"Floaters" in the eyes

[JEZ]

Hi!

About 6 months before I was diagnosed, I was feeling bad but did not know what was wrong. At the same time I experienced a "flash" of light in an eye and a floater developed (gauzy floating appearance in the site). Since then, I have developed more and the optomotrists I have been to say it is due to age (50s). I wonder, however, if it is related to my aplastic anemia. Has anyone had this problem?

JEZ

[rschem]

I have had floaters about 2 years ago , after about 3 months they went away.I have AA since Aug. I have been getting floaters perodicaly and I have been wondering if threy are caused or related to AA or the cyclosporne.

[Birgitta-A]

Hi JEZ,
You may have had posterior vitreous detachment that is quite common and has nothing to do with hematological diseases but if your platelet count is low you will bleed more when the vitreous is detached.
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/p/post...t/symptoms.htm
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

[Hopeful]

Hi JEZ,

I sometimes get the bright flashes of light in my eye. It seems to be related to my cyclosporine dosage.

[dfantle]

This is an old thread, however I started having floaters in February in one of my eyes which are different than the occasional ones I've had probably all my life I've seen my eye Dr and a retinal specialist and both say my eye is fine, but
if I start seeing flashes that could be signs of a potential retinal detachment.
My hematologist doesn't seem to know of any tie in to AA or any of the meds I'm on. Though I do know prednisone can cause some eye issues, this isn't one of the known ones.

To me it's been worse since my ATG treatment 3 weeks ago. I see a lot of tiny tiny round specs, to me they could look like cells. The eye drs said this is normal with aging and these just gather in a gel layer on the eye, but the timing to me is suspicious.

Would love some feedback from others on this.

[cathybee1]

Don't know how old you are, or what others on ATG might report, but my husband had very similar symptoms a few years ago. The eye doctor told him it was probably the vitreous humor detaching. In fact, after a few weeks the symptoms subsided -- something about the brain learning to shut out the "floaters."

But they were very clear that if the situation didn't improve, it was important to have it rechecked.

Found this article which describes the process and symptoms pretty well: http://www.tedmontgomery.com/the_eye/vitreous.html

[dfantle]

Thank you Cathy . I'm 53. The link you included was very helpful.

Fortunately I've not had any flashes, just more floaters than before. I think I will give it another week or so now that I'm almost off the prednisone I've been on the past 3 weeks. Then if there's no change, I'll go back and see the retinal specialist, or maybe find a different one.

Best,

[glitterandlace]

It's funny that if you look up on the internet the side effects of cylcosporin they give you a different list than the paper they give you at the doctors. If you google the side effects of cyclosporin one of the side effects of prolonged use of cyclosporin is glaucoma. The doctors never tell you that,,, as if it is not important. ??? Who knows their reasons.
My eyes were acting up big time while I was on cyclosporin.
But it is interesting about the floaters. They might just be a side effect of AA, because I seen the floaters for a while before I was diagnosed. I feel like I had AA from 1-2 years before it was diagnosed. I seen floaters a lot during that time too.

[Ellen McDonough]

I have noticed floaters as well ever since weaning down on my dose of Cyclosporin.I am 52 years old but hadn't noticed them before. I have hadSAA since 4/2009. Maybe aplastic anemia but also have had temporal area headaches and ringing in the ears since then too. Have had PET/CT scan and lots of blood work .No diagnosis as of yet.Was on Pred for a short time [6 weeks] but have been off of that for 8 weeks now.Kind of frustrating ! Aso have a new diagnosis of gastroparesis which has no apparent cause they have found yet either.Interestingly had flashes and double vision with the initial onset of the headache in March.Prednisone cleared that up totally .

[donna j.]

Hi,
After a serious rubbing of my eyes in November of 2010, before any signs of my MDS, I experienced the floaters and bright flashes in my eyes. I quickly made an appt with an eye dr as I was concerned about a detached retina. She informed me that as we age, the fluid behind the eyes begins to dry up and sometimes crack. The floaters never go away, only our brain overcompensates and we will not be bothered by them. She explained that a dr examining my eyes will see that they are still there, even if we no longer see them.
Shortly after my transplant my vision was very poor to the point I could not read. Since then, I have regained my vision and can read. I am due for a new prescription as it changed greatly after my Vidaza treatments in Sept - through Dec of 2011. My eyes were checked in Jan 2012 prior to my transplant. We decided to wait on a new prescription as my vision would probably change again after the transplant. I am scheduled for a new appt shortly.
Currently, I occasionally have a large floater, just float by, but I have noticed that when red blood counts are so low that I am due for a red blood transfusion (below 8 HMB), I get black stars flashing in my vision.

I too am experiencing gastroparesis. My dr. has long believed it may be slight GVHD. After reviewing on line my symptoms, I informed the dr.I have diagnosed it as gastroparesis. Bloating, no appetite, nothing moves quickly through my esophogus, or stomach, and frequently leaves my body in the same identifiable color, shape and form as it was eaten. No digestion has taken place. I am managing by being able, once again, to drink Ensure and try to puree all I eat. Bananas, canned pears. I have recently discovered that a boiling can of chicken broth with an equal amt of water added is a good base for me to add a couple of mixed raw eggs slowly to make a simple egg drop soup is helping to get some protein in my system. I have also read that Prednisone can cause digestive problems. I am down to 2.5 mg of Predinose every other day, and once off that, I will continue to
reduce Cyclosporine of which I currently take 130mg 2x a day. I plan to bring to the dr. a probiotic which I took daily before my diagnosis and see if she approves of it now in assisting digestion. Previously I took it for regularity.
All of the meds, chemo, and the transplant have got to have a serious effect on the good bacteria in the body which assists digestion!

Good luck

Donna