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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.
I've just had three dilations in both eyes in the past three weeks, one at my opthalmolgist (retinal specialist), another at my optometrist, and a third at another opthalmologist (cataract specialist).
No floaters...
No floaters...
4 Comments
This link will continue to attract people with belief in 'conspiracy theory" that dilation eye drops cause floaters rather than understanding floaters are a common reason the pupil needs to be dilated or that everything that happens to them in their life will occur following dilation and, like sleeping on a pillow last night, the relationship is coincidental not causative.
Conspiracy theories tend to be true more often than not. It took me 2 full years and purchasing my own medical equipment to prove i had some parasites in my eyes. Countless doctors and eye specialists wrote me off and when i return now with the pictures they just shrug their shoulders in disbelief. " never seen those before" yep didnt catch mine either. Good ol' usa. 1st in cost 27th in treatment.
Maybe a tinfoil hat would help keep those conspiracies away.
I was a bit hesitant to use the steroid drops as there is a link to cataracts on the use of steroid drops.
4 Comments
Steroid drops MIGHT only cause cataracts after many months or years of use not for several days or weeks. The pictures are both somewhat out of focus. You appear to have sun damage between the iris/cornea and the inner corner of your eye (medical canthus). That is called a pinguecula or if the damage extends on the cornea a pterygium. That part of the eye can become inflammed either spontaneously, after sun exposure or possibly after a routine eye exam. None of this relates to floaters. That's about all I can tell from the photo
The day I stop feeling guilty for driving after my complete neuro-ophthalmologic exam when I could barely see, despite frequent pull-over to wait until there was no traffic, (how many center line crossing crashes are caused by people whose vision is impaired following a dilation?), as the medications used continued to increase pupil dilations for hours, is the day when I will seek an attorney, or, at minimum, file a complaint with the Board of Licensure - although doing either is pointless. My vision I had before the exam will not be restored.
The practice knew I had a 40 minute drive. They knew that I would be alone. They did not give me sunglasses until I asked for them after standing in their parking lot for an hour. For two months now, beginning the day of the exam, has continued to deteriorate.
Starting the day of the exam, I had significant tearing, which I never had. My eyes felt scratched, as if the eyes were bulging; there was actual pain in the eyes, which has lessened. Existing photosensitive has become unbearable. There is constant pressure. What I at first attributed to tension, seeing a running black image, is not tension, but another effect of some aspect of the exam.
I was visually disabled for the entire first week, and have the remaining effects. A revisit to the MD one week later yielded, "There is nothing I can do." She actually pulled up my eyelid to see if there was foreign material in it. (As if I wouldn't be able to state if I had gotten something in my eye?) And, there was no attempt made at an explanation. I cannot focus properly. I have mild cataracts, but visual acuity was not unduly hampered. Even with the internet, I have had to increase size from 125% to 150% in order to read, although I couldn't see the screen for the first week following the exam.
I filed adverse reaction events regarding the tropicamide with the FDA, and with the manufacturer, should that be suspect. The anesthetic drops are also suspect. I wrote to the state ophthalmology association, pleading with them to investigate policies, procedures, etc., overall for all practices.
Like others, I have spent much time doing research to look for causes. I have read policies and procedures, technician requirements (there are none here), Going to another ophthalmologist who would be willing to take the time to investigate what has happened, would mean risking further effects if dilation was part of the exam, and the new alternative equipment does not seem to be available in the state. Even then, what practitioner would counter another?
What looks like irreversible damage has occurred solely due to the exam. There is nothing to be done about it, but to appreciate all vision I have, and the natural world while I can because I don't know what additional damage, now that the black running lines have increased, will occur. And I find that there are too many days when I don't have the strength to fight the onset of a depression over the loss of my vision, and the increased debilitation because of it, and there being nowhere to turn, but forums like this.
The practice knew I had a 40 minute drive. They knew that I would be alone. They did not give me sunglasses until I asked for them after standing in their parking lot for an hour. For two months now, beginning the day of the exam, has continued to deteriorate.
