My Eye went Screwy

Magicman · June 19, 2014, 10:11:31 PM

Screwy in that about mid-morning I suddenly had many floaters and some flashing in my left eye. I figured that it was the heat, but I was in the shade under the umbrella and was well hydrated. I looked down at my arm and it was covered with black spots. I tried to brush them off, except there were no spots there. They were in my eye.

I thought that I was having a stroke or something and then thought of the eye situation that Jeff had. I called the Eye Dr. and they would work me in.

No torn or detached retina, but a Vitreous Separation, which is caused mostly by Birthdays. There is nothing to do or that can be done at this point. Scary stuff. Just keep on keeping on and go back in one month...$$$$

I lost a half day of sawing. :-\

Banjo picker · June 19, 2014, 10:17:57 PM

Sorry to here that Lynn, keep us posted....Tim

WmFritz · June 19, 2014, 10:31:55 PM

Sorry to hear this and hope it clears up.
Do you shoot right-handed?

SawyerBrown · June 19, 2014, 10:35:32 PM

Scary stuff indeed ... So are you still seeing spots or was it just temporary?

red · June 20, 2014, 05:42:37 AM

Take it Easy . . . maybe only work 10 hours today

Chuck White · June 20, 2014, 06:44:05 AM

Stress can cause eye problems (among others) too!

Maybe take a "relaxing" day off once in a while!

Keep up with the Dr visits Lynn! ;)

thecfarm · June 20, 2014, 06:47:26 AM

That is too bad. Wife has a floater. Nothing like what you have. With hers it comes and goes. And as with yours,nothing can be done for it.

petefrom bearswamp · June 20, 2014, 06:49:51 AM

Aint getting old fun?
Have had floaters for several years now.
My doc says gravity will take care of them in due time, but due time I aint got any more.
Hang in there Lynn

Magicman · June 20, 2014, 07:24:03 AM

I shoot right hand, but because of an old right eye injury, my left eye is my best eye.

It was flashing "lights" last night, and is wacko this morning with floaters.

Jeff · June 20, 2014, 07:28:16 AM

I know exactly what you are going through Lynn. Mine ended up with a torn retina and eye surgery early this spring. I'm learning to live with the black spots, but it makes it tough telling which are the real black flies and skeeters while in the U.P. Hang in there.

Texas Ranger · June 20, 2014, 08:58:34 AM

I can help you, Jeff, the black flies and skeeters are the ones that bite. 8)

hardtailjohn · June 20, 2014, 10:23:46 AM

Hang in there MM.... that doesn't sound like one bit of fun to me!

Ken · June 20, 2014, 09:06:25 PM

Take care of your eyes. We don't get a second chance with them. Hope you are able to recover fully.

Shotgun · June 20, 2014, 09:45:59 PM

Sorry to learn about your eye problem, Lynn. Sure hope that there's improvement on the horizon. Eyes are pretty tender parts of our anatomy. Easy to injure and they come with potential built in problems as well. And you can see that the problems are not tnat unusual. Perhaps you'll remember that I lost the direct vision in my left eye (August 2013). Jeff suffered a serious problem and now you. Mine was a mini stroke in my optic nerve. Nothing has changed, as in no improvement for me.

Folks should enjoy having vision and depth perception, among other things. It's difficult living without them, but I still feel fortunate, as I have friends who are dealing with much worse issues than I am experiencing.

Wishing the best for you.

Norm

Warbird · June 20, 2014, 11:39:55 PM

That sucks. Sorry. :(

Magicman · June 21, 2014, 07:25:11 AM

The flash on the left side is still there as well as the "new" floaters. I can manage OK with this and hopefully it does not get worse. If there are no changes, I go back to the ophthalmologist in a month. If it changes, then sooner.

blackfoot griz · June 21, 2014, 09:45:19 AM

Lynn,
Sorry to hear this. Of all the issues associated with getting longer in the tooth, the decline of my eyesight is by far the most bothersome to me. After reading this, I will no longer complain! I wish you the best.

petefrom bearswamp · June 21, 2014, 10:36:20 AM

I was told by doc that if flashes occurred it could be detached retina very serious and was told to get to him or OR ASAP

Magicman · June 21, 2014, 01:18:58 PM

Yup, same thing here. He said that if anything changed, to come in. He said that my flashed were caused when the Vitreous tore loose. There is no doubt whatsoever that an event took place in my left eye Thursday AM.

