Posterior vitreous detachment query
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hello, I’m new to the site and I have a query. My PVD started about 2 weeks ago with flashes in my Peripheral vision. This was followed by a sense of more floaters. I went to my Eye A&E: a Doctor carried out a full exam. Good news is that there are no tears ‘tobacco powdering’ etc but could see the vitruous was starting to shift.
Over the last week I’ve come to realise that the floaters aren’t so much new - they seem to have shifted position. I’ve had floaters for years and in particular - I’ve had what seems like a film or sheet of floaters consisting of lots of small light grey circles. This always ‘floated’ somewhere in the top right of my vision and rarely troubled me. This now seems to have shifted down in to my central vision which is now highly distracting especially in the sun.
I wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience? I’m hoping that as the vitreous shrinks, the floater moves past central vision and settles.
Also, I find that, sometimes, the flashes seem to happen in response to when I am focusing on reading.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
0 likes, 22 replies
mjcg Scotsman_dan
Edited
Hello Scotsman! It can be quite unsettling when a PVD starts occurring. My PVD is 100% complete now and there are times when I can see a small "glob of clear jelly" or a pepper size black dot floating around in my field of vision. Other times I'll see a flash of light in my peripheral vision. Of course, I immediately panic fearing I'm suffering from a retinal tear or detachment. Like you, these floaters seem to be more apparent depending on the lighting (I always wear sunglasses outside).It's all nerve wracking that's for sure. I think what you're experiencing is common and that eventually your floaters will settle, meaning your brain will learn to ignore it. You've done the right thing by having had a complete eye exam. I imagine your eye doctor has also told you to return immediately if you experience an increase in floaters, flashes of light, and/or any loss of vision. Take care and I hope you keep us updated on your progress. Your story is important and can help others coming to this forum for help and advice.
Mattmaffews mjcg
Posted
hi mjcg
I too have pvd. im interested to hear you sometimes get a glob of clear jelly as you describe it. I too get this sort of thing. does it, or will it ever go?
mjcg Mattmaffews
Posted
Yours is a good question and I have no idea if this "glob" will ever really go away. Sometimes I "see" it and most times I don't. I'll ask my eye surgeon when I see her next time (it's not for a few months though). I assume it's a bit of the vitreous fluid that detached from the retina (PVD) that appears to me as a clear glob of jelly.
I had a vitrectomy in my other eye (detached retina), along with cataract surgery (which is a side effect of the surgery). The vitreous fluid was removed and that eye sees great! No glob or floaters of any kind. The surgery is not anything I'd want to do again so I'm good with the glob in my other eye haha. It's just annoying and worrisome at times.
kalyan73384 mjcg
Posted
Hi mjcg
you said that you had surgery in the other eye and you don't want to go again .After the surgery did you get any problem as i am passing the same situation.
mjcg kalyan73384
Edited
Hi Kalyan - I've had no post-operative problems since my vitrectomy surgery 1.5 years ago. I did have cataract surgery on the eye though. (There is a 100% guarantee that a cataract will form within six months to 2 years after a vitrectomy, so it came as no surprise.) My cataract developed quickly - within seven months. Cataract surgery was easy in comparison to a vitrectomy!
I say I never want to go through a vitrectomy again simply because I was so caught off guard when my retina detached. I was really shocked and scared I was going to lose my vision and had no time to prepare. It was emergency surgery and a gas bubble was inserted to help with healing (I was like "you inserted a what??"). I did 30 minute face down on the hour every hour (except when sleeping) for two weeks. Of course, I'd have done anything to save my sight! But I now know more about an eyeball than I've ever wanted to know (haha). I see really well out of that eye now.
danny13009 Scotsman_dan
Posted
I have always suffered with floaters and im only 41. However for some reason i started getting dry uncomfortable eyes, i went to an opticians and they said that there was nothing wrong with my eyes. however, over a period of about a month, my floaters increased and started getting flashes.
I have now seen three opthalmologists and two opticians and none can find anything wrong, even though i now have lots of squiggles, and grey circles in my vision.
I thought i was getting PVD, maybe i did and now its gone, its all very weird.
mjcg danny13009
Posted
Hi Danny! Have none of your doctors offered a solution for dry eyes? Have you tried using eye drops and increasing your fluid intake? I'm on a prescription (Restasis) and it's been quite helpful.
rhonda59974 danny13009
Posted
Hi Danny
How are your eyes now?
