Eye "issues" - seeing Doctor Tuesday

[Bucky]

With all the posts I have made through the years and told everyone not to worry about things, guess I better follow my own advice.  Although, some times I KNOW it's hard not to worry . . the old, "easier said, than done".

I am dx'd with Primary Sjogren's, and have high RA numbers.

My mother had glaucoma, and macular degeneration.  I think she might have had Sjogren's too, and didn't know it.

I've had the signature dry eyes that accompanies most Sjogren's dx.  I've got punctual plugs and use OTC drops.  Doctor wanted me to go on Restatis, but it's too expensive even w/insurance and all the $$$ it costs for our families medicines.

Since last Tuesday (15th), I've noticed these "floaters" in my right eye.  Annoying, but tolerable.  This past Wednesday, they have seem to "kick it up a notch" and there seem to be more of them and they move horizontally as well as vertically. It's hard to describe what they look like.  I DON'T have a headache, see lights or have pain. 

I have an optho appointment in three weeks. 

I called the optho office Wednesday to ask if they thought I should come in before my scheduled appointment and told them what I was experiencing.  Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, their office was closing in 45 minutes.  The lady took my number and said a nurse would call me.  Well, they called on my home phone and I was at work.     She never tried the cell phone number I had also left.

I called back today and the nurse has me coming in on Tuesday to see a retina specialist.  So . . . . I will "try" not to worry about this, until/when I have something to worry about.  But . . . when it comes to my vision, it's hard not to be concerned.

I'm going to be limiting my computer time until then and see if it helps at all.  I seem to notice it more when I'm on the computer, at work (I work with numbers and have to look down and up quite often - and that's when the floaters or whatever they are seem to be quite active and move a lot), driving. or around bright lights.

When I put drops in, it's like my eye is a sponge and just soaking it up.

The nurse did say if anything more develops over the weekend to call as there is a doctor on-call. 

I've done some on-line searching and think it might be Vitreous Detachment.  I know some of our members have experienced this.

With my Mother's history, I'm just hoping I haven't gotten some genetically passed on eye issues.  My optho is keeping a watch for the pressure in my eyes - she's aware of my mother's history.

Please keep a positive thought for me on Tuesday, if ya will.  In the meantime . . . I'm going to limit my on-line time this weekend.

Bucky

[soycoffee]

Confused, you wrote a supportive message that was clear about the appearance (and disappearnce) of "floaters." The only similar thing I've experienced is the auras before a migraine headache.n

Bucky, though I don't have floaters, I, too, have a lot of concern about eye damage and eye problems. I will keep my thoughts on your concerns and wish you well, waiting for your doctor's appointment next week.

I have one as well, and will find out whether the corneal opacity in my right eye has cleared. Well, actually it's a lot better, but not completely cleared up.

It is *so* scary to have something unknown going on with your eyes. Please let us know how your doctor's appointment goes.

For the best possible outcome,
Soycoffee

[Calli66]

It really does sound like Vitreous Detachment. I had the same thing happen 4-5 years ago in one eye, and then in the other a year later. The first time it happened, I noticed some of the little light "flashes" when in a dark room and when looking side to side, which means the vitreous is sort of loose and tugging on the retina. It's good you're seeing a retina specialist. Usually, vitreous detachments aren't a problem---they occur as you get older--not a disease, just shrinkage of the vitreous (liquid/gel filled interior of eye). Maybe Sjoggies get it sooner---I don't know.

BUT---if you ever get what my doctor calls "A Rain of Little Black Dots" in your field of vision, go IMMEDIATELY to the emergency room---preferably one that has a retina specialist on call. The little black dots are red blood cells and it means there's some bleeding involved with the detachment, which IS an urgent situation.

So try not the worry, but remember The Little Black Dots warning. And even then, try not to worry.

Calli

[irish]

i had the vitreous detachment several years ago and had forgotten about it until I read your post. My DIL (the optometrist) diagnosed me and checked me over.

I have the floaters also and have had them since then. I don't have them all the time but when I do get them they always given me a start as I think that I am seeing a mouse run across the floor.

This happens quite often and I always look and then look again cause I know it is my floaters, but one of these times I "just know" that I will for sure have a mouse in the house---and that ain't good.

Hope you can get some relief cause I know that my eyes really bothered me on the computer at first. Got better though. It is worse when I am tired. Good luck. Irish

[Patze]

Hi Bucky,

I get some floaters but nothing like you're experiencing. 

