PDA

View Full Version : Floater Anxiety Makes Me Realise My Situation


SwirlyWhirly
25-02-17, 22:20
Hello fellow anxious souls :)

Long story short: three weeks ago I noticed a lot of new floaters in my eye and began to experience extreme anxiety about them. I saw an eye specialist who didn't find anything and have a follow up on Monday.

The floaters are annoying and one in particular, who I have named Jimmy to try to keep some humour in the situation, is a large, near continual s shape in my left eye. I don't understand where they came from, and it is very sad to think this may be it - no more clear vision, ever again. I travel a lot and enjoy being outside, or I did until three weeks ago... Jimmy makes most days outside a bit miserable at the moment! He is always there.

But what has shocked me most is how much anxiety I have! It is there all the time. Actually I guess it is like the floaters - always around, but worse when you focus on it. And once you see it, you can't unsee it...

I have been convinced I have a terrible eye disease, some sinus problem, a whole range of unlikely conditions...

Chances are I have none of them. I could do, but when two people examine your eyes and see nothing there, it strikes me as improbable there is anything there.

But then what the hell am I doing, thinking about them so much? I am obsessed with Jimmy! It has shocked me to realise the extent of my anxiety and I am determined to look at how to manage it better and any help on this specific issue would be welcome.
swajj
25-02-17, 22:40
Floaters can be different shapes. It sounds like your "jimmy" is one of the squiggly line ones. I have them too. I only notice them when I am in bright light, looking at a white background or focused on noticing them. The latter is of course anxiety related lol.
Hancock
25-02-17, 23:04
Lol, I got into a car accident due to seeing my first floaters over five years ago. I kept trying to follow them around, gave myself a panic attack, and rear ended some old lady.

They are seriously nothing, haha. I'm a freelance photographer, so do a lot of traveling and shooting in various locations with various kinds of light and the floaters I have never impeded my work or enjoyment of being outside and my craft. You gotta get over obsessing about them. It's like ear ringing. At first that crap drove me crazy but now it's just occasional background noise.
swajj
25-02-17, 23:10
Lol Hancock. Note to self: don't chase your floaters whilst driving
Hancock
25-02-17, 23:16
Lol Hancock. Note to self: don't chase your floaters whilst driving

It was terrible trying to explain this whole ordeal to the cop who came to the scene.

"No officer I'm not intoxicated, it was this stupid floater that won't leave me alone!"
swajj
25-02-17, 23:21
lol I can imagine.
SwirlyWhirly
25-02-17, 23:58
It was terrible trying to explain this whole ordeal to the cop who came to the scene.

"No officer I'm not intoxicated, it was this stupid floater that won't leave me alone!"


That cheers me up! I'm glad I don't drive now :)
Nadm
26-02-17, 09:50
I have a a very dark spot and some string attached to it. I see them 90% of the time. At the beginning I had extreme anxiety. After a year the anxiety decreased. Now 1,5 year later, I don't have that anxiety anymore, but I still have a lot of tension. And it is very irritating those floaters... I also got dry eyes and this makes it more difficult.
SwirlyWhirly
26-02-17, 20:05
I have a a very dark spot and some string attached to it. I see them 90% of the time. At the beginning I had extreme anxiety. After a year the anxiety decreased. Now 1,5 year later, I don't have that anxiety anymore, but I still have a lot of tension. And it is very irritating those floaters... I also got dry eyes and this makes it more difficult.

Yeah, they're a real pain. I'm sorry to hear you've had this problem so long :(
SwirlyWhirly
28-02-17, 15:42
Update: it turns out I had a posterior vitreous detachment, which accounts for the sudden onset of floaters. They may or may not settle down over time. The consultant left it at that - it's usually within a year.

As I am only 29, this is very, very early to have had this. Most people have a PVD in their 60s and beyond. I am quite frightened, as I am not that short sighted and didn't have any eye trauma.

Wish I understood why this happened to me and if it has happened to anyone else at a young age!
Colicab85
28-02-17, 16:45
From my understand. A whole new influx of floaters is due to some sort of vitreous detachment. Which arises from things like banging your head etc.

My understanding is that it is likely that you always had the floaters and have only now started to notice them because your anxiety heightens your awareness of things you perceive as a danger.

My experience with this is as follows, when i first went mad and anxiety entered my life, I couldnt not see all the floaters in my vision. I was actively looking for them every time i moved my eyes. As my anxiety reduces, the floaters are a lot less visible. They are most certainly still there but I dont go looking for them and therefore dont see them unless i want to.
Nadm
10-03-17, 08:07
I am only 28 years old and I have them 1,5 year. 6 months before the onset I fell on my head in an accident, so maybe that is the cause. I am also quite myopic -5.

In the beginning I wanted to know the cause, but that drives you crazy. You have to try to accept it. Very difficult I know. You always think "why me"?

Now the ost difficult moments I have are at work (computer).