Eye floaters and other anxiety symptoms

Hello, Catherine!

I understand exactly what you are going through. Many people have anxiety issues, and symptoms can get extremely scary and uncomfortable.

Mine started a few months ago, and just when I thought I was free, they came back even more violently. I have had symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheaded feelings, extreme panic, feeling like I am going to die, throat lumps, shaky hands and feet, numbness, eye pressure, a stiff neck, crying a lot, strange tension in my head and ears, bad nausea, and of course, eye floaters.

I am not yet a medical specialist, but I am soon to be. It saddens me that university does not even mention anxiety, and medics will try to cure you for what your symptoms look like, completely ignoring stress. Eye floaters are indeed caused by stress - high levels of cortisol. I had them since I was little, when I was stressed. (By the way, for me personally crying helps a lot, since through tears I release cortisol out.)

Nothing bad will happen. You have to understand that, and it will make your life a lot easier. Many people are feeling what you're feeling and it is terrible. I myself find relief in giving such advice.

It is important that you have all your tests done, then when you know all is fine, you will realize that it's just stress. And it WILL go away, but first we both have to feel these little annoying symptoms. Crush them. Step on them, for your life quality and for your son.

If you feel a psychologist can help, go for it!

There is no shame in feeling this way. You have to realize that nothing will happen, even when you feel like you're about to faint or even worse. You have survived 100% of your toughest moments, and it can ONLY get better from now on. All the best to you and your son! Maria.

how many floaters do you have and were they in both eyes?

 For some reason Eye floaters are common with severe anxiety. I have had them when I first developed anxiety symptoms in my 20s. You will not go blind so please don't worry about that. They are harmless , Just annoying. You would want to have your eyes examined if you start to see flashes around the corner of your eyesight. That also happened to me  but everything is OK. 

 I suggest you do a search on YouTube for guided mindfulness meditation's that really help calm down the body and mind .  

 also there are meditations that are great such as detachment from overthinking,  and train your mind and body to relax, sleep, relieve anxiety.

 they teach you how to manage anxiety and promote peace of mind. 

Hi everyone, I wanted to add my experience to the pile because I found this forum while stressing over my own eye floaters.

I have issues with anxiety and these little buggers popped up about 10 days ago while, admittedly, some stressful circumstances popped up in my relationship, job and life in general. I've been dealing with anxiety for as long as I can remember, but I've been noticing that I always have that tingly panic-prone feeling lately. When I notice my breathing, it's shallow. My posture is bad, my back hurts. Etc. It's also worth noting that I'm a writer and I spend most of my day on the computer. 

Anyway, I think I was so focused on reading articles about eye injuries during the eclipse that I got obsessed with seeing anything in my line of vision that was unnatural, and then of course I began to notice eye floaters. And then more. And then more. I began to panic, as I always do, Googling my way into a rabbit hole, convincing myself I was going blind (fun fact: I did not watch the eclipse).

I walked around the house like a zombie focusing on things with and without my glasses. I threw out my contact lenses because I couldn't focus in them anymore. I booked an eye doctor's appointment at a new facility where they use 5 high tech machines to scan and photograph your eyes. I got to see an actual photo of my inner-eye, but I just couldn't bring myself to look, assuming I would see something horribly wrong (as if I would know what something wrong in the eyeball looks like).

When the doctor sat down with me, he told me my prescription needed an update (which explained my trouble focusing), pretty dramatically in one eye. Everything else was normal. After my appointment, I got my new glasses, and immediately noticed the difference. But of course, shortly after getting home, I noticed one floater while sitting in front of my computer, and the stress poured on. And hark! More floaters!

In the past week the news (and my life) has been so stressful that I've noticed an increase of floaters, and if I see a smudge on my glasses I freak out thinking it's a blurred spot of vision. So thanks to anxiety, even though my doctor said I am FINE, I am still panic-prone. That's just the downside of living with anxiety.

But then I found this forum, and realized I am not alone, which really helped. I also realized floaters are especially bad when I'm looking at my computer screen, and that I even feel my eyes strain a bit despite my new prescription. I've realized this whole mess (since I know my eye doctor said I am fine) is a mix of eye strain from the computer and pure stress.

Stress has really derailed my life in the past, but this time I am going to get ahead of it and reeeelax. I am doing 2 days per week with zero screen time, taking up sewing again, treating myself to long walks and baths, and maybe even giving meditation a go.  

I'm confident that I can ease these floaters away or at least make peace with them so I don't notice them as much. I can remember seeing them almost my whole life on occasion and just not caring. It's only now that I am focused on them that they are so insanely distracting and upsetting. While focusing on a task, I notice I don't see them at all (unless I stop and think about them).

So I guess I stopped here to write this and share it with you because I want you guys to know you're not alone either! And if your eye doctor rules out other problems, you should take comfort in knowing you're OK. Try to give yourself a break and breathe through the scary moments. And just remember you're not alone.

Hi Catherine,

Anyone with an increase in floaters should see their optician for a check-up, or go to the nearest eye hospital A & E dept.

Wow I wish I had come cross this years ago.. I too have suffered emotionally thinking I would go blind  from eye floaters, they are very aggravationing which causes me to wear sun shades other, also stay in dark rooms..and just stressing and being depressed, However I go to a renal eye doctor once a year to have them checked, and she has the same issue.. Well the only thing to tell u here is that I have prayed over the years and asked God to protect my vision, and he has.. Cast all your burdens on him.. He can handle any situation when it becomes too much to bare..

I can sympathize with you and so sorry you're having problems with eye floaters and anxiety. I have had floaters for years but have gotten worse in the past 5 or so years and especially the last year. I do notice mine are worse when i am anxious or nervous, which I am quite a bit these days for some reason. I find if i have a glass of wine with my lunch or either dinner (try not to drink more than 1 glass) it seems to relax me and i don't notice them as much. I'm thinking about possibly having a vitrectomy surgery but just can't make up mind to do it yet. They say it's relatively safe and will eliminate the floaters.

I hope your floaters get better and maybe you could have the surgery also!! Prayers for you!!