help.. weird eye floater

[obiiwan]

Hey everyone,

I have had a tiny eye floater in my left eye for as long as I can remember. However, about 3 weeks ago, I noticed that I had a new and much larger eye floater in the same eye. I notice it best when I am outside or in a well lit place. The new one, unlike my old one, comes in from the sides when I look from left to right. It is a large line that goes past my central field of vision and then disappears. However, if I look at the bright blue sky and can see it more often and it is appears to be a long strand like floater.

There is something weird that I noticed about this floater. If I am in a well lit place, or there is something bright that I am looking at, when I look from left to right at it, I notice that the object that I am looking at glimmers as the floater passes by whatever I am looking at. It doesn't happen too frequently, but when it does it is quite strange and it only happens when viewing bright things and when I look from left to right. Also, the glimmer only happens in the left eye and I believe it is the light shining on the newly developed floater that causes this. For example, when I am watching tv and something on the screen is a bright white, if I look to the left with me eyes and then to the right at the tv, I will see a glimmer that I believe follows where my new floater is. This whole glimmer lasts for just a split second or so. However, I am unsure and was wondering if anyone has experienced this or knows why it does that.

I went to a doctor when I first noticed it who didn't examine my eyes but told me that floaters are completely normal. I asked him to refer me to an ophthalmologist and he said that I should come back in a week or two if it is still bothering me, but reassured me that there is nothing wrong with my eyes. Being a bit nervous, I went to a different doctor a few days later who referred me to an ophthalmologist. However, my appointment isn't until the end of June and I am seeking answers! So please let me know your two cents! By the way, I am 25 years old and do not wear glasses or contacts.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No way you can get answers without an Eye MD doing a complete medical eye exam. If your symptoms get a lot worse or something new develops call the ophthalmologist and try and get a "work in" appointment.

JCH MD

[obiiwan]

any ideas?