A short background: I'm a 33/male, and I woke up one morning last June with dark floaters in both eyes. It's still a mystery to me how it happened, although a few weeks earlier I had the worst sinus infection of my life. I went to the ophthalmologist the next day and again 6 weeks later, who basically told me there was nothing to be done (he was only checking for retinal tears or other major problems, which thankfully I did not have). I asked him if it could have been caused by my sinus infection and he said no, but he didn't have any explanation. I told him I could see these things constantly every day, all the time, to which he gave me a referral to a local retina specialist.
I did not see the retina specialist until last week, because frankly I was expecting to not be taken seriously and I was mostly right. Not only did I wait forever (I was probably the only one in the waiting room under 60), but the specialist took all of maybe 20 seconds to examine my eyes with a light and told me the same thing. I was hoping he would at least do a scan of my retinas to show me where the floaters were, but no such luck. He said the only option was a vitrectomy, but he made it seem like it was a certainty that I would develop cataracts in the near future (he said 6 months to 2 years) and said it wasn't worth it unless I was unable to function (like driving). He gave me a pamphlet on floaters and basically told me that this would be the last visit.
Contrast this experience to about 5 years ago, to when I had major double jaw surgery to correct my bite. Probably at least as risky if not more so. Yet before I went in, there were much more resources on the web, active discussion forums, and many more doctors who would be willing to spend the time to discuss the procedure, risks, and side-effects with me. I knew going in I could lose all feeling in my face, or something could go horribly wrong and I could bleed to death on the table. Yet the doctors never treated my condition lightly, as if the surgery wasn't worth the risks because it was not a life-threatening condition and there was a chance of significant side effects.
I'm still on the fence about seeing another retina specialist who is more sympathetic, but reading a lot of others' stories on these forums, it seems my experience is not uncommon. Floaters are not treated as a real impairment, and perhaps it will take another generation of doctors who will take this condition more seriously. Even though I visit this site somewhat regularly, I am a little sad that there is very little posting activity on this site compared to other 'pathology' sites. There are a LOT of people out there suffering from floaters, but perhaps their doctors have told them the same thing they told me and they've given up.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to those of you who are actively trying raise awareness about this condition. Having rarely thought about floaters until I got them bad, it's a worthy cause and hopefully prevailing attitudes will change one day.
I did not see the retina specialist until last week, because frankly I was expecting to not be taken seriously and I was mostly right. Not only did I wait forever (I was probably the only one in the waiting room under 60), but the specialist took all of maybe 20 seconds to examine my eyes with a light and told me the same thing. I was hoping he would at least do a scan of my retinas to show me where the floaters were, but no such luck. He said the only option was a vitrectomy, but he made it seem like it was a certainty that I would develop cataracts in the near future (he said 6 months to 2 years) and said it wasn't worth it unless I was unable to function (like driving). He gave me a pamphlet on floaters and basically told me that this would be the last visit.
Contrast this experience to about 5 years ago, to when I had major double jaw surgery to correct my bite. Probably at least as risky if not more so. Yet before I went in, there were much more resources on the web, active discussion forums, and many more doctors who would be willing to spend the time to discuss the procedure, risks, and side-effects with me. I knew going in I could lose all feeling in my face, or something could go horribly wrong and I could bleed to death on the table. Yet the doctors never treated my condition lightly, as if the surgery wasn't worth the risks because it was not a life-threatening condition and there was a chance of significant side effects.
I'm still on the fence about seeing another retina specialist who is more sympathetic, but reading a lot of others' stories on these forums, it seems my experience is not uncommon. Floaters are not treated as a real impairment, and perhaps it will take another generation of doctors who will take this condition more seriously. Even though I visit this site somewhat regularly, I am a little sad that there is very little posting activity on this site compared to other 'pathology' sites. There are a LOT of people out there suffering from floaters, but perhaps their doctors have told them the same thing they told me and they've given up.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to those of you who are actively trying raise awareness about this condition. Having rarely thought about floaters until I got them bad, it's a worthy cause and hopefully prevailing attitudes will change one day.

