Signs Of Retinal Detachment?

[honeydip]

Recently (usually while I am skiing) I have noticed lots of 'floaters'in my vision. Imean a lot so much it annoys me and I have to wear my ski goggles all the time to dampen the sight of them. Now I only really notice them if I am thinking about them. I just thought it was a natural build up over my life and it isnt anything serious. However about 1 month ago I woke up in the night and went to the loo. When I got back into the dark bedroom I saw flashing in the periphery of my vision which lasted probably a minute or so. Also sometimes when I sneeze I see stars in the periphery of my vision moving away from me. I have booked in to see a retinal speialist but this is not for another 2 months. Should I demand to see one sooner?

[yogasun]

As I said on another of your posts, you seem to go from one health worry to another.
I am no expert but thought that posterior vitreous detachment occurred in older people. Floaters are common but if they get suddenly massive or web like that's a problem. Not sure how old you are but would imagine you are definitely under 55. Sqad or another qualified person might help you.
Just my laywoman's opinion.

[honeydip]

yogasun I dont go from one health worry to another you just have to watch for signs as with some things early intervention is key.

[Boto]

I had a detached retina a few years ago and unfortunately the tear in the retina was in the worst possible place so can't see properly with that eye. I hadn't realised anything was wrong until too late so had to have emergency op. Get it checked out asap. Is there not an eye unit near where you can just turn up and see a duty doctor? Or even A&E? Hope you get it sorted.

[tenrec]

I had similar to you. I went to optician and they referred me to Doctor. I was able to make an appointment on line or the hospital so I did so. (About 4weeks away). When I got to hospital the consultant said I should have come straight away! Well I didn't know it could be serious! Anyway had laser treatment same day, then back again a couple of weeks later. All sorted now, but worrying at the time (about a year ago). Hope this helps.

[honeydip]

Boto so are you saying that the symptoms are indicating a problem? what symptoms did you have?

[Prudie]

Go to the specialist to keep your mind at rest but just for info I have lots of floeaters and also see flashing lights, purple spots and zig-zags occasionally in my vision. I heard my mother talk about similar symptoms all my life and she suffered with migraines and nervous problems. I have always put mine down therefore to be being a bit stressed and having that tendency in my genes.

[yogasun]

Didn't mean to be rude honeydip, it's just that you only joined on Tuesday and have posted 4 questions about health worries.
I'm sure you are fine.
Go to local opticians so he can have a quick look. I have had PVD and that's what I did. It settled on its own. I am 66 by the way.

[grasscarp]

I had a similar experience last year. I first noticed the floaters when I looked up at a blue sky and saw lots of black dots. This was just in one eye. Driving home about a week later got the flashing light in peripheral vision and was quite scared. Thought I was getting detached retina. Took myself to walk in hospital desk, which is a sort of a and e but not for serious stuff. They looked at my eye and booked appointment with eye clinic for next day. The next day the eye doctor looked at it and said it is a shrinkage due to age. I am in early sixties. Nothing can be done and brain ignores them after a while so you don't notice them. I asked if he sees this a lot and he said yes, every day for about the last 8 years.
He was right that I don't notice them much now. I read there is a treatment that can be done with a guillotine now to clear floaters but it is expensive so I am not going to do anything further unless it gets much worse.

[Sqad]

I agree with the posts of yogasun.

[Old_Geezer]

I was in my early forties when I developed a tear (i.e. rip not water) in one eye. So you don't have to be that old. Amazed you didn't get your optician or GP to check it out immedaitely.

Flashes suggest the jelly like substance in your eye may be coming away from the back. Not an issue in ityself but it can cause more damage as it comes away and is worth checking.

I'm unsure 2 months will make a lot of odds (not that I'm an expert, merely one who had similar symptoms) but obviousy the sooner the better, for peace of mind if nothing else. Try for earlier if you can.

[honeydip]

ok yoga well it costs me money to see a doctor here you see so I try go as infrequently as possible. Its good to have somewhere to ask questions like these you see. I wanted to ask all the questions at once but thought I would leave a day inbetween to get proper answers.

[Boto]

I don't know whether you have a problem or not but that it is better to get it checked out asap. I didn't notice any symptoms until the retina was actually detaching and then I had really thick black jagged 'floaters'. The retina was only still attached by a thin piece at the top - everything else was black. 4 years later I noticed with my othe reye that I had tiny pinhead floaters so went to eye unit immediately and there was a small tear in that retina but caught it in time. I would certainly get any concerns checked immediately.

[honeydip]

Boto I have a combination of the 2 at them moment. Long jagged ones and pin point ones. I have one pin point one which stays in the same place all the time. I am gioing to try get it sooner now.

[yogasun]

Sorry, honeydip. Where are you exactly?

[Sqad]

If the retina had torn one month ago, then you would be really in trouble with your vision now.................and you don' t seem to be.

[honeydip]

Near the France spain Boarder france side. The sugery cant speak english too and my French is shocking especially over the phone. I will have to somehow go in after work todday or tomorrow and explain with the help of my hands.

[grasscarp]

Why not write down what you want to say and put it into google translate. Also draw picture of what you are seeing in your eye. This will be better for explaining to them what is the problem for you.

[honeydip]

grasscarp thanks for that. I would be lost here withought google translate!

[boxtops]

I have signs of posterior retinal detachment some years back, it was quite scary - a circle of flashing lights (I describe as being like looking at an eclipse of the sun with flares shooting out) and I get a lot of floaters. However my optician keeps a close eye on me and it's not got any worse. I still get the occasional flashing, particularly in the night when it's dark - it the daylight I suspect I don't notice it. I get the stars too - sometimes they are blue.

[york310]

This may be symptoms of retinal trauma. Go and get your eyes examined. I have seen numerous people who have had these mild symptoms (flashes and floaters) and have had retinal tears or damage. A few of these have had detachments which may have occurred weeks or months ago. If the detachment is in the inferior retina then there may be no gravitational pull and sometimes can even reattach wheras superior retinal detachment can cause quick and gross loss of vision as it pulls downwards with gravity.
It could as many say be nothing at all but if it was my eyes I would get examined ASAP. Why wait?