What's going on with my eye??? Really.

[skip fox]

I was just teaching a soph-level class and it seemed as though a lock of hair fell in front of my right eye. It turns out to be strings and strings of "floaters". I can barely see out of it. The entire is now several strings and a gray 3-dimentional haze. I'm effectively now (just in the last 45 mins.!) blind in one eye. Has anyone had this happen to them?

I've been through a lot of stress lately (father dyding in NC and I just drove back to LA the third time w/in a month last night). Could this be it? Should I see somebody or will it go away? I'm 57 and have had floaters in the right eye before, but this is entirely different in quantity. And I've never had a haze before. Jesus. Does anybosy know??

Not kidding. Help.

[Fenris]

1. Hmmm...stress perhaps? Or exhaustion?

:hi:Skip

[Dookus]

2. get to an optometrist now...

s/he will tell you whether you need to see a ophthalmalogist (did I spell that right?)

Don't fool around with eye problems. It could be nothing... it could be caused by high blood-pressure... it could be serious.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. I would see an eye Dr. You dont want to mess with your vision....

[GOPisEvil]

4. Do you have high blood pressure?

Often that manifests itself in the eyes.

Seriously, get thee to an eye doc, pronto.

[madmax]

5. Get to a dr. NOW

Sounds like Glaucoma which can be treated with medication if caught early. You're in the right age group for Gluacoma (57). Go go ...now!

on edit. Not to scare you but Glaucoma can lead to blindness. My Mom had it at just about your age and she immediately had surgery. She's fine now at 92. Scooot go!

[nini]

6. Agreed.. go see a doctor.

might be a retina thing - just in case you should check it out.

good luck

[davidinalameda]

7. get to a doctor now

it could be serious

is there reddness? any pressure? floaters can be a sign of a lot of different problems

[arwalden]

8. See A Doctor Now

Except for how quickly you described the onset of symptoms... it sounds a lot like the cataract I have in my right eye.

For me, eye surgery is inevitable... it's just a matter of when.

Stop what you're doing and call for an appointment TODAY.

-- Allen

[Raven]

9. Sounds like it may be a detached retina.

You need to see someone now...this minute. This kind of thing can be fixed if it's taken care of quickly. If it's not the retina, it's clearly something that needs to be addressed right away. Do you have a headache with this?

[noonwitch]

12. That's exactly the symptoms my mom had with her detached retina

They can usually repair it with laser surgery, if you get in fast to see an opthamologist. Otherwise, they do it with needles and no general anesthetic. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a serious phobia about things being in my eyes, I'd rather have the laser surgery.

[benddem]

10. Go to an opthamologist right away

[TNDemo]

11. Sounds like a vitreous detachment.

This usually cures itself in days to weeks but it could also be a retinal detachment issue. Either way you need to see an ophthalmologist.

[skip fox]

13. Hope this is right

It seemed to start of in defined strands then "dissolve" to the haze/veil.

I'll make appointment for tomorrow after my 2 o'clock. (That's "immediately," right?)

[Dookus]

15. tell 'em your symptoms

they may take you today.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. Sounds very much like a detached retina which can be a result of floaters

I get optical migraines so I have to watch this closely.

Do go to a doctor..detached retinas can be serious but are treatable if promptly caught...could be all the driving.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

14. I had one; it's an migraine in your eye; I thought I was going

blind--it lasted about 20 minutes and went away. Not serious; don't freak. I know several people who have had them--it is scarey but if you are worried call your doctor

[democrat in Tallahassee]

16. it's called an interocular migraine.

look it up on the internet and see if it matches what you are experiencing.

[skip fox]

20. Wow. I remember herringbone-neon arcs

in my eye before (the feeling you'd looked too long at the sun) and was told these were migraines without the pain.

Thnaks. I really wasn't freaking. It was just so ODD and it's too early for me to be overly scared. I'm just wondering what else can happen. (I've been with dying father all Dec. and tow trips--15 hr. thru SC ice storm &) since beginning of year. Heavy stress. Trying to maintain two full-time lives: dedicated son and prof.

[SoCalDem]

17. Uveitis?? PLEASE go to the ER immediately

You can lose your sight in a matter of HOURS.. I am dealing with this in both eyes now.. ..

It's like a STROKE in your eye... Only an opthalmologist can treat it..

Call the nearest ER and ask if they have an opthalmologist on call.. If not, call a different one.. I am serious here.. you could end up blind...

If it's not that, you will find out, but you are dealing with your eyes here.. nothing to fool around with ...

[Pithlet]

19. Go to a doctor right away

I've been having visual disturbances that started when I was pregnant. One of the things the doctor told me to look out for was exactly what you're describing. He said if I see anything like that, it is a sign your retina is detaching, and to be seen immediately.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

21. possible detatched retina. See Dr. NOW!

[skip fox]

22. I went and saw Dr. A retinal hole. Laser tomorrow a.m.

The doictor is going to "spot weld" the hole. What I saw in class was blood bouring into the gel (I guess) of the eye. That will disperse on its own. But not fixing hole could lead to detachment. Thank you al for being so insistent. I'm old school hardass independent &c. Plus a vegatarian and health nut . . . So I can imagine I wouldn't have consulted anyone for a few days.

You insistence lead me to talk to the chair of my Dept. who call the doc for me.

Sorry for errors in this message. Hard to see screen with drops in my eye.

All's well that ends, to paraphrase The Bard.

[SoCalDem]

23. Whew... I am glad it is "fixable"

After my eye traumas, I was verrrry worried about you Skip..:)

Always assume it's BAD if it's your eyes :) Better to be a worrywart, than to be blind forever:)

[Pithlet]

24. Good luck on your surgery tomorrow

I'm glad you saw the doctor and it turned out to be something they can fix.

[GOPisEvil]

25. Good luck with the surgery tomorrow!

I'm glad you went to the doctor and that things are fixable. :-)

[skip fox]

26. I'm glad too, but tired of waiting for these drops tp wear

off soI can drive home. Hell, it's been over 2 and 1/2 hours, I think.
\\
Anybody know how long they take?

[SoCalDem]

27. It depends on what they are

Atropine lasts a long time.. You may need to have someone drive you home :(

[proud patriot]

28. Glad you went and had it looked at

Good luck tomorrow

[marigold20]

29. Glad you went in

Had a detached retina 15 years ago. The surgery (as opposed to the laser treatment) is not fun. My vision in that eye is now 20/60 which wouldn't be that great unless your previous vision was - nothing!