OT: Eye floaters and flashes of light

idamtnboy wrote:He explained the flashes occur when the vitreous gel in the eyeball pulls loose from the retina. This pulling process can, but usually does not, cause the retina to become detached. The real danger is if the flashes continue

That's pretty much what I was told. The tugging on the retina stimulates a nerve in the retina which then the brain perceives as a flash of light. The tugging and flash of light doesn't always mean that the retina has been torn though. At least that is what he told me. Obviously it could tear away and create more significant problems. So the flashes of light (yes I had a couple last night and this morning) don't always equal the floater actually tearing away from the retina. Mine are still attached but just occasionally tugging.

I got the usual cautions. "If they get worse, change markedly or vision changes (most often it is the peripheral vision) then of course call him." He told me that I may see the floaters and the flashes of light for months to years. He said could be 2 months, 2 years or 20 years. I figure by then I likely will have new ones anyway. Just part of getting older.
Mine are very, very minor flashes of light. Little tiny brief dots of white light sort of like looking at a tiny star during the night. Tiny little very brief blips. Maybe 2 or 3 with occasional eye movement. Certainly not all the time.
I can't really see the green dots anymore though. Sometimes I think maybe I have. I figure if I have to think "maybe" I see them then they are minimal.

avi123 wrote:archangel, you're full of nonsense.

My signature line is already at the maximum limit, or I would add that statement to my sig line.

One of my proudest moments on this board is being told by avi that I'm full of nonsense.

Do the flashes look like a pattern made up of triangular shiny 70s sifi props? (or that rainbow roundy things on some late 70s trans ams? but made of triangle shapes?)
That is something different and optical migraine will lead you to info.

-tim wrote:Do the flashes look like a pattern made up of triangular shiny 70s sifi props? (or that rainbow roundy things on some late 70s trans ams? but made of triangle shapes?)
That is something different and optical migraine will lead you to info.

No pattern and so very brief and tiny that I can't really see them well enough to develop much of a description.
Best I can say is that sometimes with some eye movement I see a couple of tiny, tiny pinpoint size flashes of white light and they come and go in a nano second out in the outer peripheral vision area. Have not seen any yet today. Had it happen maybe twice last night. They are not seen all the time.

Migraine light. I have had that happen on occasion followed by a killer headache. That type of light was totally different from what I am seeing now. Totally different and of course I haven't had any killer headaches with these light flashes.

I had optical migraines that manifested themselves as a triangular area that was transparent and sparkly/shimmery.
I described it to my ophthalmologist, who checked me for glaucoma--which has been well-controlled.

Pugsy wrote:Thanks to everyone who voiced their concern. I know I had some people shaking their heads because I was so stubborn but I have to be me. I don't know any other way to go through life.

I've been following this thread and am just glad you went and got it checked, even if you were a bit stubborn about it!!

Many of us learned a thing or two from the thread, though, I think.

For example, now I know why Trans Ams and SciFi movies always give me a headache.

jnk wrote:Many of us learned a thing or two from the thread, though, I think.

Yeah you all learned I am extremely stubborn....but most of you knew that already. Not a big surprise there.
I learned jnk is almost as much of a PITA as my husband is and that is saying something. I know it is because my husband cares and you all care so I try not to grumble too much about someone "hovering" over me. You all have no idea how difficult that is for me. Most of my adult life I haven't had anyone hover over me.

I am okay with the diagnosis and no treatment needed. The only thing I get or see now are the very, very brief and very, very tiny flashes of white light and even those are very, very rare now. I know the things to watch for in case I get into trouble and I am now established with a good eye doctor in case I run into trouble in the future.