Starting the day of the exam, I had significant tearing, which I never had. My eyes felt scratched, as if the eyes were bulging; there was actual pain in the eyes, which has lessened. Existing photosensitive has become unbearable. There is constant pressure. What I at first attributed to tension, seeing a running black image, is not tension, but another effect of some aspect of the exam.
I was visually disabled for the entire first week, and have the remaining effects. A revisit to the MD one week later yielded, "There is nothing I can do." She actually pulled up my eyelid to see if there was foreign material in it. (As if I wouldn't be able to state if I had gotten something in my eye?) And, there was no attempt made at an explanation. I cannot focus properly. I have mild cataracts, but visual acuity was not unduly hampered. Even with the internet, I have had to increase size from 125% to 150% in order to read, although I couldn't see the screen for the first week following the exam.
I filed adverse reaction events regarding the tropicamide with the FDA, and with the manufacturer, should that be suspect. The anesthetic drops are also suspect. I wrote to the state ophthalmology association, pleading with them to investigate policies, procedures, etc., overall for all practices.
Like others, I have spent much time doing research to look for causes. I have read policies and procedures, technician requirements (there are none here), Going to another ophthalmologist who would be willing to take the time to investigate what has happened, would mean risking further effects if dilation was part of the exam, and the new alternative equipment does not seem to be available in the state. Even then, what practitioner would counter another?
What looks like irreversible damage has occurred solely due to the exam. There is nothing to be done about it, but to appreciate all vision I have, and the natural world while I can because I don't know what additional damage, now that the black running lines have increased, will occur. And I find that there are too many days when I don't have the strength to fight the onset of a depression over the loss of my vision, and the increased debilitation because of it, and there being nowhere to turn, but forums like this.
The fact that you are going to a neuro-ophthalmologist tells me a lot. These are a tertiary care specialists. They are the cream of the crop and often have to investigate cases of organic vs non-organic vision loss.
Here is a better link to picture doctor.
http://postimg.org/image/npx3pnkxv/
http://postimg.org/image/npx3pnkxv/
Doctor Hagan, this is a link to my eye a day after dialation with numbing drops and dye ...
doesnt look more like a chem spill? The redness was gone after 3 days and had slight burning, which I stlll feel in the eye in that corner. Doctor it this a nornal adverse reaction to the drops you may have seen before in your practice? Could this inflamation have caused the floaters to increase? Does it look like episcleritis or Uveitis ? The doctor that looked at it didnt say much, said it looked brusied and perhaps irritated...not sure why he would say brusied but irritated from the drops perhaps....If this irrataion is on the surfice of the eye only I dont see how that could be a factor in the new floaters, but perhaps it could be from the inflamation.
https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14716337_1079576575425190_4849252033213418254_n.jpg?oh=0283dfc0e2113ea4adc76ea3187ac3f8&oe=588B0E55
doesnt look more like a chem spill? The redness was gone after 3 days and had slight burning, which I stlll feel in the eye in that corner. Doctor it this a nornal adverse reaction to the drops you may have seen before in your practice? Could this inflamation have caused the floaters to increase? Does it look like episcleritis or Uveitis ? The doctor that looked at it didnt say much, said it looked brusied and perhaps irritated...not sure why he would say brusied but irritated from the drops perhaps....If this irrataion is on the surfice of the eye only I dont see how that could be a factor in the new floaters, but perhaps it could be from the inflamation.
https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14716337_1079576575425190_4849252033213418254_n.jpg?oh=0283dfc0e2113ea4adc76ea3187ac3f8&oe=588B0E55
Thank you for your response on the IOP doctor Hagan. I did not realize the drops only increase pressure by 2 to 4 point elevation for several hours after dilation, which in theory would not be enough to cause floaters to break away. More so since an eye without drops fluctuates that much or more so without drops. Dr Hagan, I do understand this is a sore subject, but keep in mind those that are suffering, they are grasping at straws trying to understand and I must say, the answers you have given are, I’m sure putting many at ease and helping them understand.