I hope that it will stabilize and I will not have to go through what Jeff had to endure. But if so, then I will. My FIL lost the sight in his only eye from a detached retina making him totally blind, so I know full well how serious it is.

LeeB · June 21, 2014, 02:47:45 PM

So sorry to hear about your eye problems. My thoughts are with you and hope you have a good outcome.

SwampDonkey · June 21, 2014, 07:15:06 PM

Take care. Hopefully things will stabilize.

I have to see the eye specialist to in August. Eye pressure is a little high for some reason. :

ND rancher · June 21, 2014, 11:47:27 PM

That sounds serious Lynn! I pray that it gets better.I think you need some down time.

Barney II · June 22, 2014, 11:27:12 AM

Lynn, good luck with eye problem and hope you have a complete recovery.----Don

goose63 · June 22, 2014, 01:51:11 PM

You only have two so take good care of them so you can keep on being da Magicman 8)

SPIKER · June 22, 2014, 05:47:03 PM

I was taking some sort of meds back 8 or 9 years ago that was to help my back pain by increasing the fluid volume/pressure inside the spinal column (reducing the pinched nerve pain.) :P It ALSO increased the level of fluid around brain and eyes, it resulted in a black spot in my left eye I still have but grew used to and a decrease in vision :-\ >:(. stupid_smiley It (meds) was also a/an anti depressant so made me not care all that much lol ;)

I was on a high dose for maybe 3 weeks prior so have you started any new or changed meds or diet in that time??

I have been having a LOT more problems reading or working on something at what would be NORMAL working distance, I need to grow LONGER arms or LONGER nose as sliding the specs down the nose helps some :

arg-smiley

Mark

pine · June 22, 2014, 06:47:49 PM

Lynn
Both my wife and I have had a PVD just like you in the last 6 months. The first 2 weeks are the biggest concern and as your doc told you any sudden changes are a concern that needs to be dealt with. I was told after the fact to not go to the ER as they have no clue (and I can attest to that first hand) but to contact the eye docs only. I had the flashing/lightening strikes in the periphery of the eye for 4-5 weeks as the last of the vitreous separates. The concern is that as the vitreous continues to separate after the initial event that it could pull/tear on the retina. That is why if you get any sudden increase/on-slot of floaters above what you currently have you must rapidly get back to the doc. After the roughly month post event checkup you should have stabilized but some folks have the lightening strikes for the rest of their life.

The good news is you will only have two of them (PVD's) that is. ;D

For anyone that has not had a PVD (Posterior vitreous detachment), as you age the likelihood goes up. It is important to see your eye care professional immediately to evaluate the situation and the retina and then have the month post eval follow-up as well.

Magicman · June 22, 2014, 09:08:31 PM

Pat went through this a few months ago. It was especially frightening for her since her Dad had lost his eyesight due to a detached retina. I will also admit that it is unnerving at best.

Magicman · June 23, 2014, 08:34:57 PM

I made it fine sawing today with no problem seeing the scale or the SetWorks display. The new floaters are bothersome, but I tried not to pay any attention to them. No flashes.

WmFritz · June 23, 2014, 09:19:18 PM

Good to hear that!

coxy · June 23, 2014, 10:10:26 PM

hope every thing gets better real soon for ya mm

ET · June 23, 2014, 10:19:52 PM

MM, sorry to about your eye worries and glad it was not a detached retina. My wife had one a few years back followed by emergency laser surgery with an extensive recovery time. She was told that she had 24 hours to have the surgery or complications would be probable. Thank God for the professional's that know their stuff! She has taken an eye vitamin ever since, so far so good. I have a high Glocouma number that my eye professional keeps track of. Glad your doing better. Hope to see you at the pig roast! Ernie

Gadrock · June 24, 2014, 09:56:57 AM

Lynn, hopefully you will make a complete recovery. That is one of the reasons I stopped flying cropdusters (applicators). 140 mph @ 5 feet elevation...and those danged powerlines!

