Moderator said on 23/10/2009 at 8:55 pm
floaterflash said on 2 July 2009:
Just realised I forgot to update this thread!
My vitrectomy didn't happen as my wife's father died and the funeral was the day of the vitrectomy.
I've put it off until September, too much else happening at the moment, but I do intend going ahead with it.
Verity Cork said on 01/10/2009 at 12:50 pm
Hi Michael,
It simply wasn't possible I'm afraid to transfer the database from the old forum to the new one, which is why you've had to re-register. There were also thousands of people in the old database but no where near as many active users, so we also felt it was a reasonable opportunity to start with a fresh database in the new system.
I hope now you've registered and used the new site you'll appreciate that overall we've made some significant improvements. For instance, on the old site you had to register separately to use the forum, events calendar and web pals. On this new website, you only have to register once to be able to use all those features (and more to come). We think this is far more convenient.
Anyway, I don't want to move this topic off-topic - so back to PVD and floaters!
Verity
floaterflash said on 01/10/2009 at 12:24 pm
Vitrectomy is happening next Tuesday, I'll update with my experience then! (when I have recovered enough to use a PC)
Note to moderator, it is rather annoying that I have had to re-register following the apparent web site changes!
chrishill said on 20/09/2009 at 5:15 pm
An update on my post of 18/09/09...
Went back to the consultant for a further examination, because of the centre vision "dazzle spot" I am seeing. He had a good look around and concluded that my retina was absolutely normal. However, he has organised some further tests including, I think, a fluorescein angiogram and optical coherence tomography (those terms may not be quite right). I've had the former before and it is a little strange, although not painful. The latter is apparently a new technique and I have no idea what is involved.
I take some comfort from the fact that a highly respected expert could find no sign of anything wrong (which I guess rules out retinal tears, AMD, glaucoma, etc.) but I am still exceedingly anxious as to what these other tests might reveal. Is he specifying the tests just to be doubly sure, or does he suspect something more sinister might be afoot? The monkey is starting to fidget again.
On a related note, I have started taking hyaluronic acid tablets in the hope that they might do something both for my eyes and for my knee joints (I am a runner). I understand that RNIB and other bodies do not condone taking this supplement, and I also understand concepts such as the placebo effect and the difficulty in subjectively judging any possible improvements. However, at £4.99 for 30, and little likelihood of any adverse effects, I decided I might as well give them a try.
SteveJ said on 18/09/2009 at 7:26 pm
I cannot come to terms with my increase in floaters. I was -5 in both eyes and developed cataracts in both eyes (despite being only 47) that were both operated on. Visual acuity is now superb, but a consequence of the ops has been PVD and floaters + milky clouds moving across both eyes. Oddly enough the latter does not appear to be too bad if my eyes are properly lubricated; so I am unsure whether this a tear problem. I am grateful for the improved vision however the whole eye thing and what I have learnt since has spooked me. I didn't know it, however I do now (I wish they hadn't told me), but I have lattice degeneration and very thin retinas. What does the future hold, worsening floaters, macular degeneration, retinal detachments.
chrishill said on 18/09/2009 at 4:54 pm
To Chelten,
I have lived my entire life with some degree of floaters, so have had 42 years to get used to them! Even in the worst conditions - bright light and light-coloured surroundings - they are a minor irritation at worst and certainly have never stopped me doing anything. Most of the time, my brain does a pretty good job of ignoring them. HOWEVER, I can appreciate that, for someone who has never experienced them before, their sudden appearance must be alarming. If it's any consolation (probably not much, I know) then I can vouch for the fact that you will learn to live with them eventually. I've read about vitrectomy as a "cure"; for floaters, but in my layman's opinion the potential risks just don't seem worth it; floaters or the chance of a detached retina? Hmm... not a hard choice to make, even if the chance is only a minuscule one.
As I get to grips with the symptoms of PVD I have found that it is very important to try not to dwell on things. The mind is a monkey, and left to its own devices it will get up to all kinds of mischief. I try hard now not to put myself in situations where I can just sit and brood, imagining all kinds of terrible futures. Better to be occupied and distracted. After all, once you've done everything that you possibly can, whatever is going to happen will happen so why torture yourself unnecessarily?
I'm off to the consultant tomorrow over a new symptom which has developed. The transient flashes, which only occur when I move my eyes, are still present but seem to have diminished slightly. Unfortunately, I am now intermittently seeing a "dazzle spot" (photopsia?) in the centre of my vision which seems to be worse when looking at small things or things far away. I don?t know whether this is just another side-effect of PVD or a harbinger of something more serious. Either way, the monkey has picked this up and is now juggling with it furiously, so for the sake of my sanity it is time to seek a professional opinion. I hope the consultant tells me off for wasting
his time...
Best regards,