We need more doctors like you Dr Hagan, you are understanding despite being frustrated by patients like myself that lack understanding. Your explanations are quite clear, for some perhaps hard to accept however,
With looking at it without anxiety on the subject, I feel you are spot on with your assessments and this is coming from a major near sighted person with extreme floaters. I am a bit concerned about my eye turned read after the drops and believe I may be allergic since I have halos and star burst a few weeks after the drops plus this time as I told he side of my eye burned and turned red.,..Since I am a diabetic and I need an annual eye exam every year what are my options? Would an optomap scan suffice? Do I tell them at the office to use less drops? Do I have them irrigate the eye after the drops? Not sure what my options are going forward. I am concerned about have an adverse reaction to the drops as I have had in the past. Is it common to have a part of your eye become red and burn for a few days after dilation as I did? Is there a possibility of Uveitis ?
Also how much pressure is applied during the tonometer test to measure the inner pressure of the eye? It says it is slight but has to be enough to indent the eye...which we all know can cause floaters such as any blow to the eye, and the reason why boxers are known to have floaters.
We need more doctors like you Dr Hagan, you are understanding despite being frustrated by patients like myself that lack understanding. Your explanations are quite clear, for some perhaps hard to accept however,
With looking at it without anxiety on the subject, I feel you are spot on with your assessments and this is coming from a major near sighted person with extreme floaters. I am a bit concerned about my eye turned read after the drops and believe I may be allergic since I have halos and star burst a few weeks after the drops plus this time as I told he side of my eye burned and turned red.,..Since I am a diabetic and I need an annual eye exam every year what are my options? Would an optomap scan suffice? Do I tell them at the office to use less drops? Do I have them irrigate the eye after the drops? Not sure what my options are going forward. I am concerned about have an adverse reaction to the drops as I have had in the past. Is it common to have a part of your eye become red and burn for a few days after dilation as I did? Is there a possibility of Uveitis ?
Also how much pressure is applied during the tonometer test to measure the inner pressure of the eye? It says it is slight but has to be enough to indent the eye...which we all know can cause floaters such as any blow to the eye, and the reason why boxers are known to have floaters.
1 Comments
The pressure applied to eye is equal to the pressure in the eye usually 10-20 mm of Mercury. Far less than rubbing the eye or getting hit in the eye with a fist.
I have posted this many times. It is not unusual for the eye to be red, irritated, blurred after an eye exam for several hours or days. Reasons 1. the person may scratch the cornea while whiping it. Cure: Close your lids, blot the eye in and out. 2. It can aggravate dry eyes. Cure: Use artificial tears every 30 minutes for 4 hours after the exam and then 4 times/day for 3 or 4 days 3. Some people are sensitive to the medication or preservatives Cure: discuss your problem with the Eye MD There are other drops that can be tried. Less drops can be used or the doctor can put a couple of drops of steroids in at the end of the exam. This has worked well in our practice. We one only 2 patients that have such a bad reaction that we have her use steroid drops at home for 2 days after her eye exams plus artificial tears plus warm compressed to the eye
I have posted this many times. It is not unusual for the eye to be red, irritated, blurred after an eye exam for several hours or days. Reasons 1. the person may scratch the cornea while whiping it. Cure: Close your lids, blot the eye in and out. 2. It can aggravate dry eyes. Cure: Use artificial tears every 30 minutes for 4 hours after the exam and then 4 times/day for 3 or 4 days 3. Some people are sensitive to the medication or preservatives Cure: discuss your problem with the Eye MD There are other drops that can be tried. Less drops can be used or the doctor can put a couple of drops of steroids in at the end of the exam. This has worked well in our practice. We one only 2 patients that have such a bad reaction that we have her use steroid drops at home for 2 days after her eye exams plus artificial tears plus warm compressed to the eye
The reason I ask this question Doctor Hagan is I read that one of the reasons for Uveitis is toxins that may penetrate the eye and the inflammatory responses inside the eye to the toxin. Am I off base here? Or is this a plausible from the drops, the dye drops, dilation or numbing ? The doctor that examined my eye the next day mentioned it looked bruised but looked for of an irritation and the reason he gave me the steroid drops...if it was just irritation from the drops that in no way could cause more floaters but I am concerned about the possablity of Uveitis.
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