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Anyone got rid of eye floaters?

#61
Had my regular 6 month appointment with the ophthalmologist today. Apparently there's a new treatment for floaters that uses a laser to basically destroy them. He said it's essentially zero risk, outpatient procedure, and covered by insurance. Typically 85% effective. Once they do this he says the floaters are gone and don't come back.

I think I'm gonna have this done.

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#64
There's a definite and significant improvement in the eye. I had a single large floater that tended to settle right in the middle of my line of sight. That floater is gone. I can see a couple new black "string fragments" in my peripheral vision but the doctor told me to expect that and they'll probably settle out.

So far so good!
 
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#66
Alkali Ike said:
For anyone with floaters who wants to learn more, the procedure is called "YAG Vitreolysis" or "YAG Laser Vitreolysis".

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Thanks for the information. My vision is terrible due to the floaters. So far, 3 doctors are not willing to due anything because I only have one "good eye" so to say. Years ago a blood vessel in the back of my left eye burst and bled in that eye. End result is the center of vision in my left eye is gone. If I look directly at something with both eyes and close the right eye, I can't see anything directly. My peripheral vision is there but that's it.

That leaves my "good eye." I've had floaters since around 1996 and within the last year they've really increased. Then back in February I woke up one morning and saw circles everywhere in my right eye. Small and transparent with an outline. Made an appointment for the next day and when I woke up that morning I had 2, huge globs in my eye that weren't there the day before. Those globs are what really get in the way. Reading is very difficult and certain driving conditions can be downright scary with the worse in the afternoon when it's raining. Everything blends into one. Gray sky, gray pavement with the cars and trucks kicking up a mist. It's a white knuckle ride believe me. Driving during a heavy snow is really scary for me. Last winter I almost ran into a salt truck. Bright lights are really bothersome. The flashing lights from the back of the salt truck were blinding to the point of me not being able to tell exactly where the truck was. I could not tell what lane it was in. Realized at the last second what was going on and did a hard swerve to the left and just missed him. I was pretty shaken by that.

That's why the doctors are reluctant to do anything for me and I can understand their fear. If they try to rid my right eye of the the floaters and something goes wrong all I'll have is my left eye and if that's all I have then I'm screwed. I know I could adapt, but I'd never be able to read or drive a car again.

If that happened I could just imagine the fun I'd have trying to grocery shop! Grabbing what I think is a can of mushrooms and it's a can of mothballs!!!!
 
#67
@Mike JV

Presumably you're seeing a board-certified ophthalmologist and not an optometrist. Even among ophthalmologists, there are subspecialties for things like retina problems. My doc is a retina specialist. Point being you might need to see a good specialist and not a generalist.

The YAG laser treatment for floaters is fairly new. In Eugene/Springfield, because the YAG laser machine is very expensive, there's only one that several doctors share. If you're in a small town it's possible nobody has the machine or any experience using it. You might need to widen the search.

Of course I'm not giving medical advice because that would be ludicrous. But this laser treatment for my floaters was completely non-invasive and very low risk. At least find out if you're a candidate, then decide what to do. :)

Also, I waited over a year from learning about this treatment before actually having it done. I wanted the doc to have plenty of experience with other patients before using it on me. ;)
 
#68
After an optometrist diagnosed me several years after college, I tried to get rid of them by taking milk thistle and dandelion root as I heard both helped.

No luck. Oh well, no fighter pilot school for this guy. :smug:

I was semi-freakin' when I first became aware I had them... but I've learned to simply live with it... don't focus on them... just go on about my day. The only time they ever come into play is when I'm doing something outside on an overcast day. I fish a lot... and even with that a major activity, my floaters don't bother me.
allexcosta said:
I have them since ever and it's a PITA sometimes.

No high blood pressure, no diabetes, heart condition or anything else. I've heard there's surgery, but I won't go through it.

Thanks.
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#70
Ostie said:
I've had them for years. They are annoying but but benign. I was always told there was no treatment. Strange that would I hear about treatment on TB and not from my doctor.....
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Did you even check my links or read my personal experience with this recently developed *new* procedure? Have you specifically asked an ophthalmologist about it?

If I have a vision problem that can be fixed with a non-surgical low-risk outpatient procedure that takes one hour, you better believe I want it done. Not gonna just learn to live with a problem that's this easy to resolve.
 
#73
Old Dog, I have seen specialists, both of who are surgeons. One is the doctor who removed the cataracts from both of my eyes and the other is a retinal specialist. Fact is when the circles and blobs appeared if was the retinal specialist that I went to. Went back to the cataract surgeon afterwards and they both told me the same thing which was they would rather not.

But the procedure they both mentioned was where they drain all of the fluid from your eye and replace it with another fluid. They both said it works and has good success rate. But again, both are leary because if something did go south, all I have is my left eye.

I am going to read up on the procedure you've talked about. Thanks for the link. Glad it worked out for you!
 
#74
Alkali Ike said:
Did you even check my links or read my personal experience with this recently developed *new* procedure? Have you specifically asked an ophthalmologist about it?

If I have a vision problem that can be fixed with a non-surgical low-risk outpatient procedure that takes one hour, you better believe I want it done. Not gonna just learn to live with a problem that's this easy to resolve.
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I think you misunderstood my post. I'm saying that my eye doctor should be up on this procedure and should be discussing it with me. Every eye doctor I've talked to has told me no cure, learn to live with it.

I did read your links and posts, and I will be asking my eye doctor about it. Thanks for posting.
 
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#75
Thanks for the interesting read TB. I noticed them in my left eye about 2 years ago and it kind of freaked me out. Just yesterday I noticed them in my right. On a somewhat rare occasion, I'll experience a strobe-like effect in my peripheral vision. I think I'll mention this to my doctor and go from there.
 
#76
Update after one week.

Around Day 3 I thought I noticed a floater returning to the center of my vision in that eye. It's gotten a little worse each day. I'm pretty sure it's a floater but I'll find out Monday after I go in for the followup exam.

:bawl:
 
#77
Had a second round with the laser zapping treatment for floaters today. The doc took more time, seemed to be very thorough. And since I'm an experienced patient for this now, I was very focused (pun intended) on not moving my eyes while he was trying to target and hit the tiny fragments in the vitreous. It's very hard to stare intently at a single spot of light, not blinking for ten minutes, with a suction cup magnifier attached to your eyeball, while a laser beam is being fired through it. :nailbiting:

The eye is finally almost completely un-dilated again and I'm not noticing any floaters. So far so good.
 
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#79
I have one big black spot in the upper right of my right eye and various stringy stuff, I will have to llok into this treatment. Most of the time I don't really notice it but I wouldn't mind being rid of it.
 

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