't want to be overly cautious but it might be a good idea to get another
dilated retinal exam in the near future with the continuance of your light
flashes. Just to make sure there isn't a sneaky retinal tear popping up.

Your computer usage has nothing to do with your flashes/floaters but your
myopia does. It really depends but it isn't uncommon for both eyes
to have concurrent symptoms - doesn't signify anything insidious.

frank

 

Again you do not have any clue.
Perhaps you are a doctor!!!

--
Please visit
http://www.stores.ebay.it/juppiterconsultingrishi
and you can buy a replica of the Original Dr. Bates book
"Perfect Sight Without Glasses"
and if you are interested, join the group
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/PerfectSight/

 

Not sure I was clear (I may have misread the first question). Once small
print is a few inches away from my nose I can read it clearly, and
everything stays clear out to maybe 30 inches. Closer than a few inches
from my nose, my eyes strain and it's difficult to focus on the small
lettering. And further out than 30-ish or so it's just blurry.

I've read of the cataract problem. Is that with any fluid used? I'm still
unclear as to whether oil and/or gas are always used, or if simple saline
solutions are used at times. I had thought the oils and gases had the
greater chance of cataract complication.