Carry on

Magicman · July 21, 2014, 10:02:38 AM

I have an appointment with the eye Dr. this AM. Hopefully there is no bad change, but I know for sure that I have lost some vision in my left eye. It is now sorta foggy/hazy. What was my best eye has become no so.

Jeff · July 21, 2014, 12:42:58 PM

My last appointment they said my vision was 20-20, however, I guess that means that it is 20-20 where I have vision. I still have the black spot missing areas and a gray "smudged" area that I've slowly been learning to look around and ignore since my torn retina. I've been having flashes again lately, in both eyes, so changes are still taking place, I just hope that I don't lose anymore of my vision.

Magicman · July 21, 2014, 01:39:45 PM

Good news, I think. 20-30 in that left eye and he did not see any bad things. He also said that the cloudiness could/should improve. He did bump my reading glasses up a notch to 1.50 to prevent eye strain. I can not see a restaurant menu, etc. very well anymore, so maybe reading glasses will become a way of life for me.

Jeff · June 30, 2018, 10:07:27 AM

Here we go again. On my way to emergency. Looks like I'm looking through mosquito netting. This time my good eye.

Jim_Rogers · June 30, 2018, 10:35:11 AM

That sucks.

LeeB · June 30, 2018, 10:55:43 AM

Bummer. Hope it's not serious. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Magicman · June 30, 2018, 12:27:08 PM

Oh My, that's scary. A tough as we are we are still fragile. We will be anxious to hear what the prognosis is.

Jeff · June 30, 2018, 03:13:16 PM

I've been sent home with orders to do nothing and report to a ophtamologist first thing Monday, but call if it gets worse. It's pretty bad. I can see, but it's tough. Picture looking up at a clear night sky with every star in sight, now picture the inverse. White sky, black stars. That's what I'm looking through. Entire field of vision.

SwampDonkey · June 30, 2018, 03:14:38 PM

Hoping for the best. There is a history of loosing eye sight on mom's side. Not just partial, but total loss. But that is family members in their late 80's.

Novascotiamill · June 30, 2018, 03:34:48 PM

Just to add my 2 cents. Ive been dealing with wet macular edema and diabetic retinopathy for several years now. Diabetis heart disease and stressv are the most likely culprits. I have similar conditions in both eyes but it seems they take turns going bad. Ive had numerous laser treatments and an operation that removed the vitreaus gel in the eye and replaced with clear fluid. Over the past year I started recieving injections in each eye. The injections prohibit the growth of blood vessells that leak blood into the eye causing my floaters. My vision has responded well and im now able to drive and see pretty good again.
Its a scary thing knowing that you can wake up in the morning and not have vision in one eye or both!
I really try and watch my diet and stress levels. Also i accept all the treatments available from the opto dr. My sister also suffers from this and is legally blind but too stubborn to work with the experts. Shes doin it her way with a white cane.

So to all those who suffer from this try and keep your spirits up and have a plan for the future.
Good luck!

Magicman · June 30, 2018, 04:35:41 PM

That's a long wait but much longer for you. Since you have a history of a torn retina in the other eye, maybe could be but what do I know? The only personal experience I have with eyes is seeing with mine. I would laze around until Monday to prevent possibly dislodging anything.

To me, it's still scary.

WV Sawmiller · June 30, 2018, 04:38:02 PM

Good luck and I am hoping for the best for you.

This time of year is hard on my old peepers. The sweat and pollen and sawdust from weedeating, sawing and dragging logs get in them and I get eye infections every summer. Started about 2011 or so when I was working in Afghanistan and we were building a remote camp for the military about half a mile or so from the Pakistan border. I don't even remember the name of the camp. We just choppered a team in to set up tents and such and we were working in moon dust (like talcum powder) about 6" deep. The dust and severe sunburn to my eyes and face gave me are real bad eye infection that comes back every time I get into similar circumstances.

