Floaters, C shaped flashes

[Kristina55]

Hi! I'd like to share about this problem and hope that anyone can help.. It's been almost 3 months already that I've been concerning so much about my eyes. I'm female, 30 year, -6 diopter both eyes, and -1/-1,25d astigmatism. Never in my life I had eye problems and last August I suddenly saw floaters for the first time, both eyes. They're pretty much but I can never count, some stringy and transparant, some with little light greyish dots. In the beginning they really shocked me and I started to get very dry eyes. I've got my eyes checked by eye doctor and everything's normal, nothing's concerning. Day by day, week by week, I couldn't really concentrate doing things. It really influences me psychologically. Then early October I asked for 2nd opinion. Another doctor checked my eyes. She did it faster than the first one, telling me everything just look good and I needed to get used to the floaters. I become less worried now and accept them, hope that they will never harm me for the rest of my life. And then... 2 weeks ago, I suddenly experienced a small light/flash on the corner of my left eye. It's C shape, very thin, and just last 1 sec. I still have it occasionaly, sometimes once to three times a day, sometimes none. I become worried again. Last friday I went to the optometrist and got the eye exam and retina fundus photo. The result is the same, she didn't see any retinal tear, macular hole, etc. I don't have headache/migraines, so I'm not sure if these flashes are migraines. My floaters also seem the same, qua quantities and shapes. Through this post, I'd like to ask help/advise of what I can do to keep my floaters/flashes from getting worse.. I'll be travelling around Asia in 2 months, so worried if something can happen and I can't get sufficient care there.. Should I meet my doctor again or seek for another specialist? What's it actually happen to my eyes concerning this prob? Hope to read some answers.. Thank you!

[Kristina55]

Hi doctor, thanks for your answer. I got appointment with my doctor again today and he examed my eyes with the slit lamp. This time he checked my left eye thoroughly, numbed my eye since he put the lens in my eye, I think to make it much clearer for him to see around my retina. He really took some time to check it and at some point it made me nervous that he suddenly detected some thing I'm not hoping for. Then the result is he didn't find any tear/hole. Everything looks fine with my retina, vitreous, etc. and somehow he didn't really see the floaters. No PVD happens as well. Briefly, my myopic eyes are just normal as they should be. He had no idea about the brief C shaped flashes I experience (I still see it though, now especially everytime I wake up in the morning) and told me that the flashes I see might not come from the inside of my eye. He assumed that it's eye migraine or something with the optic nerve, stress & anxiety problems. He asked me to undergo the visual field test next week and since nothing is alarming with my eye condition, he thinks it's best to close my case (I've seen 3 eye doctors in the same hospital the past 3 months). I don't think I'm crazy about my concern, yes I'm worried since I only have 2 eyes and any unusual thing I see/feel in my eyes always make me alert. Besides, I don't want something left untreated/misdiagnosed. My question is, is optic nerve damage dangerous? Should I just get along with the flash now? Should I see another specialist or should I undergo general health checkup? Really appreciate your opinion.. Thank you!

[Kristina55]

Thank you Dr. O for your answer. Since this crescent moon shaped flash happen intermittently, does it always mean I have possible tear or vitreous tugging in retina? I still have good vision, floaters are still the same and not bothering. If my next appointment with doctor has the same result that nothing's wrong with my retina, then what is it supposed to be? Should my eyes be checked regularly from now on (like once a month or..)?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Please get an exam by an ophthalmologist or a retinal specialist.  Floaters with flashes should be checked.  You are a hi myope and you have an increased risk of an RD.  A flash associated with floater means that the retinal is being tugged.  This can result in a retinal tear and subsequent retinal detachment.  The area of traction can not be seen with a fundus photo in most cases.  A scleral depression of the peripheral retinal is required.

Dr. O.