I’m an optometrist in San Antonio and I’ve mentioned your practice to many of my patients who have problems with floaters. Glad you’re in Texas now! Thank you! Michael Cerean, O.D.
Very grateful for the improvement I have seen after visiting you earlier this year for a pesky blob. I was in that mid-30's youngish crowd at onset. 48 now.
I have PTSD, the floaters have become fear inducing when it feels like someone has snuck up on me. The floaters have only gotten worse in the last 3 months. My PCP says it's part of growing older. Thank you for the breakdown and pathology.
What a great video. Kudos from an Aussie watching this and wishing you were here in Australia. You would probably be aware that there are a number of self-help groups concerning floaters on Facebook. I often contribute comments in one of the groups there. What gets me is the number of people who fervently believe that some sort of supplement or eating copious amounts of pineapple will help them. When you try to tell them that supplements will do nothing to "dissolve" floaters they get flustered and angry, etc. I know that supplements like lutein and bilberry are great for the general health of the eye (and I take these) but they aren't going to knock the floaters out of the ballpark. My greatest fear with laser treatment is a poorly aimed shot hitting the retina from doctor who is not as skilled as you are. I am terrified of the retina having a hole in it from such a laser strike. Can you comment about the incidence of such a thing and what happens when a mistake is made? Also, do you know any ophthalmologists who are very skilled in using lasers for floaters in Australia?
Phenomenal presentation. I truly appreciate how you focus on the impact and daily experience of the patient. It's difficult for those who don't experience these to appreciate the way these affect daily, seemingly simple activities.
@@Thefloaterdoctor1 Really really informative. I'm really glad a medical professional has gone in and learnt so much about this that many ophthalmologists are so dismissive about. Also thanks for going all along to replying most of the comments. By the way, did anybody tell you that you look like Jay Harrington?
Appreciate the clear decision-making pathway for floaters treatments. Having a doctor like you is fantastic-talented and dedicated to your expertise. The local doctor I tried was disappointing. You're undoubtedly among the best in treating floaters. Eagerly anticipating becoming your patient, I'm willing to travel for both the treatment and the chance to talk about all of this, doubts, expectation, etc. I enjoy to be part of this process apart from merengly just be treated...
Hi doctor Great video explaining this problem in the best way 👏🏻 My right eye have developed an eye floaters within less than 3 months especially the last month the number of floaters have increased ( almost X5 )including few significant floaters can be seen all time in day light or a lightened room I have seen a doctor 2 months ago but my eyes were fine + 2 years ago i started seeing a very thin shadow in my both eyes in the extreme corners but it did not get worse Based on your experience what is my problem ( most likely )
Here is my scenario. I'm 63 and just had breast surgery. Then 1 week later floaters(Clumpy) in my right eye appeared. Did the surgery do this ?? These floaters are the worst when I drive. Really putting me in a depressed state. Its affecting my work performance also. Eyes are very tired more quickly. The 6 month rule sounds like torture with this. BTW: Great Presentation here. Very impressed with your website and videos.
Unless the surgeon's elbow was resting on your eye during surgery, it is probably a coincidence. BTW, I don't know where that "6 month wait" recommendation comes from.
Hey doc! Are there any treatment for the eye floaters that are in the center of the vision? I’m 20 and I have this annoying floater that looks like a “Y” and it’s bothersome to the point where I hate going outdoors because of these annoying pests 😢 I even think about vitrectomy surgery because I can’t take it anymore with these annoying floaters are killing me mentally and emotionally, It has ruined me in many different ways
hi doctor， im 28，I have noticed a significant increase in floaters in my vision, which first occurred two weeks after a long flight (11+2 hours). The same thing happened the second time I took a long flight. I am wondering if there could be any impact from the flights causing this issue?
