Floater

[Beechboy]

I have recently developed a floater in my right eye. After investigation, it is apparently not dangerous but this continuous blob in my line of vision is driving me crazy.

Does anybody know an eye clinic in Bkk or elsewhere where I can have it rectified?

Or do I have to live with it forever more?

[David48]

Beechboy, try asking over at http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/23-health-body-and-medicine/

Dedicated Medical Forum.

[wamberal]

Have you seen a qualified optometrist? Sometimes floaters can indicate a potentially serious problem.

If there is no serious underlying issue, forget about it, it will disappear in time.

[smokie36]

I can recommend the clinic at Bumrungrad. Excellent quacks and fairly OK prices...

[Beechboy]

Have you seen a qualified optometrist? Sometimes floaters can indicate a potentially serious problem.

If there is no serious underlying issue, forget about it, it will disappear in time.

I did see a doctor who said little could be done. I realise that it can lead to loss of eyesight from my googleing, although this is rare and there are other symptoms (eg. flashing, vision loss) which I do not have.

There is no pain involved and hopefully it will not lead to something worse, but it remains quite horribly distractive 24/7.

I don't think Bum. specialise in this problem. There is an eye clinic on Asoke (apparentty no.1 in Bkk) but I rang them and their reaction was negative.

Edited March 26, 2012 by Beechboy

[steve187]

last september i had some flashing in my right eye, this was followed by a large number of floaters, i went to Bangkok hospital rayong,and was told not to worry it was a vitreous fluid detachment, a follow up a week later, and again nothing to worry about, a follow up appointment was made for 3 weeks, but before this appointment was due, my retina detached, this was confirmed by BR hospital and i was told an operation was nesscesary 2 days later, at bangkok pattaya hospital at a cost of 200,000 baht.

my step son suggested going to ramathibodi hopital bangkok where a dr. somsiri, confirmed the detached retina, and the operation was arranged at eye ear nose and throat hospital (585 Sirinthorn Rd., Bangbumru, Bangplad, Bangkok 10700) for the following day, ( no equipment at ramathibodi hospital) at a cost of 72.000 baht. the hospital was very good, that eye has now made a 90% recovery.

my left eye is now showing similar but not the same symptoms, so fingers crossed.

I would recommend a full check up, it may only be some floaters,( which lots of people get) that will cause no further problems, and will fade or be ignored by your brain in time, or it may be more serious.

the hospital i used - http://www.eent.co.th/home.html dr somsiri works at eent hospital Saturdays 5-8, and Ramathibodi tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8? not sure of other times. she speaks English very well, and also teaches. i would recommend her without any hesitation. Not much English is spoken by staff at either of these hospitals.

some goggle reading on the subject -

http://www.rnib.org....detachment.aspx

i hope everything works out ok

steve

sorry about the long post

Edited March 27, 2012 by steve187

[wamberal]

I get floaters from time to time, I have eyes checked periodically, I do actually have some problems (macular degeneration in particular), and since I have been having treatment I now realise that I have not had any floaters for quite a long while. Maybe in my case the two are related.

My sister suffered from a detached retina, and she is red-hot on floaters. Go straight to a qualified practitioner if you have any doubts, or if they get worse suddenly.

[craigt3365]

I'll move this over to the health forum.

Topic Moved.

[Beechboy]

Some super advice and well heeded.

Thank you all who replied.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Beechboy

[Sheryl]

A thorough examination of your retina by a qualified opthmalagist (including the use of drops to dilate your pupils followed by a careful examination in which the doctor directs you to look up, down, sideways etc) is required to rule out potentially serious causes.

If retinal tears are detected, immediate surgery is indicated. More often they are not and the problem is due to a degree of detachment of the vitreus humor, depending on location you may or may not be at higher than average risk for future retinal detachment in which case periodic examinations of the retina may be advised and of course immediate care if you experience signs such as loss of opart of the visual field or flashing lights.

Otherwise, you are stuck with them. Treatments to remove floaters are risky and often cause more problem s than they solve. Fortunately the brain adapts and stops "seeing" them after a while.

I developed a very large floater in the center of my eye a few months back, like a large bug hovering over my eye and I could scarcely believe I'd ever be able to tolerate it, but indeed 3 months later I no longer notice it. During the interval where it was still driving me crazy (but after I had ascertained there was no serious cause) I carefully researched treatment options and concluded that indeed, there is none that is at all advisable.

It may take a few months but you too will adjust. The brain is good that way, it filters out sensory input of no significance.

[dddave]

I had an experience similar to Sheryl's several years ago and mine also "went away". Just a few days ago I had a thorough eye exam in the US and was surprised when the Opthomologist remarked that the floaters were still there. The brain does indeed adapt to filter the visual information out the same as our ears filtering background noise.

BTW, when I first noticed my floaters, I went to RUTNIN EYE INSTITUTE on Asoke. Even as a walk-in, I was seen within an hour by a western trained Opthomologist who gave me one of the most thorough eye exams I had ever experienced, showed me a video presentation about floaters and reassured me that I was OK. The bill for all that was B800 (2006)

[thaibeachlovers]

last september i had some flashing in my right eye, this was followed by a large number of floaters, i went to Bangkok hospital rayong,and was told not to worry it was a vitreous fluid detachment, a follow up a week later, and again nothing to worry about, a follow up appointment was made for 3 weeks, but before this appointment was due, my retina detached, this was confirmed by BR hospital and i was told an operation was nesscesary 2 days later, at bangkok pattaya hospital at a cost of 200,000 baht.

my step son suggested going to ramathibodi hopital bangkok where a dr. somsiri, confirmed the detached retina, and the operation was arranged at eye ear nose and throat hospital (585 Sirinthorn Rd., Bangbumru, Bangplad, Bangkok 10700) for the following day, ( no equipment at ramathibodi hospital) at a cost of 72.000 baht. the hospital was very good, that eye has now made a 90% recovery.

my left eye is now showing similar but not the same symptoms, so fingers crossed.

I would recommend a full check up, it may only be some floaters,( which lots of people get) that will cause no further problems, and will fade or be ignored by your brain in time, or it may be more serious.

the hospital i used - http://www.eent.co.th/home.html dr somsiri works at eent hospital Saturdays 5-8, and Ramathibodi tuesdays and Thursdays 5-8? not sure of other times. she speaks English very well, and also teaches. i would recommend her without any hesitation. Not much English is spoken by staff at either of these hospitals.

some goggle reading on the subject -

http://www.rnib.org....detachment.aspx

i hope everything works out ok

steve

sorry about the long post

200,000 baht- WOW.

I assisted at probably over 100 vitrectomies while working at an eye hospital, probably the most complicated of all "normal" eye surgeries, but completely routine in the hands of a good surgeon.

I have massive floaters due to normal age related detachments, and although I need to wear glasses more frequently than I used to ( books are a blur ), have no significant problems. As others have said, you get used to them.

[thaibeachlovers]

<Does anybody know an eye clinic in Bkk or elsewhere where I can have it rectified?>

Trust me, the less you have anyone poking around inside your eye, the better. I've seen way too many complications caused by eye surgery to ever have anything done, unless I was going blind anyway.

[phuturatica]

I've had one since I was really young and my brain just ignores it now unless I focus really hard and try to look for it! Mine is quite big as well, you just need to learn to adapt and not focus on it.

[lopburi3]

As said an exam should be made but many of us have this issue (as we move up the age ladder) and our brain will start to block. I also suspect anti-pressure medications may have an effect as I have not had any since starting such medications for open angel glaucoma a few years ago.