Driving - floaters

greyteam1959

lordmountararat said:

Floaters are just a feature of advancing years. I've only had them once, and they disappeared after a day or two.

BUT they can be an indicator of something much more serious & action should be taken ASAP.

ElephantBoy57

After a few phone calls, the opticians took my details and will phone me back tomorrow. Seems like they are busy, so I am not expecting an appointment this week, unless they deem it a priority. It would be better to get an appointment before I go back to work.

lordmountararat

greyteam1959 said:

lordmountararat said:

Floaters are just a feature of advancing years. I've only had them once, and they disappeared after a day or two.

BUT they can be an indicator of something much more serious & action should be taken ASAP.

I didn't know that. Thanks.

ElephantBoy57

greyteam1959 said:

BUT they can be an indicator of something much more serious & action should be taken ASAP.

That would be flashes and shaded areas; I saw maybe an arc, more than just floaters.

jackieblack

ElephantBoy57 said:

After a few phone calls, the opticians took my details and will phone me back tomorrow. Seems like they are busy, so I am not expecting an appointment this week, unless they deem it a priority. It would be better to get an appointment before I go back to work.

I’d try a different optician.
 I had flashes/floaters a couple of weeks ago, my usual optician  hasn’t reopened post lockdown and the other branch in the same town, which has reopened, couldn’t see me until mid September.  I got a same day appointment at the Vision Express in local Tesco (via their website) and they couldn’t have been more helpful. I had driven myself to the initial appointment so went back a couple of days later for the dilating eyedrops. Total cost £10.

MinuteNoodles

If it's affecting your vision you shouldn't be driving, I hope you know this.

deejaybee

I had something like this a couple of years back - i was actually seeing " spider webs " patterns, plus random floaters which i thought at first was a fly on my dashboard, until i realised the "fly" was indestructible !  - this all came on with no warning...

Managed to get energency appointment at my opticians the same day -  after examination he reckoned i had the conditions of torn retina, but his equipment wasnt powerful enough to absolutely confirm it - got me an appt at eye hospital for the very next morning.. and they confirmed torn retina ( apparently it was an age thing - the vitreous gets more liquified, rather than jelly when younger )

Had it lasered the same day and all ok since **

** I am diabetic and have regular retinal examinations anyway, but as above, the tear wasnt related to my condition....

Torn retinas can become detached - potential blindness.... anyone with symptoms shouldnt waste any time getting examined and treated.

numsadog

TadleyBaggie said:

A month or so ago I started seeing large floaters in my right eye, got checked out and I have a PVD (posterior vitreous detachment) which is not unusual for the over 65's. No treatment needed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_vitreous_detachment

I have a PVD in both eyes after cateract surgery. Short sighted people are more prone to developing this condition. I also have some floaters including two significant ones. You get used to them.

shaun_from_Africa

MinuteNoodles said:

If it's affecting your vision you shouldn't be driving, I hope you know this.

They could always use the "Cumming's defence" and claim that they were only driving to test their vision!

ElephantBoy57

MinuteNoodles said:

If it's affecting your vision you shouldn't be driving, I hope you know this.

I am not working at the moment, not sure how it will be viewed in relation to a professional driver.

If I cannot drive, I cannot work.