Really appreciate the world have someone like you really understand the patient. Got some transparent floaters since I was a kid but just found them in blue bright sky, but saw more of them in front of my monitor several weeks ago and I'm just almost 25 only, It is frustrated this happened to me cuz its ruined all the joy that I have (video games, movie, anime, don't have any hobby except those). Can't imagine those who have more serious symptoms than me, how they survive. But the most irony thing is, the promotion of SMILE or lassik for myopia is every where, which something that a gasses can fix it perfectly, and for floater patient, nobody give a shit. Not to mention there are many people complains that SMILE cause floater and other problem. Hope better treatments come to floaters patient one day
Greetings! I would like to ask a question. I am 29 years old and have had partial PVD with large cobweb and blocky floaters in both eyes for almost a year now. Is it possible those can be treatable by laser treatment? Unfortunately, I think that they might be quite close to my retina though because I can see their details. Also, they are slowly getting fainter, is it possible they are moving anteriorly and can be later treated?
thank you for such an amazing presentation doctor, i have a question, is there anything i can do to prevent the development of more floaters or more severe types of floaters? i only have a young person floaters thus far, they already affect my mental health substantially tbh, very afraid of it getting even worse. i sit a lot in front of a computer monitor, maybe i should go outside more in the sun or idk, i heard floaters get worse with myopia, i have -1.0D on both eyes 32yo, thanks again! edit: does wearing sunglasses help in preventing any of it in some way or it doesnt really matter? is there a cause for floaters or any candidates out there?
I don't think sitting and starring into a screen all day causes floaters, but it isn't that healthy either. Maybe we will have a better understanding someday,. My concern/theory is that pro-inflammatory foods (ultra-processed, seed oils, fried foods) may spill over inflammatory and oxidative chemicals into the vitreous. I can't prove it though
If I was a candidate for laser vitreolysis (which I believe I might be. 35M, PVD), and wanted you specifically to do it, what is the estimated waiting list time I could expect to be treated?. Thanks for the thorough video!
I only see eye floater patients so it is a different type of practice compared to a general ophthalmology practice. I usually have spots available throughout the week even on short notice.
I had an asymptomatic epiretinal membrane, then 10 years later I had a PVD aged 35. Around 2 years after the PVD, my eye doctor told me that my epiretinal membrane had started to heal itself. Did having the PVD help heal my epiretinal membrane, or is the timing a coincidence? Have you ever heard of such a thing? Thanks!
Thanks for work doc- we need more of people like you! I have one question about your map: So after the first branch you ask: does the stuff I see move - and i answer yes it does: i'd really say I have stuff floating around that are floaters and the other stuff you described but I also have like maybe 3 or 4 black perfectly round very small but not or almost not transparent dots with an inside dot aswell that COULD be red blood cells and I also have about 3 of perfectly WHITE very tiny round dots with an inside Dot ( that aren't transparent - one of them is REALLY not transparent ) that COULD really be white blood cells. So i have red AND white blood cells - which as you say - could be from an infection.. so after all this started ( like 2 years ago - age 31 now ) I also started to have these ONGOING lightnings right and around my center view really like looks like a small thunder perfectly white .. like current does when you have a gap between minus and plus. that small light that voltage produces.. I really learned to accept my condition and it seemed after that one event in which all startet - nothing changed ( thank god). BUT those lightnings that I see on the daytime do bother me because I see them like every 10 seconds and Im super scared that this is an ongoing Inflammation destroying my vitreous even tho im not seeing new floaters ( i maybe have about 10 in each eye. I also have these CRYSTALL clear crack -like - looking White lines THAT are fixed in position but also 1 crystall clear crack line that floates around. so my question is, as I seemed to be going both directions as of your chart shows: You think there's still inflammation going on ?? I've been to many doctors like 20+ and all just looked at my retina and said it's fine.. Only 1 suggested to start with cortison eye drops to really make sure to stop the inflammation. I chose not to take them, because i feel like i need to find the real cause IF it really is my body attacking the vitreous. By lightnings i really not mean the blue entopic phenomenon thing ( which i also have ) i really mean it as I described it: like a cable where you hold one end close to the other + to - and see the voltage jump.. what do you think this could be?? Does anyone here can relate?? Thanks everyone
Summering: What are those crystall clear like White lines that are fixed?? The one in my right eye I can see when I look to the left all the way then to to the right . After doing this movement I have one giant white crystall clear ( glass cracked like ) line in my center.. What do you recon this is?? and what do think about my body attacking my own vitreous?? Im pretty i must have had a pvd in both eyes and I can even recall the exact day of the event. I was ignoring my tiredness and still doing computer games every night and eating TONS of peanut butter and FRUITs ( I really mean tons ) ( just mentioning it because of the omega 6 overload and the sugar - could there be a link to some autoimune thing going on?? made hardcore diet and lifestyle changed eventhougj I got a better physique than a pro soccer player..)
