Flashes/Floaters

[Iamme_]

Hi, I'm 20 yrs old. I have been experiencing floaters for a couple of years. Now I'm also experiencing flashes. I'm greatly concerned. I have no blurry vision. No curtain or shade of vision missing. However this may not make since but I have a feeling of pulling and tugging in eyes as if they were contracting. If this is a case of retinal tear or detachment in my eyes is it possible to feel changes in the eye. I.e. fluid moving inside the eyes. I also have weird sensations in the back of my head. What could this be?

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

This has to start with you seeing an eye MD ophthalmologist for a full medical dilated exam.  Floaters are normal part of the way the eye ages even in young people. You cannot 'feel' a RD.  The weird sensations in the back of your head would not be eye related and should be evaluated by your family MD.

[Iamme_]

Thank you for replying, I've been seeing the same eye Dr since maybe '14. I can't remember receiving an exam where my eyes were dilated. I do know I've received the test for strength of glasses and eye pressure tests. If eye pressure was ok during last exam should I worry about anything?

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

If your "eye doctor" is not dilating your eyes when they are tested or with complaints of seeing floaters you need a new eye doctor.  Find an Eye MD ophthalmologist. They will have MD or DO after their name.  Optometrist has OD after their name.

[MrPresley]

@lamme it sounds like you've seen an optometrist based on the description of your exam(s). If so do as Dr. Hagan recommended and find an ophthalmologist in addition to or in place of your current doctor. My optometrist typically performs dilated exams, but I don't have them done there any more since I currently see a retinal specialist (which he referred me to) that does those.

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

Good advice.