These d**n things!

[enough]

name: ryan
gender: male
age: 25
occupation: customer service mgr

I've been suffering from floaters for the last 3 months. I first noticed one black strand before going on a weekend getaway. During the trip I suffered a continuous migraine headache that was isolated to back left of my head. Looking back, much of this was probably due to alcohol and lack of sleep. However, at the time, I was all but convinced that I had a brain tumor. Over the next couple days I started noticing more and more floaters (coincidence huh?). The scary part was they only seemed to be appearing in my right eye. Coupled with that, I experience also light sensitivity and exteme eye strain....again only in my right eye. I had a CT scan and was tested for lyme disease but both tests were negative. I was also referred to a neurologist who proceeded to put me on headache medication which helped with that but did nothing to help my eye condition.

At first the floaters really didn't bother me but after a couple months they are a complete nuisance. The physical symptoms in my case are the most distressing since I sit in front of a computer in a cubicle all day. I've been to the eye doc twice and they gave me the common run around.....you're eyes are fine, get used to it they will pass. DO THEY NOT HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS??

I guess I'm looking to find out if the physical symptoms are common. Are they a direct result of the floaters or are they a result of my constantly obsessing about them? It's getting to the point where I cannot stand to keep my eyes open for more than 10 minutes at a time.

I believe floaters are a direct result of chemical changes that occur when the body is under extreme stress. If this is correct it would seem to me that a cure would be easily obtainable. I refuse to believe that sufferers should just "learn to live with it."

Overall, I am in good health. Stress levels are a bit high at times because of work but I regularly exercise and participate in meditation.

There has to be some help out there??

[Moderator]

Hello Ryan,
Warm welcome. I totally understand how you are feeling. There is a lot of talk about psychology being part of the eye floaters problem. I believe that although some people may be more "obsessed" by these floaters, the main problem is physical i.e the excessive floaters.

One argument I heard from a doctor was that we get used to eye floaters as we get used to the frames of our glasses. HUH?? I thought. I never remembered having such a hard time when I first got my glasses some years ago. I just ... got used to them. Floaters are NOT the same.

[chris]

i remember when i first saw mine and thought i had a brain tumor. i thought it was just me who thought of a brain tumor.