There is nothing really to attack in the vitreous, but inflammation can 'spill over' in to vitreous. I can't make a diagnosis, but you describe maybe some small floaters, but overall your symptoms are not typical of the usual more benign floaters that I typically see. Consider a uveitis specialist? and/or look into a fluorescein angiogram to better evaluate the blood vessels.
@@Thefloaterdoctor1 thank you so much for your time and the quick response. I'll research uveitis and have the blood vessels checked. Another information in trying to solve this puzzle. Have good one Doc! Thanks👍
Hello doctor, After a very stressful move and a lot of loading/unloading of boxes and heavy objects, I believe my lack of proper breathing when picking up objects has caused a giant new floater due to intraocular pressure? Do you find it reasonable that this type of pressure can occur from lifting heavy objects? I'm 34, and I've had loads of small floaters all over my vision since my early 20's (nearsightedness and supposedly a thin retina), but I've felt stable for many years, until this move. Now I have a very large translucent worm like floater vertically down from top of my vision to the bottom, which has seemed to have attached to an old, existing floater in the middle of my vision. Thank you for any response.
The valsalva maneuver is when you hold your breath and strain to create an increased intrathoracic pressure. This is also what is done when not exhaling when lifting a heavy object. It will increase venous back pressure, and have other effects. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver#:~:text=The%20Valsalva%20maneuver%20is%20performed,if%20blowing%20up%20a%20balloon. ) That would not affect your vitreous which is essentially 100% water and the eye pressure is not affected by short term changes to systemic blood pressures, arterial or venous). Fluids are incompressible and so the physics and anatomy argue against lifting heavy weights affecting the vitreous and causing floaters.
@@Thefloaterdoctor1 I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. It's been a very depressing feeling my family has felt, as I've believed the move and the bulk of the work being on me, was a cause for this sudden new large floaters. Coincidences do happen even if it feels it's tied to a single event. I had wondered if my sea level elevation living, to suddenly 4,000 and 2,000 feet now elevation could of influenced the eyes, but as you've pointed out the vitreous is in an enclosed space. Thank you for your time, and although an unlikely candidate being under 35, I do hope to see you one day just to verify if I'm an unlikely candidate. All the best.
Hey doc. Thanks for the insightful, and informative videos. I see you are located in Arlington, Texas now. I'm an American living in Hong Kong. Ever handle any international patients that want to decide to come all the way over? I'm 36, and just got a sweeping floater starting a month ago. It really bothers me as I work at a desk most days for hours on white paper (I'm an artist). Visited a local ophthalmologist, but he essentially said my eyes were fine, and not to worry about the floaters. Don't think he really understood my concern level though, especially since my current livelihood is on the line. I'm in the process of trying to really focus on my diet+fitness level more, but if I ever need to see you from this far away can we talk about it in depth? This is starting to really drive me nutty, and I'm nervous for the future. Thanks again.
Simple aging for the older group. For the younger...it may be inflammation and oxidation chemicals and cytokines spilling over from the retina to the vitreous. The typical Western/American diet is chock full of these things. Less processed foods and seed oils and fried foods 'may' be protective.
After the recent recalls of contaminated eye drops leading to blindness and deaths, how can you assure us your drops are safe? Are doctors allowed to compound drugs?
Fair question. It appears the different eyedrops are coming from one or very few sources. I am sourcing my atropine from McKesson and the manufacturer is not part of this. I use a HEPA filter laminar flow hood and sterile procedure just like a compounding pharmacy.
it started when i was 15 years old and there is this one eye floater in my left eye that followed my eye and it annoys me i even notice it when my eyes are closed when im outside. its been since august when i noticed it i thought it would be gone by now in november.
I believe the 6 month rule is for the brain to either get use to the floater or for the floater to drop out of the line of site. That is what I have been told. How close can the floater be to the macula before treatment is high risk? Is there a measurement?
The 6 month 'recommendation' is common and ubiquitous, but not based on any science, function or anatomy of the eye. In most cases they do not 'drop' out as they are small, neutrally buoyant, and suspended and tethered and embedded in a collagen matrix.
