Too many floaters?

In my vision, I seem to have quite a few "floaters". I notice them more if I look at a solid white surface. Also, on occasion, I will have a wierd sense in one of my eyes. It's sorta like when you look at a bright light or a flashbulb of a camera... how it makes you see spots. What could these things be? Are they related or two separate problems?

Macular degeneration is uncommon in a young person. Flashing lights can be associated with floaters when there is pulling on the retina, but this is usually in the peripheral parts.

Whenever you see flashing lights and floaters together you need to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist ASAP to have your pupils dilated and peripheral retina thoroughly assessed, because if it does indicate a retinal detachment, you would need urgent treatment or you could be blinded.

Don't walk, run...to see someone.

A certain number of floaters are normal, but a LOT of floaters and bright lights combined are a sign that the fluid inside your eye may be drying out. When this happens, it becomes a bit more "goopy" and pulls on the retina, which causes those bright lights. This can lead to macular degeneration. There are tests that a retina specialist can perform to determine if you have serious retinal issues -- some are simple, like looking at a piece of graph paper and noticing where the lines don't look straight. Other tests may involve a series of retinal photographs (rather unpleasant, but very useful for them in diagnosing problems).

The degree to which macular degeneration is treatable will likely depend on multiple factors, including your general health and age, and how advanced it might be.

Good luck, and see someone about it NOW. If you DO have the problem I described, it is a serious problem and can lead to blindness if not treated.

Peace

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