Any improvement?
I had a PVD in my right eye a year ago and although the flashes have mostly gone, I still see a tiny flash sometimes in a dark room.
Scotsman_dan
Posted
Hello, thank you all for your replies. I'm sorry for the lack of response. I took a decision to try and get in with life and not dwell too much on my eye problems.
My symptoms had seemed to be stable recently but over the weekend i developed a strange new symptom.
In my peripheral vision, in the 12 o’clock position, I have a strange type of what seems like a floater. It is a thick dark strand that moves but it seems tethered or attached at some point at the edge of my peripheral vision. It doesn’t seem as free as my other floaters and feels more bold than my other floaters. i have to look down and try and see it with my peripheral vision. I'm a bit worried as this is where, I believe, tears will happen.
i have called my local Eye Casualty and they have asked me to go in at 2pm today.
Hudsongrl Scotsman_dan
Posted
hi there. have had pvd in both eyes and even have weiss rings in both eyes now...central vision. believe it or not, your brain will learn to tune most of your floaters out. it takes time. it's called neuroadaptation. the floaters are distracting at first.
Hudsongrl Scotsman_dan
Posted
as for your new floater sounds like pvd is almost complete and that is the last strand of attached vitreous swaying
Scotsman_dan Hudsongrl
Posted
Thank you for your reply. I saw a Doctor yesterday. They really dilated my pupils - used two types of drops. The doctor had a really good look around and couldn’t find any evidence of tears or detachments. She used an instrument to poke my eye to squeeze it to see if any hidden tears showed up. Nothing showed up thank goodness. The Doctor thought was I was seeing was just a floater. I think you may be correct about the last bit of vitreous still hanging.
Scotsman_dan
Posted
Dear all, it had looked like the PVD had started to settle. however the familiar flashes have begun in my other eye. i will go to an eye doctor to ensure it's not a tear.
I just wanted to ask people who had it in both eyes - are symptoms a severe in both eyes. can it be more gentle in one eye than the other?
diane48177 Scotsman_dan
Posted
great question. I'm curious of this too
charlene03960 Scotsman_dan
Posted
Hey there,
I have an annoying floater in my left eye and flashes in my peripheral vision when I'm in a dark room and it's now starting to happen also in my right eye but very subtle. It started 4 months ago and I'm only 40. Anxiety and stress will trigger it more so I would suggest relaxing if you can and trust your body will heal itself and allow it some time. I've heard around 6 months. Nothing to panic about in my opinion. Our bodies age and go through changes. Obviously see a specialist though if you're worried.
suzana86 charlene03960
Posted
Hi Charlene,
you are not alone! My floaters started in may 2019 with a light bubble circle that kind behaved like a flash in my corner of left eye then in october 2019 it got more often and in both eyes, the same symptoms, now the flashes are like arc shape in both of my eyes. They are every day now. Went and checked my eyes and everything is fine. Do you have proper camera flash every day or once in a while?
Thank you
charlene03960 suzana86
Posted
Hi Suzana,
The flashes are starting to get less obvious and have stopped in one eye since I stopped drinking alcohol funnily enough. The flashes are at night nearly every day I think but much less obvious than before as I didn't notice them recently. When I wake up in the morning it takes a while for my eyes to focus properly I think it's a lot to do with the floater in my left eye. Then my vision adjusts and is perfect again apart from that annoying floater which I can see in bright light mainly and I live in a very sunny country. I'm going on vacation very soon to detox and get into some fitness so if the symptoms haven't reduced after that I'll see a specialist for sure but feeling hopeful. I think it's possibly a self induced lifestyle thing too.
Stay in touch
rhonda59974 Scotsman_dan
Posted
How are your eyes now Scotsman?
I had a PVD about a year ago and I still get occasional flashes if in a darkened room.
Scotsman_dan rhonda59974
Edited
Hi, i hope you're well. Sorry for not having posted hear for a while.
After PVD in one eye - starting in one eye in Sept/Oct 2019 - it started in the other eye in Jan 2020.
I had floaters and the film in both eyes, along with flashes. The floaters have settled down, and the film seems to be lifting, or I have just got used to it. I do still get flashes, but I have had an exam, and I am told things are okay: the flashes can go on for sometime.
I know things are more difficult now with C-19, but it might be worth seeing and eye Doctor to make sure all is well.
Take care.