Re: Retinal Detachment

Posted By hfhs md ke on February 23, 1999 at 18:53:32:

In Reply to: Retinal Detachment posted by Perry on February 23, 1999 at 12:18:32:






About 2 months ago I went to my regular eye check up at my Optometrist's office.
I was told that my eyes were in great shape and health, but that my prescription had gotten a little worse.
It was then I told him about the floaters I have that scurry across my vision from time to time.
He wasnt concerned and told me how normal that is for many people today, so to be certain I described them to him.
He mentioned they were amoeba-like things that float around in your vision, especially against
a light background. Now, all that being said let me cut to the chase, and the thing thats been mentally bugging me since then.
I've been reading up on retinal detachment and retinal tears. And while floaters and an occasional flashing light
marks the detachment I'm perplexed by one of the floaters I have.
Indoors this floater looks like a hair, fairly long in size but just outside the right bottom corner of my right eye
when I look up and to the left it floats by..BUT when I'm indoors, and I'm looking outside
this float floats by and turns white...as if illuminated by the light my eye was seeing.
This happens also when I look up into a light as well. The size doesnt change at all
but it does become whitish, almost blurry like but only in light. Could this be the vitreous gel I've heard so much about?
Or is this just something on my eye or retina that the light catches when it floats by?
Ive been given a clean bill of health by my Optometrist, but I'm curious about this one floater of mine.
I just cant figure out why it turns white in front of the light and at all other times its just hairlike and looks like a normal floater.
Thanks for your time in setting my mind at ease ;-)
Perry




perry-
odds are your optometrist is right- floaters when not associated with flashing lights are very common- they typically simply represent the images of blood cells flowing through our retinal blood vessels because our retinal blood vessels are actually in front of our retina- thus you may see amoeba like figures that glob around and that may change shape or color at times. another cause of floaters, especially in older people is a vitreous detachment. the vitreous is a gel like substance in the middle of eye that is attached to the back of the eye, eg the retina, and that in many of us eventually detaches from the retina. normally this does not cause any harm , but occasionally may cause a retinal tear leading to a retinal detachment if not treated. that is why floaters with flashing lights must be evaluated. that being said most people occasionally see floaters for harmless reasons. my recommendation for you is to see an ophthalmologist for a fulll dilated exam to put your mind at ease.
key words: vitreous, retina
this is meant only as advice and should not replace a thorough exam by a qualified ophthalmologist.