Now if any of you know what I can do (short of getting my gun out) about the armadillo that destroyed my flower beds last summer...and yep...he returned last night....I would greatly appreciate any ideas. I can't kill anything. I just can't. I can't let something die when I can help...The crow I saved well it looks like he is going to be a permanent resident in my house hold.
Or a least long term. His tail feathers won't grow so he can't control his flight. So he now resides in a large double decker ferret condo. The armadillo...well we are in the midst of an awful drought and setting triple digit temp records every day. Only .34 inches of rain for all of July and June was dry also. The ground is baked hard like cement so I know he is having trouble rooting around in the dirt to find his meals. My flower beds are soft and moist. I know why he comes but I really don't want him. I worked too hard on my flowers to have him uproot them every night.
Wonder if I put some chicken wire over the flowers if that would deter him or is he smart like the raccoon that I feed and figure out some way around the wire.

Pugsy wrote:Now if any of you know what I can do (short of getting my gun out) about the armadillo that destroyed my flower beds last summer...and yep...he returned last night....

How about trapping (humanely, of course) and relocating him?

Madalot wrote: How about trapping (humanely, of course) and relocating him?

That is one of the things we talked about last year and may just try this year.

We are supposed to finally get some rain today...keeping fingers crossed. If we can get enough rain then the ground will be better for him. I really don't have that many bugs in my flower beds. Bottom is plastic covered to prevent weeds and the dirt is more potting soil than dirt. That is what makes it so easy for him to root around.

Last year I happened to be up around midnight and had the dogs outside and all of the sudden they starting raising all sorts of hell. Flower bed is right next to one of their fenced in corners so I went outside and there was the armadillo.. So I got the broom and whipped his butt to chase him away. Got up the next morning and I guess he had returned with revenge in mind. I ended up replanting every one of my plants. He just uproots them. Doesn't eat them. If I can get them replanted quickly before the heat kills the roots I am usually okay. It gets real tiresome replanting all the flowers every morning. This morning only had to replant one. But I know what is coming.

Maybe we can get enough rain that he won't need to come shopping in my flowers.

Pugsy wrote: . . . almost as much of a PITA as my husband . . .

Oh, I bet I'm worse--MUCH worse.

For the record, though, stubbornness, as a general rule (at least, outside the context of reluctance to engage in timely, appropriate reactions to sudden-onset symptoms of conditions that can lead to death or blindness, anyway), is a quality I greatly admire in any human being.

chunkyfrog wrote:I am so relieved your eyes are OK.
Floaters are sometimes amusing.
I have come close to chasing one with a fly swatter.

Me too! My "brine shrimp" swings to the side when I blink or turn my head, then moves back into its normal spot. I swing at it fairly often.

You need to trade that pesky armadillo for a nice hog, like "Arnold" from Green Acres. I understand that Texas has a few spare ones, but not as nice as Arnold. Earl

Maybe you could put a dish of armadillo chow somewhere to keep them out of the flowers.

Catnapper - Joanie

Catnapper wrote:Maybe you could put a dish of armadillo chow somewhere to keep them out of the flowers.

I would be happy to do that if I knew what he wanted and it was available.
It isn't readily available at the store like other critter food. From what I have read grubs and worms just like those damn pesky moles in my yard. Sometimes living out in the boonies has its disadvantages when it comes to the critters.
The possums and coons love dry cat food. The deer like corn. Birds eat the bird seed.

I just came in from a closer inspection of the flowers. There was more damage than I initially thought with plants being uprooted. So I got them all replanted and hosed down. Figured if I watered them then for sure we would get rain today.
I don't know if they make some sort of repellant but I guess I will go investigate what turns them off. I can't go through August this way (like I did last year). I have too much money and time invested in my flowers.

You know they are really rather interesting creatures. We used to never see them this far north. They have just sort of migrated northwards from the south. When I was a kid we never saw their dead bodies on the road and it has only been in the last 20 years or so that they are common here. They can move real fast if they want to but most of the time they just amble along. Can't see a thing or if this one did he didn't care. I sat down beside him one afternoon while he was taking a drink from the critter dish and got loads of pictures like the one below. I was within a foot of him/her and it never even looked my way. I stayed there taking photos and watching it for probably 15 minutes.
Unusual to see them out during the day like that. Mostly they are nocturnal. They always have 4 babies of the same sex. I haven't ever seen any babies though around here.