On Sat, Jan 25, 1997, Barbara <JHarper33(AT)aol.com> wrote:
> 5) Last month I experienced some flashes of light in my left eye. I read
> that could mean retina trouble, so saw an opthamologist (spelling?). He
said
> my retina was fine, but if it happened again, to call him. It did, about 20
> days later, along with some new floaters. I saw him again and he said my
> retina was still fine. I told him about the TM, but he didn't think it was
> related. But since then I've read of people with TM having eye problems.
Have
> any of you experienced this? The flashes are only occasional, but the
> floaters are annoying.
On Sun, Jan 26, 1997, Dave Jones <jones(AT)tdl.com> responded:
> could the eye flashes and floaters be silent migraines.
Floaters is something I am intimately familiar with, so I thought I'd respond
to this part of Barbara's message and Dave's response.
I had a 3-month TM attack 22 years ago, with complete recovery. 19 years
later (3-1/2 years ago) I was dx'd with MS. Following that diagnosis, I
enrolled in an aqua-aerobics class. That's when I had my first experience
with floaters. By that time, I had gotten used to my various MS symptoms,
and they no longer frightened me. But this new symptom -- or what I thought
was an MS symptom at the time -- really frightened me. I immediately called
my neurologist, who assured me that it was nothing to worry about. But he
suggested I see my ophthalmologist, just in case.
My ophthalmologist gave me a complete examination and noticed the floaters.
Like my neurologist, he told me they were nothing to worry about. They come
with the aging process. Some people get them, some don't. Yes, they're
annoying. They'll be "out in full force" some days, and other days they're
not even noticeable. BUT ... they truly are nothing to worry about!
Here's the medical explanation. Reference: AMA Encyclopedia of Medicine;
c.1989.
"Between the lens and the retina is the main cavity of the eyeball, which is
filled with a clear gel. This main cavity is called the 'vitreous humor.'
The vitreous humor tends to shrink with age, and in most people, eventually
separates from the retina, leaving a water-filled space. This separation is
usually harmless but often causes numerous annoying 'floaters' to be seen in
the field of vision. The floaters usually disperse with time, but at their
onset should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist."
I've learned to think of my floaters as friends who make my world more
colorful at times. Of course there's no color to them, but when I'm looking
at a blue sky or any light object, they do tend to add some "artistic value"
to the world around me. :-)
Love and cheers,
Julie P.
<jooliep(AT)aol.com