GP says I might have cataracts

[matthew82]

I'm 25, and I went to the GP today to get a referral to see a Opthamologist. He looked in my eyes with the bright light device and he tells me my floaters are close to my lens, he can see little specks- but he can't tell how far they are exactly.

Then he told me I might have cataracts.

I am very worried.

However my floaters bounce around and move when I swish my eyes around, which must mean it is in the viterous and not the lens- right!? So it's probably not cataracts... correct? I told my GP this and he said that was a good thing, but he cannot tell me for sure what is wrong with me.

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

cataracts don't move, it's like looking through a dirty window. Use Google images and search   "cataracts" and "floaters" and look at the difference. Floaters move, some a little, some a lot.

JCH III MD

[matthew82]

If my floaters were cataracts, would they move when I moved my eyes though?

I am waiting for the referral, but I will not get it until Thursday.

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

You will need to see an ophthalmologist to determine if you have cataract and if the floaters are of any concern. The GP just can't tell without the proper equipment and training, I should know I was a GP for 3 years before becoming an Ophthalmologist (Eye MD).

JCH III MD