Eye floaters

[miclus2]

I went to the doc last week after a week or 2 of weird eye floaters in the right eye.  He did your basic exams like visual acuity, slit lamp, tonometry, direct and indirect scope with the lights and dilation.  He said he saw 1 or 2 floaters in the right eye and it's nothing to worry about, but if I started having more problems to contact him.  Anyway, a few days after that, now my left eye has the floaters and I'm seeing these weird black things in my peripheral vision, sort of like a black bug is flying by me real fast.  So, I'm going to contact the doc.  Is there anything else they can do besides those tests they already did?  If so, what do you think they should do next?

[Ag-i-doc]

miclus2:

no.  nothing else to "look into".  you have floaters.  its no big deal.  i'm sorry you "refuse to believe" thats what it is, but it really, really sounds that way.

[Ag-i-doc]

monikat:

those are NOT floaters that you are describing.  thats "scheerer's phenomenon":

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

totally normal.  not floaters.  nothing you can do about it except try to ignore them.

[Monikat]

I've had floaters since I was a kid.  A LOT of them.  When I look at a white wall or a bright room, it looks like a ton of little amoebas going by.  It's annoying!

[miclus2]

Went today.  You were right he did the same ****, said it was just floaters.  Anything else you think I could look into?  I just don't see how these could come in the matter of a day with no explanation.

[Ag-i-doc]

before some 1st year med student corrects me, MRI's and CT's show much more than just tumors behind the eye.  but my point was that they are not useful in diagnosing or managing floaters or most retinal problems.

[Ag-i-doc]

floaters are absolutely unrelated to any sinus anything.  sorry, no relation.

no retinal holes or tears or bleeding will show up on a CT or MRI.  so no eye doc is going to refer you for those b/c they wont help.  MRI shows TUMORS BEHIND THE EYE, not detailed and small bleeds/floaters inside the eye.  2 totally worthless tests for floaters.

[miclus2]

I meant to ask.  Do you think those tests I mentioned are good enough to look for retinal tear or detachment?  I was wondering if you think and MRI or CT of my eyes would give any new information.

[miclus2]

Thanks.  I really feel my sinuses are playing a role in this somehow, but everywhere I read says there is no relationship between sinuses and these problems.  But, to test my theory, I will go to an ENT to see if I can fix my sinus problems.

[Forum-OD-MP]

no.  no other tests.  just those same tests again, this time concentrating on the other eye.

MOST floaters are benign.  the problem is that *some* floaters are a sign of retinal bleeding/detachment/etc. so all floaters need to be investigated.  but the most likely scenario is that you're fine.  you wont know either way, of course until someone looks.