I got ICL surgery done 4 months ago and its been a month that i have been noticing floaters and they're impacting my mental health. The doctor told me that i have PVD in the left eye . I have all the difficulties in vision that you've mentioned earlier . The doctor told me to ignore all of this but i am not assured. Thankyou so much for the awareness doctor. Can you please suggest what should i do and which treatment modality is the safest?? I am s 26 year old female
@Thefloaterdoctor1 Thankyou so much for the reply Doctor. Not only floaters now I have cloudy vision too. When i go outside surrounded by artificial lights it just gets worse. I Think i made a mistake going through ICL surgery . I have refractive error again as well
Pure random chance. I saw the couple of other doctors on the East Coast and thought, maybe I'll try it and add it to my new laser vision correction practice. I was lucky to have some early patients with extreme floaters that could only be made better and started the journey.
I'm mid 20's and suffering from floaters. Well... even though i put diluted atropine in my eye , i felt no improvements. I think it's way close to retina. So, I'm actually considering full vitrectomy which removes 90% of vitreous except for remaining vitreous nearby lens. In this case, i heard that saline is filled into my eye. I have a few question for it , doctor.. 1. Supposed i got vitrectomy, Is it more likely for me to have retinal detachment due to constant contact with fluid saline ? 2. If i get induced pvd, then does this affect my retina in a long term?
I wish there was more study on long term effect on using atropine almost daily. Nothing happens to visibility of my floater when using 0.01% so i need to use something between 0.02-0.5 does that effect eye pressure etc
There is/are studies in daily use in children to treat their myopia, every day through puberty. About 3% develop some localized superficial allergy that goes away when drops discontinued.
I'm 22 and have a huge blob of black and grey granules centered in my right eye that appeared fairly suddenly. Takes up about 15% of my vision with my right eye outside. :( I went to get an eye exam but it wasn't detected but the Doctor noted my description of the blob was weird (he tried to double check but still didn't see anything) and gave me another eye doctor reccomendation in case something were to happen... While my eye was dilated during the exam all the granules disappeared, but when I looked around there was still a small clear blur at the center where it normally is...... I just want this to go away, I have no idea why I would get this either at such a young age... Does laser treatment sound possible? Thank you for your help! I plan on seeing the reccomended eye doctor soon...
Laser? At 22? Not likely. The Low Dose Atropine will (to a lesser degree) duplicate the effect you observed with full pupil dilutions. Check into my Low Dose Atropine Program.
I am confused. Mine are fixed in position, but my ophthalmologist said that they're floaters. I had my retina checked, and the doctor said that everything was okay, except for the fact that I had 'snail slime degeneration' in one eye, and in the other, there was nothing. He said that there were floaters, but as you explain in the first part of the video, I see the problem fixed in place. However, my symptoms lessen with lower light. How can I be certain if I've already seen two ophthalmologists and they said that I was fine? I see perfectly opaque circles that are translucent, and those are the ones that affect my vision the most. What should I do, or whom do I need to see?
@@Thefloaterdoctor1 they move around to where i look but sometimes get bigger and sometimes get smaller theyre weird and they look like opaque circles that i only can see in situations with a lot of contrast, for example at night i barely notice them, but in a white background im able to see them
Hello doctor. I’m 23 years old and have been dealing with floaters for nearly a year now. They’re translucent threads. I mean I saw them as a kid but they would disappear after a few minutes. Basically I stood up one time, had kind of like a firefly show with lights buzzing around, and I’ve had floaters ever since. I went to an eye doctor and they saw no signs of a retinal tear. I think I may be a candidate for your low does atropine drops since when I had my eyes dilated, I didn’t see my floaters. I know I’m unlikely a candidate for the laser because of my age but I have some questions like is it true that floaters will drift away from my field of vision as I get older and have you told other eye doctors about how helpful your drops have been? Also I kind of came up with an idea. Now I’m not in the medical field but it’s a thought like you know how you blow air into say a fish tank, it moves things around to different place. How about creating a tube to insert into the eye and try to blow the floaters away from the retina to a place they’re less noticeable and bothersome?
You age, the translucency of the floaters is typical of younger sufferers and these peeps usually do very well with the low dose atropine. The vitreous has a structure to it especially with younger people. The floaters are pretty content to stay lodged where they are. It is possible with time and age that they may move a few mm away from the retinas, but that's still not a good bet. Remember Aunt Edna's fruit jello salad she brought to the last family reunion? Those grapes suspended in the jello? It would be a mess trying to 'blow' them into a different position. Just not practical or predictable.
