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Floaters after eye dilation

The day after getting an eye dilation exam, I noticed a large cobweb floater in one of my eyes.  I didn't connect the two at first until I realized it happened consistently.  I now have large cobweb floaters in both of my eyes that keep getting bigger with each exam ... it's been about 8 years since my first dilation exam and they are not getting any better.  Has anyone heard of this before?  My eye doctors recommend that I keep getting the exams but I'm worried.
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Avatar universal
As someone who recently had my eyes examined, dilated a week later & now have dot & stringy floaters that I DID NOT HAVE prior to having eyes dilated I am having a hard time not seeing the cause being the dilation process!! After the basic exam (my husband & I had our eye exam on same day, he had his eyes dilated day of exam so I waited a week for my dilation part so that I could drive us home) my eyes felt fine, no floaters, strings, pain...then a week later, after my dilation process my eyes stung as well as felt itchy  (which I told the examiner & was told that was normal). I thought, OK, normal...all good, then slightly increased prescription glasses arrived & I started wearing thinking things would get better...but as time went on my eyes felt worse, various floater styles appeared in my left eye, both eyes felt swollen & strained as well as bothersome! Went back to old glasses/prescription HOPING that would help. Well, thank God the right eye started feeling better BUT, the left eye did not! Called the eye examiner facility, explained my issue, got in as soon as they could see me, was told prescription correct, eyes look fine, was told that it was likely a "coincidence" of my age (57) & timing of my dilation exam! I still have these stringy & dot like floaters STILL appearing in my left eye of which I did NOT have prior to my exam AND I was the same age before my exam as I was after...the ONLY addition to my eye was the dilation chemical! Coincidence, I think NOT! So, now my question is seeing I am NOT the only one who is dealing with the issue AFTER having eyes dilated & some are younger I wonder IF anyone is looking into this "COINCIDENCE"!?!? I now "get" to go see an Ophthalmologist as soon as one can see me AND I can afford the visit to see what, why, how this happened to my eye! Sadly the stringy/dot floaters are so bothersome I just want to stay in the dark where they are not as noticeable! Too try to make someone believe this is  'JUST A COINCIDENCE' is shameful by any one in the know for OBVIOUSLY it is not...ANY is too many to having this 'coincidence'! Praying to God to find way to reverse the damage done by this year's eye exam! Charlie
Helpful - 2
1 Comments
There needs to be a class action lawsuit.  Fat chance of that.
Avatar universal
In my case, the floats also appeared after a dilated eye exam. I had 5 exams in a year and in that year the floaters deteriorated massively. I am from Argentina, Sudamerica.
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Avatar universal
The same thing has happened to me.  in july 2011 had no floaters, had the eyes dialted.  asked to come back 2 weeks later due to dry eye issues, and bam floaters started appearing.  Then in Jan 2012 2 weeks after my eye appt again more floaters.  it seems right after my eyes get dialted floaters have been appearing.  
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
To Whoever reads that forum. Do not let doctors dilate your eyes. Choose laser scan instead it doesn't require dilation. It cost 40 to 75 bucks but it's worth it. Cuz your life will not be ruined by horrible floaters that appear after routine eye exams for some people. And that can be you. Think twice before letting them put chemicals into your healthy eyes.
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
177275 tn?1511755244
No there is no need to restate any opinion other than what I've stated. If you don't "get it" the coincidental association between making the pupil wider to see a condition that is associated with an increasing number of floaters over days to weeks to months.  Increasing floaters are part of the reason eye is dilated. Today in the clinic I saw 5 patients that came in because over the last 1 to 6 weeks they had been having more floaters in their eyes. None had had their eyes examined.  They were attributing this to watching too much TV, using a computer, jogging, and a new energy supplement.  These things did not cause the floaters they were all having posterior vitreous detachments The relationship was "incidental"
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Doctor, I agree Eye floaters are not caused by dilation, reason I had same experience, I started noticing eye floaters after few days I had eye dilation and I went to the eye doctor and he said it is not because of dilation and I had another dilation to verify any retinal detachment.

Now doctor showed me the photos of my eye right before the first eye dilation that is four days ago and showed me floaters in that photo, So I agree floaters were there.

Question, does the eye dilation cause the floaters spread around or that sort and come to the vision?
would it go down or goes off the vision after a while after the eye dilation ?
Why only few affected by the dilation with floaters, I take addreall, its a drug for attention, is it something with drug reaction?

Appreciate your responds.
Helpful - 1
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177275 tn?1511755244
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