Roxie · June 30, 2018, 05:12:33 PM

I worry about you. Please take care of yourself.

ellmoe · June 30, 2018, 10:19:05 PM

Jeff, hope it's all good news on Monday.

Jeff · July 01, 2018, 07:19:17 AM

Why I thought I would wake up and think I would be miraculously better, I don't have a clue. I'll be glad when Monday Morning gets here. Just looking at the computer screen is a struggle.

PA_Walnut · July 01, 2018, 07:47:48 AM

Quote from: Magicman on June 19, 2014, 10:11:31 PMhere is nothing to do or that can be done at this point. Scary stuff. Just keep on keeping on and go back in one month...$$$$

Hope you get better soon! Eyes are a gift, for sure. Everyone, we sure to use/upgrade your eye protection. 2nd chances aren't always available. :(

On a related note: I used to spend a lot of time at the track (Watkins Glen mostly). A track-buddy, had an incident and hit so hard (going backwards) that it dislocated the retinas in his eyeballs!! No fun!

Magicman · July 01, 2018, 08:05:14 AM

Hopefully it will be a Vitreous separation but it most probably is a torn or partially detached Retina. It sounds simple when it is someone else, but not so when it is you. Thankfully my Vitreous separation a couple of years ago healed and I have not experienced any additional wows. Most of the the floaters have even gradually disappeared.

Thankfully there are eye repair procedures available now that were unheard of only a few years ago. My prayer is for your full eye recovery Jeff.

Ed_K · July 01, 2018, 08:22:03 AM

That is awful Jeff, I know it's impossible to do but try not to look at the puter screen to long. Last thur. I got a serrated looking horse shoe line on the left side of my vision with bright lights sometimes in color. Got scared and Rita took me to her vision specialist. They think it was some kind of headache,so I'm going to my regular dr. on the 5th. I never realized how scary it is till it happened to me. Rita's been going to a specialist for double vision in both eyes.

Jeff · July 01, 2018, 08:59:58 AM

Ed, what you described is an ocular migraine. I use to get them all the time while sawing, and still get them on occasion.

doctorb · July 01, 2018, 09:05:14 AM

Sounds like a partially detached retina, a "floater", which is a piece of small particulate debris in the vitrious of the eye that got into the wrong spot, or even a cataract. A cataract, however, would not develop as a sudden loss of vision. Best of luck tomorrow. Where's the closest ophthalmologist to you?

Jeff · July 01, 2018, 09:13:48 AM

Clare. 10 miles.

tawilson · July 01, 2018, 12:05:03 PM

Might be too many sharp turns on the new zero turn.

Jeff · July 01, 2018, 12:44:31 PM

I dont make sharp turns.

doctorb · July 01, 2018, 07:25:23 PM

You could have lunch at the hotel!

Jeff · July 01, 2018, 07:42:57 PM

I'd have lunch across the street at the white house first!

Jeff · July 02, 2018, 10:34:02 AM

SwampDonkey · July 02, 2018, 10:35:49 AM

Standard equipment. ;)

Jeff · July 02, 2018, 12:16:46 PM

Best news possible. I had some fibers tear away from the optic nerve, but it did not result in a tear of the retina. Odds now of the retina tearing are quite low because it didn't tear initially. In time my vision should clear up and the flashing subside. What I thought was much worse for this eye than the other because of the symptoms, turned out to be not near as bad.

LeeB · July 02, 2018, 12:19:32 PM

Good news indeed. Guess we'll be seeing each other next month after all. Yeah, I know. Poor humor.

Hilltop366 · July 02, 2018, 12:21:13 PM

SwampDonkey · July 02, 2018, 12:44:48 PM

Sounds good, if not already bad enough. Take care.

Magicman · July 02, 2018, 01:46:49 PM

Good news, that sounds like a Vitreous separation which is what I had. Yes, I agree with LeeB, it will be good for us to be able to see each other. ;)