I had my cataracts done. 2 weeks after the left eye was done I had hundreds of sharp black dot floaters appear. It looked like a scattering of black pepper. The doctors just said it was due to vitreous detachment but could not explain why they were small dots and not the cobweb floaters normally seen after PVD. I had a PVD years ago with cobweb floaters and Weiss ring. I am happy to say that the dots are growing fewer in number every week, and the larger ones have disappeared. I am very keen to know what caused them. To form a very dark, distinct dot they must have been very close to the retina. Any thoughts on this?
@@Thefloaterdoctor1 Thanks for the reply. I suggested blood cells, but the doctor disagreed. The fact that they are disappearing suggests that either they are clumping together and getting lodged peripherally, or are dissolving. Does that make sense?
I’m 60, was told I have lattice in both eyes, developed floaters in both eyes, a Weiss ring in the right eye, although annoying at times depending on brightness of the surrounding environment, I can tolerate them, my vision under the floaters is normal although I need glasses again as I wore them when I was younger, nearsighted then around 40 needed readers, but my far vision became 20/20 until about 58, now need glasses again and can see close up again without readers, go figure, lol, there’s a big floater in my right eye that may be a prime candidate for laser treatment, what do you think Doc? Thanks
Weiss rings are almost always great candidates for safe and successful treatment. I do like to wait at least a month or so after the abrupt onset to allow the PVD to go to completion.
I think is is really interesting to make the laser treatment much more efficient. There is no suggestion that it will allow us to treat closer to the retina especially for the younger patients whose floaters are typically
Aslam o alaekom doc, i wanted to ask about flickering in vision. It usually happens after waking up for some minutes or going from pitch black after sitting for some time to light. And i first noticed this 1 year and about 2 months ago it didn't get worse.( Edit: some amount of flickering is happening almost all the time since day before tomorrow although i just woke up and it is very little compared to before i am sick for past couple of days maybe thats why Also i have some eye floaters from birth possibly genetic my whole family has it but they have increased in number a little bit.if i close my eyes 90% and look broght sunny sky I can see some kind of flowing liquid
It can be. It doesn't increase the risk to the patient, but it can reduce the energy delivered. I treat people with previous RK, PRK, LASIK, IOLs all the time though. I just consider it part of the job description and not an exception.
@@Thefloaterdoctor1Doctor, is it true what is said that sports or bodybuilding increases eye floaters and lifting heavy objects? Or is it just empty talk?
Settle down as in drop from gravity? No, not likely. But microscopic floaters typical to younger patients, may move a few mm away from the retina where they may be much less noticeable. The effect might be the same.
@@Thefloaterdoctor1 Doctor, is it true what is said that sports or bodybuilding increases eye floaters and lifting heavy objects? Or is it just empty talk?
I read about “prefoveal floater”. Which seems like floaters can be static too. The reason I’m asking is I cause developed 4 flickering dots in one eye after vertigo. They are static and in my central vision. I saw four ophtalmologistes : all said the eye was healthy … they also said it is not neuro-related . It’s been a month. The dots still there. Not increasing not decreasing. If you have an idea of what it may be I would be thankful !
Prefoveal means it's sitting right on top of the fovea/macula. It is still in a gel/viscoelastic fluid and should have even a little movement. If your phenomenon is absolutely static then it is not likely a prefoveal floater. If any associated movement with eye or head movement, then it is in the vitreous. BTW, these microscopic floater are nearly impossible to see on exam, so if your doctors aren't seeing it, I get it.
This man needs a fuc*ing Grammy. I'm thinking of getting low dose atropine, prescription. But i'm from the Caribbean. You take online appointments? What about the use of cannabis use? Does that any correlation? Cause that's typically my only vice.
I do telemed appointments, but I can only mail to US addresses. I have a document you can download (free) and present to your local eye doctor. It might help convince them to prescribe it for you. thefloaterdoctor.com/atropine-request. I don't think cannabis has any relation to floaters, but maybe inflammation? Ultra-processed foods, fried foods, and seed oils (canola, soy, corn) all promote inflammation. So when you get the munchies...
