Posted , 55 users are following.
Interested in hearing peoples symptoms and experiances with this. I had pvd of the left eye and sure enough 6 months later,right eye. Having problems dealing with it. When both eyes are affected,hard not to think of it 24/7. Would like to hear others stories. Thanks.
3 likes, 244 replies
We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.
darren18918 lee12629
Posted
hi Lee,
I've only got the one eye affected currently but according to what I've read the second will follow. I really hope not as my floaters are noticeable and affect my vision.
here's hoping for the best.
regards, Darren
april05642 lee12629
Posted
Hello. I am new here. I am just currently going through PVD in both my eyes. The right is worse then the left. its been roughly after 4 weeks since I noticed symptoms. I am 34 turning 35. I am going through crazy anxiety in regards to this and over googling everything. I have another check up this Friday. My doctor said its almost 100 percent completed but I am still getting flashes and floaters like crazy including the cobwebbing. Do any of you know what happens after this is fully competed? If there is no longer any risk involving the retina from this?
I am so scared and making myself sick over this. its stopping me from enjoying anything these days. Specially with all that is going on in the world right now.
thank you 😊
Lolasmom lee12629
Posted
Hi April,
I had PVD in my right eye in 2017 and left eye in 2018
I still get floaters that are a whitish in colour. The are worse when looking up at the sky.
I also still get flashes of light on the outside of my eyes when I moves my eyes side to side when in the dark.
So annoying
I am going back for my annual next week. Anxious to see what they say this time
MLF lee12629
Posted
Can someone tell me what your flashes are like? My flashes look more like in my direct field of vision at times and constant too. Sort of looks like lightning but also a circular blob type of flash too.
Lolasmom MLF
Posted
My flashes are like lightning. I can see them when I am in the dark. They come from the outside of both eyes, and only happens when I move my eyes side to side.
It has been 2 years for one eye and 3 years for my other eye when the pvd started
MLF Lolasmom
Posted
I'm sorry it has lasted so long for you. What is weird with my situation is I see the flash more in brighter light. I have it all the time too. Such as a white wall I see like a camera flash. I was just officially diagnosed with partial PVD yesterday by a retinal specialist.
Another annoying thing I'm having today is at the retinal specialist office yesterday they gave me two strong dilating drops. They said it could take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to wear off. My right eye has been completely normal since about 3 AM this morning. My left eye is still dilated. Not fully dilated but maybe twice the size of a normal pupil at this point. I have absolutely no idea why my right pupil returned to normal so quickly but my left eye is taking longer. I even called a tech and she thought I was just given more dilating drops in the left eye and less in the right.
Lolasmom MLF
Posted
I just went for my annual eye appt on Friday.
She told me that I may not ever get rid of the flashing on the outer eye. It's just a piece of the gel that never separated.
She mentioned that I do get the flashing in the daytime but just so not notice it.
Something I first thought about in your post is I wonder what colour your eyes are.
I have blue eyes, and they are the most sensitive to the drops. Because of this, my eye doctor gives me drops that are half strength. Works just as well, but helps in the recovery time.
I had the drops at 11:30am. and by 4:00 pm I felt comfortable going out and driving.
After the appt, I do drive home carefully. At home I wear sunglasses and close the shades on the windows. This time I actually laid down and fell asleep.
Just a thought for you. I'd be interested in knowing your eye colour
MLF Lolasmom
Posted
Hi,
I actually have brown eyes which makes it even stranger. LOL. The tech at the retinal specialist last Thursday said exactly what you said about the light versus darker eyes. She thought since I have brown eyes the effects would not last super long. Not the case for me, lol.
I definitely have very annoying floaters, especially in the right eye. But what bothers me the most is this weird camera flash, it looks kind of like an arc, and I see it more with light.
Lolasmom MLF
Posted
Hi MLF
Sorry for the late reply. I have been up to my cottage for a week.
I understand the arc like flash. Thats exactly what I get, but on the outside of my eye, Last week, my eye doctor said it may never go away.
