Eye floaters in one eye only. Wait or run to hospital ?

[007 RED]

@how231 ......  I went through the same experience as you (some 3 years ago), namely suddenly seeing what appeared to be small insects flying in front of my left eye and the occasional flashes of bright lights.

 

I made an appointment at to see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) at Ramathibodi hospital in Bangkok (a government hospital).  Really great doc who spoke very good English.  She did a series of tests and explained that the floaters were small fragments of collagen which have come a drift from the outer wall of the eye and are literarily floating about in the fluid inside the eye.  These small fragments appear to move about as you move your eye.  Hence people often think, like I did, it’s a small insect is buzzing about in front of my eye.

 

The doc explained that it’s an age thing, apparently quite a common in people over 60 (although it can happen in much younger people).  She advised that the floaters are not serious problem and given time the brain will become accustomed to them and ignore them.  A fact that I found subsequently to be true.

 

Then came the not so good news.  She said that she was concerned more about the occasional flashing lights that I had experienced.  She said that this may be an early sign of something that could be more troublesome and recommended that I see her boss (consultant) for further examination. 

 

Obviously I agreed and about an hour later I was being given a full eye examination by the ‘boss’.  Again, a really nice guy who also spoke very good English.

 

After examining both eyes and sending me for a series of tests, he advised me that the pressure of the fluid inside my left eye was on the upper limit of what is accepted to be normal.  He also advised that there was a slight loss of peripheral vision in my left eye.

 

He explained that if left untreated, the fluid pressure inside the eye will continue to increase to a point where it will damage the optic nerve which sends the signals from the eye to the brain.  Damage to the retinal nerve will cause permanent loss of vision in the affected eye.  The condition is called Glaucoma.

 

He said that the pressure of the fluid inside the eye needed to be kept in check and prescribed eye drops which I have to put into the eye every night.  Since that initial consultation three years ago I’ve had regular follow-up appointments about every 6 months.  So far, touch wood, the fluid pressure has slightly reduced and the sight in my left eye is perfectly OK (with no floaters).

 

As mentioned, I use a government hospital which has a ‘premium’ service which can be booked online.  It costs a bit more than the ‘standard’ service but means that I don’t have to wait all day to see the consultant. 

 

The consultation (including examination/tests) costs me about 1500THB.  Because Mrs MoneyBaht was a government employee (now retired) I qualify for a 50% discount on the cost of the ‘premium’ service, so it only costs me about 750THB.  The eye drops I get from my local pharmacy (no prescription needed) at the cost of 650THB per month.  A very small price to pay for keeping my sight.

 

Although floaters are nothing to really get worried about and your brain will soon ignore them, I would recommend that you see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) to get your eyes examined and tested properly.  Unfortunately, shops that provide glasses don’t have the facilities to do much more than very basic vision tests for glasses.

 

Best of luck.

Edited February 16, 2020 by 007 RED

[transam]

4 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

If the vitrectomy saves the sight in your eye it has to be done, but it needs to absolutely necessary. I had a detached retina after a failed cataract operation so there was no choice as I have a friend who lost the sight in one eye after a detached retina was not fixed in time.

My last year cataract op ended up with a retina detachment, about a month after, one of the risks you have to take, and as my cataracts were very bad they had to be done. I ended up with laser AND freezing whilst awake, the freezing was very painful....My first retina op was done under anaesthetic, thank gawd...

[tifino]

all the above seems to translate to; that it's a condition to keep your (eye) out for! 

 

with that in mind, whilst reading over then many Post to date - I have now seen for myself I have them... and fairly close to, but thankfully not in exact centre of vision.

 

The only time I see them is while sitting here looking at the relatively bright majority white screen displayed in this Forum!  

Edited February 16, 2020 by tifino
eye missed an important word

[transam]

2 minutes ago, tifino said:

all the above seems to translate to; that it's a condition to keep your out for! 

 

with that in mind, whilst reading over then many Post to date - I have now seen for myself I have them... and fairly close to, but thankfully not in exact centre of vision.

 

The only time I see them is while sitting here looking at the relatively bright majority white screen displayed in this Forum!  

We all have them, in fact they can/do dissipate after time, just a small percentage of us that get a bigger problems associated with them...

