DizRotus Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 (edited) Over 65 and seeing stars and/or floaters? You may be experiencing posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). According to Dr. Wiki, 75% of those over 65 have it, although many, if not most, are asymptomatic. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_vitreous_detachment If you experience an acute episode of seeing stars or floaters, don't be unnecessarily alarmed, but I recommend a comprehensive eye examination ASAP to rule out more serious retinal detachment. The other evening I was seeing bright lights while working at the computer. I thought I was having a stroke, A trip to a mirror confirmed a symmetrical smile, i.e., probably not a stroke. Twenty minutes later the lights were gone. The next morning I called my internist's office at 7:30 AM. They gave me the name and number of the ophthalmologist they recommend. I called that office and described the symptoms and my Google diagnosis. The helpful receptionist agreed with my self-diagnosis and said it was pointless to come in to only be given a referral to a specialist. She gave me the number of a practice that specializes in "Diseases and Surgery of the Retina and Vitreous." I was able to get an appointment later that afternoon. I thanked the doctor for seeing me so soon. He said, under the circumstances I described, it's important to be seen ASAP to rule out and ward off retinal detachment. The good news is that my eyes are healthy. The bad news is that I have PVD; the flashing lights and floaters will probably diminish and/or I'll learn to ignore them. I go back in a month for a follow-up. FYI: In doctor-speak "posterior" is pronounced with a long "O." It's "post" as in fence post. Doctors love to speak in code. Edited March 21, 2016 by DizRotus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivervalleymgb Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I had this happen to both eyes while driving. Been over a year and I still see floaters. Doc just keeps an "eye" on it every 6 months now. I still find it irritating, but not particularly worrying. You are right about getting in quickly to make sure that the retina is intact! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivervalleymgb Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 The other evening I was seeing bright lights while working at the computer. I thought I was having a stroke, A trip to a mirror confirmed a symmetrical smile, i.e., probably not a stroke. Twenty minutes later it was gone. The smile, or the worry of a stroke? .... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I get my eyes checked every year, it's a good practice. At one time I had those C shaped floaters that looked like they were vibrating. At that time the Dr said I was having ocular migraines and not to worry about it. I had never heard of one up till that point. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 That's good info to know. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I get those occasionally if I exert myself or if I hit my head! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted March 18, 2016 Author Share Posted March 18, 2016 (edited) The smile, or the worry of a stroke? .... Both, as well as the flashing lights. Carl- I had what were described as "ophthalmic migraines" decades ago. Although mildly similar, they were not nearly as pronounced. They went away when I cut back on coffee. Edited March 18, 2016 by DizRotus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muel Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I was threatened with posterior detachment at some point in my youth but he was talking about something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted March 18, 2016 Moderators Share Posted March 18, 2016 I was threatened with posterior detachment at some point in my youth but he was talking about something else. That's exactly what I was thinking. Good luck with the follow up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincymat Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I was threatened with posterior detachment at some point in my youth but he was talking about something else. My Dad only wanted to raise my posterior to someplace between my ears.. Mark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 They went away when I cut back on coffee. Looks like I'm doomed to a life of them then. Friday night is triple espresso/movie night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Maybe a lot of us aren't spring chickens anymore. Or, maybe our chicken has sprung? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivervalleymgb Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 I get my eyes checked every year, it's a good practice. At one time I had those C shaped floaters that looked like they were vibrating. At that time the Dr said I was having ocular migraines and not to worry about it. I had never heard of one up till that point. WOW! This are very rare from what I understand. I have them also. Starts out as a small dot in the center of my vision, then, starts spreading into a sort of "C" shape until it expands and leaves my field of vision. I didn't mention them to a doc for a couple of years since I thought it might be due to high blood pressure. I had already been diagnosed with a-fib about the same time these started. When I move to Oklahoma, my primary doc (first doctor visit in twenty years, the a-fib was diagnosed at a walk-in clinic since I didn't have a primary care doc) made me go to a cardiologist for the a-fib. It was at the visit with the heart doc that I mentioned the vision thing. He said, oh, that is a migraine. I was shocked since I didn't have headaches with them. I do get nauseous when they happen. A glass of red wine every night seems to keep them at bay. The wife had heard of that, so she pushes a glass on me every night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivervalleymgb Posted March 20, 2016 Share Posted March 20, 2016 this is similar to my migraine aura: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/406731410072453533/ Imagine this coming on when you are driving! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Floaters by themselves are not that big a deal. I've had the odd one since I was a teenager. Lately, they seem to be darker, but that's about it. Bright spots or lights are a very different story. My optometrist has told me that if I see anything like that, I should call him immediately, regardless of time of day, since they indicate a problem with the retina, as other posters have mentioned. If you see bright lights in your vision, don't waste time wondering about them. Get professional help immediately, to minimize the chances of losing your sight, to a greater or lesser degree. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Starts out as a small dot in the center of my vision, then, starts spreading into a sort of "C" shape until it expands and leaves my field of vision. Yep, that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 If you see bright lights in your vision, don't waste time wondering about them. I agree completely. The specialist said my description of acute onset of seeing lights and floaters is what enabled me to get an appointment the same day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 (edited) Same thing happened to me about five months ago. Went to the eye doctor the next day. Complete exam revealed some "thinning;" but, no retina tear. Doctor compared the pictures to ones taken five years ago, and there was no change. I was getting flashes of light in one eye, only when i looked to the side. Of course, then i kept looking to the side to see if it would do it again. Then it started driving me crazy. Just like this constant ringing in my ears...if i think about it, it becomes VERY annoying. Edited March 21, 2016 by BigStewMan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 this is similar to my migraine aura: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/406731410072453533/ Imagine this coming on when you are driving! Mine as well. I never get colors like the one picture though. I've never had headaches with them either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 You can have coffee, just make it decaf. Better for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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