I'm glad to hear that you'll be seeing a specialist on Tuesday! 

Good luck and please keep us updated, okay?

Take care of yourself -

Patze

[LizPetillo]

some times I KNOW it's hard not to worry . . the old, "easier said, than done".

I hear ya' on that.
I've got Sjogrens and Glaucoma.
I can't take the glaucoma meds .. have cardiac reactions to them.
You said you have floaters but no lights or headaches.
That's a GOOD sign.  Really. 
The light flashes are the biggie .. no flashes = good.
I'm lucky to have a great eye doctor.  Dr. Lin ...
Wish everyone had one like her. 

[LizPetillo]

"A Rain of Little Black Dots" in

My entire life I've had what's refered to as 'seeing air'.
I see everything like billions of pixels ... Air pixels everywhere ....
I thought this was normal for everyone ...
I remember being a kid and telling my parents that I could see air.
They said no one see's air.  I said .. "but I do".
There is a medical term for it .. can't remember what it is ..
The sjogrens has made the pixels bigger, especially in dim light.
Either that or it's my glaucoma doing it ... but the pixels got bigger with the sjogrens.

People call it 'seeing air'.   If you ever hear anyone say something like that,
it's a medical thing that the eye doctor needs to know about.  There isn't
anything they can do for it, but it's something that the doctors need to know about.

[kimbo]

Hey Bucky!

Hope to hear how your Dr visit went. Tomorrow .... Oh.

Checking back tomorrow.

Kimbo

[sunkissed64]

Yet another symptom to attribute to Sjogrens. YIKES. I have had floaters for a long time. They start out of no where, no pain just a pain in my butt because it makes it hard to concentrate let alone focus "through" them at whatever I'm looking at. How to describe them..hmm.. they look like electrified squiggles or zigzags, almost sparkly like if they were vibrating from having electricity running through them as crazy as that sounds, wiggle worm or germ shaped. Funny.. do any of you guys see auras around lights especially at night? I love road trips but have told everyone I'll drive all day but not at night. Bright headlights make it hard for me to see properly.

[Meld256]

Bucky,

Sending lots of positive thoughts your way!    I know it's concerning when we have something new with our eyes, but hopefully the specialist will find what's going on and it's nothing serious at all.

Please update us as soon as you can. 
Sending hugs and a prayer,
Melinda

[Scottietottie]

Looking forward to hearing how the appointent went. Fingers crossed for you. x x x

[Bucky]

Hi everyone - thanks for your good thoughts for me today concerning my eye appointment.

Well, as I thought, (and some of you suggested too) - I have Vitreous Detachment.

Usually, vitreous detachments aren't a problem---they occur as you get older--not a disease, just shrinkage of the vitreous (liquid/gel filled interior of eye). Maybe Sjoggies get it sooner---I don't know.  Calli

Yep, one of the exciting things you get as you get older.   

There is nothing they do for it, the doctor said they will lessen with time.  However, if I notice a drastic increase in them, I am to call their office ASAP.

I hate when they dilate my eyes.  I'm not sure if they dilate them more for this particular exam or not (versus the "normal" dilation they do), but they put two drops in each eye.  Those bright lights they shine in your eye really hurt my eyes.  Ugh!

When I went into the dr. office, it was cloudy out - yay.  When I came out, the sun was shining brightly . . . UGH!!   

I have my six-month eye appointment with my optho two weeks from today.  Yippee, Zippy - they will dilate my eyes AGAIN for her exam.   

Thanks again everyone for you well wishes. 

Bucky   

[Skylar]

Thank goodness you were seen quickly and diagnosed. I hope it heals quickly.

[Patze]

Whew Bucky, I'm glad that it wasn't more serious than it is, and I'll keep the old fingers crossed that it doesn't worsen.

Yeah, I hate the numbing drops, they are the worst! 

And good luck with the opthamologist in a couple of weeks!


Patze

[soycoffee]

Bucky,
  Thanks for letting us all know what the doctor said about your eye problem. Is it basically "Live with it"? Yet it's good to have the problem clarified.

  So far, I've seen four eye doctors without getting those drops! Very different problems, but there's a fifth doctor yet to see on Thursday, and I don't know what he will do to examine my eyes, just *that he will.

   Such a pain that you will have to get those drops again in two weeks.

Best,
Soycoffee