[DefaultName]

I got them suddenly a few years ago, ignored it for a few days, then got it checked.  Retinal bleed.  The eye doctor said she could have done a better repair if I'd gone in immediately, I almost lost sight in that eye permanently and have black floaters for life now.

 

GET IT CHECKED!

[phantomfiddler]

If they really bother you, go to see Dr. Roy at Rutnin Eye Hospital on Soi Asoke in Bangkok. I had them really bad about 10 years ago, had my eyeballs drained and replaced with saline solution, which reverts to normal optical fluid in only a couple of days, and the operation was 5,000% successful ????

[ifmu]

I hve them .. for a long time .. i ignore them and i forget about them .. they dont go away ...  but knock on wood i am monitoring this thread

[SiSePuede419]

I prefer floaters in the hot tub. ????

 

[jesimps]

On 2/15/2020 at 4:09 PM, phetphet said:

I also started getting them a couple of months ago, including flashes of light in my peripheral vision. I did read on the internet that the brain starts to ignore them after a while, but like you, I still keep thinking I am seeing mosquitos. No sign of them going away. Just have to get used to them.

 

I thought it is just part of getting older, but after watching that video I think I wil get my eyes checked.

The flashing lights could be the start of migraines. I get them about every three months on average. Luckily I very rarely get the headaches just the lights, which makes it dangerous to drive and a feeling of nausea to a greater or lesser extent. They disappear after about 30 minutes in my case. Don't get the floaters, at least not the eye ones.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

dude, the place for medical advice is defintely not here.

but all i can advice to you, is DO NOT GO TO RUTNIN EYE HOSPITAL

this RUTNIN eye hospital is usually packed with patients from the middle east,

and the receptionists there will book you one time and than you will get in

only 4 hours later, for a very brief check with a very tired doctor.

 

the eye department in suvanmidej hospital is much better, same price, and allways vacant.

[SteveInBKKandMAUI]

IF ONLY!   I had the floaters on a Friday night at age 60.  The next day I had a detached retina and have now had six (6) major surgeries.   If only I had gone to an eye specialist earlier.  Forget about Doctors.  Go see an Eye Specialist.  Only he/she can tell if the retina is weakening.

 

I now have very limited vision in my right eye, but thankfully, Dr. Wee in Honolulu at the Hawaii Retina  Institute is doing his best to keep some vision.  I still have a BUCKLE holding the retina together.  Dr. has taken out the block and the oil.

 

Don't mess with your eyes.

 

(Don't pick up heavy objects.  Don't squint.   Keep your eyes relaxed.)

[Dionigi]

Look on the bright side if you move your eyes side to side rapidly, or up and down you can get nice swirling effects going off. Hours of entertainment can be had from this, especially after a few beers or a smoke.

[Sydebolle]

Take it safely and see www.rutnin.com; Thailand's (if not Southeast Asian's) leading hospital caring for nothing but eyes. Professionals all the way and some even bilingual in English. 

Don't wait, give yourself a peace of mind and see them. Worst case scenario could be that you have just floaters which will disappear over time, best case scenario is, that you went in time for proper analysis and treatment ???? 

Been there, done that and Dr. Roy Chumdermpadetsuk (in Thai: อาจารย์ นพ.รอย จำเดิมเผด็จศึก) correctly interpreted - against all odds and "experts" in Bangkok Pattaya Hospital in Pattaya and Samitivej Hospital in Sri Racha - that I was having an age related macula degeneration. Treated me and solved my problem of view irregularities (if analyzed too late = not curable) and .... yes, the floaters! 

[transam]

I flew down to BKK to the Siph Hospital, was advised to go there by a local consultant as there was no hospital in my part of the country with the expertise to fix my problem. Fabulous hospital, like a hotel.

There, it was confirmed. But, I didn't get the repair done at this hozzy, it was done at one of two gov. hospitals that had the expertise to do the fix in the north, it was at Khon Kaen, by a Professor in his field, and cost me a third of the BKK fee....????

 

 

[twizzian]

I’ve had floaters for donkeys years, At the time It started I went to see an eye specialist and he told me you have to learn to ignore them, unless they get progressively worse, so I have learnt to ignore them most of the time.

[how241]

I still have the floaters after almost one week but they seem to be much less than before.  Maybe I am getting used to them or they have settled out of my view.  Maybe they have been dissolved by the body.  Definitely better than before.  I still will probably go to the hospital for a professional exam.  Thanks to all posters.