It shoulds like you are just very sensitive to the drops. Next time, just ask for the half strength drops and see if there is a difference.
My floaters sent me to the moon this week. Especially my right eye. More noticable when outside. She told me my right eye has a huge floater. It just whirls around. I try to ignore it but sometimes it's so bad. I find if I quickly shift my eye side to side it sometimes moves it for awhile.
So annoying
alison_64461 lee12629
Posted
I have been having flashes in my left eye for about 12 weeks now. I dont like them at all! the opthalmologist did not seen concerned but I can deal better with the floaters than I can with the flashes.
MLF alison_64461
Posted
I am with you. Floaters do not even bother me. The flash is what bothers me. I can always see it. 😦
How often do you get the flashes? Have they decreased at all since they first got started?
alison_64461 MLF
Posted
Some days I feel they are less often and then they seem to be more often. I am probably getting them more often than I realize!
MLF lee12629
Posted
So this morning, I had a second appointment with a different retinal specialist, a partner of the retinal specialist I saw one week ago. She was great. They did another in-depth retinal scan. So she put last week's retinal scan and this week's retinal scan next to each other and showed me the difference. Since last week it has separated even more, the vitreous. I'm still considered a partial vitreous detachment so I have a ways to go but it's definitely separated more in a week. She is not remotely concerned about my flashes. She said my retina looks perfect, no detachment and no tears. Nothing remotely wrong with the retina. And she said flashes are no big deal. She said the flashes merely means the vitreous is continuing to do its thing... separation, this very normal process. She said some days the flashes will be constant, other days maybe not so much. She said as far as when the separation will be complete, she said it could take place tomorrow or unfortunately it might take place in two years. We don't know. She said I'm stuck with these annoying floaters and flashes while the process continues. She said my flashes are benign and the only time they indicate anything significant is if suddenly I see a shower of floaters, like floaters coming down like rain. In that case, I need to get back in. But otherwise these flashes are no big deal, they are annoying but my retina is completely healthy. I asked her what is going on with these normal flashes and she just said that the vitreous is doing its thing and as the vitreous continues to separate the retina is creating some flashes but it's a phantom thing because there's nothing wrong with the retina. The retina THINKS something is wrong because the vitreous is doing the normal separating so it will flash as a result of this normal process but it's not flashing because something is wrong with the retina. This woman was probably in her mid 30s. Retinal specialist and man was she good. Not only with the extensive exam today but showing me the images which my brain appreciated so much. Actually visually seeing what was going on, comparing it to last week. Really helped calm me down. Especially when she explained as an actual retinal specialist that flashes, or the kind I have are normal. Annoying as hell, but normal. A shower of floaters is what to look for. Continued flashes means nothing, they might last two more years during the process. Does not concern her. She said the reason why my flashes are worse with movement is because the eyes are moving so that's going to create more of that effect. I told her at times I see these weird blobs and black dots and it looks like Vaseline is on my eye and she said that's actually the vitreous and the particles that are separating is what I am seeing. Really loved her calm energy, her intellect, and how she perfectly explained everything. Sucks I might have this for a while. Hopefully not but we'll see. Knowledge is power though and now that I 100% understand everything and know why these flashes exist and are no big deal (minus being annoying) I'm relaxed now.
But what I am wondering is if others get pretty regular flashes? It looks like a camera going off. Then the weird dots. What does everyone get?
helen74968 MLF
Posted
thank you for your description above. i am new to this and my flashing started on wednesday. I'm seeing eye clinic on thursday. I have been so frightened by this. I went to A&E when it started and she said its probably PVD. How do you get used to these flashes? I use a computer at work and I find the flashing so scary. How are you managing to live with it?
Mattmaffews MLF
Posted
Thank you so much for this MLF.
Very interesting and very thorough. Great that you got a doctor who was so helpful and informative.
Ive had PVD for more than two years now. They say you shouldnt feel anything, but I do feel like something is actual in my right eye. weird sensation, but not always there. been discharged from eye clinic, but thinking of seeing someone private fir reassurance.
thanks again for your post