Floaters (in the eye!)

[hc4361]

I have two large annoying floaters in one eye which does disturb my vision.

I understand I can have the 'jelly' in my eyeball removed and replaced with saline.

It would be a relief to get rid of the floaters but the thought of this procedure turns my stomach and my toes.

Has anybody here had it done?

[smurfchops]

Could be a detached retina. Have the jelly removed and replaced with saline - not sure, but it could be true. I had a macular hole where the jelly was removed and replaced with something, maybe it was saline ? You don't feel a thing during the operation I can assure you (and you can't see anything either, even with a local anaesthetic which I had) but quite unusual afterwards with a macular hole - they pump gas behind the eye to help it heal and I had to have my head looking downwards for Two Weeks !! Couldnt watch TV and only look up for ten minutes in every hour until the gas dispersed, very wierd with plenty of talking books ... and a stiff neck... if the floaters don't disperse, go to your local eye hospital. If you are near London I would recommend Moorfields every time.

[penelope2]

I think you are talking Vitrectomy here, my experience is that Opthalmic Surgeons only consider this procedure if the 'debris' in the vitrious humour becomes inflamatory. Although I suffer with annoying Eye Floaters the advice I was given was a big NO NO.

[Sqad]

York 310 is your man for this topic.

It is extremely....extremely unlikely to be a detached retina.

I have never heard of the treatment that you describe but have heard of laser breakup of the floaters which is highly contentious amongst Ophthalmic surgeons.

In my opiion they will disappear by themselves over time.

[notasyoungasiwas]

I have floaters. At my regular eye check ups they just tell me they're normal as people get older. I never thought you could get them removed. Not sure I'd want to. Hate having my eyes messed with

[Sammy48]

I had a lump of viterious jelly come adrift in my eye once, it caused a brownish spider like vision in my eye. I went to the eye hospital next day, where tests confirmed this. They said because it came away in one large lump, it did not tear or pull on the retina. I was also told that with 'floaters' eventually your brain gets used to them so eventually you take no notice.

That procedure, hc, sounds pretty drastic. Hope it clears up soon for you.

[MsEVP]

Had floaters for years, live with them and they`ve done no harm so far.

[hc4361]

It is victrectomy, thanks for that. It has helped me find the link.

Vitrectomy

A vitrectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the vitreous humour in your eye along with any floating debris and replace it with a saline (salty) solution.

http://www.nhs.uk/Con.../Pages/Treatment.aspx

[hc4361]

I hope that over time I do stop noticing them and they don't get worse. It is like two cod liver oil capsules in my field of vision.

[notasyoungasiwas]

Can you see them all the time hc? I don't see mine all the time.

[vulcan]

Don't see mine all the time and have found driving is the worst but also found sunglasses help.

[beckersjay]

My husband had a vitrectomy some years ago - he had large floaters that interfered with his vision badly and his brain stubbornly refused to adjust to them. On the plus side, despite him being the most squeamish person on the planet especially about anything to do with the eyes, the procedure proved straightforward. He had to wear an eye patch for a while and put drops in the eye regularly. He was told to expect a cataract to form in the eye after a year or two, which happened - another op!

[THECORBYLOON]

I have a floater and it was annoying me for weeks but I got used to it and l don't notice it 99.9% of the time.

[york310]

Vitrectomy is rarely done specifically for floaters but more commonly as part of treatment for retinal detachment surgery. In cases such as beckersjays partner it proved successful and the associated traumatic cataract following surgery is a common complication. Other risks include haemorrhages and even retinal detachment. It is not a straight forward procedure but is done in the rare cases when floaters do impede vision significantly.

I have many floaters and luckily ignore them most of the time but I have had them for years.

[PatPending]

I have suffered from floaters for many years but don't get troubled by them any more since I installed a stronger flush.

[anneasquith]

^^^^ i know i should^nt but, LOL

[hc4361]

I did post some time ago but somehow it hasn't appeared.
I am particularly interested to know if Bickerjay husband regrets the operation in light of his subsequent operation, or is pleased that he opted to have it done.

I am hoping that I will in time ignore the floaters but they are large and obtrusive.

[mandimoo]

I heard that these floaters are the remains of placenta that you float around in till you are born, so it kind of connects you to your mother.

[hc4361]

mandimoo. A baby does not float about in placenta, it is attached to the placenta by the umbilical cord. A baby floats in amniotic fluid.
Neither of which has anything to do with floaters in the eye.