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From: unixcorn@dcc1.UUCP (math.c)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: floaters
Message-ID: <193@dcc1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 21:07:04 EST
Article-I.D.: dcc1.193
Posted: Mon Feb 10 21:07:04 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 07:36:09 EST
References: <483@mordred.purdue.UUCP>
Reply-To: unixcorn@dcc1.UUCP (math.c)
Organization: DeKalb Community College, Clarkston GA
Lines: 58
Keywords: eyes, particles in eyes ("floaters")

In article <483@mordred.purdue.UUCP> avr@purdue.UUCP (Andrew V. Royappa) writes:
>
>	When  I look  at a  light  surface,  I see  small  round  things
>floating  by -  particles  of  some  kind  in the  eye  fluid  (aqueous,
>vitreous,  something  like that?).  Anyway, this is probably  normal for
>most  people.  The  problem  is, *I* see big  blobs of  floaters  (whole
>collections  of round  particles).  This is usually  not very  annoying,
>except  that I happen to be a student,  and all the  classes  I'm in are
>taught using  projectors with  transparencies,  so I'm often in the in a
>semi-darkened  room looking up at a big bright screen with some stuff on
>it,  and the blobs of floaters are immensely  magnified and distracting,
>since they  don't  stand  still, and are always  running  away from your
>direct line of vision.
>					Andrew V. Royappa


   If you have noticed a MARKED increase in the number or size of the
floaters (and especially if you are nearsighted) GOTO an opthamologist
NOW!  Do not let the receptionist give you an appt next month, get one 
today, tomorrow! I am not talking about the little floaters we all have,
but a large number of small floaters or a large one appearing suddenly
can be very bad news.

  Why my hysteria? I had the lovely experience of having my right 
retina detach in my first semester of grad school.  Once it has
detached it can only be repaired (if lucky, I was) by major, expensive,
long recovery time for the eye, surgery.  If you have a sudden increase
of floaters, it MAY be a signal that part of your retina has a tear in
it.  These can sit quietly without going further for years, or your
retina can peel away from the back of your eye and leave you blind in a
minute. A tear can be repaired using laser surgery on an outpatient
basis.  The detachment is a real pain.

  The laser surgery (if you are ever so unlucky as to need it) is
fast, near painless (get that damn light out of my eyes!) and has 
a pretty short recovery time. (Days, not weeks) I have had it on
both eyes now (evidently my eyes rip as badly as my stockings) and
have had no further problems.

  I am particularly paranoid on the subject because two people I know
asked me about NEW, BIG floaters that had appeared suddenly, I gave
them the advise to see someone right away, neither did.  Both had 
detachments within a week. (Sorry if this sounds like a chain letter,
but honestly, twice was too much).

  If you want, I can tell you how they repair the detachment...
I am glad I did not know how they did it til after it was done.

       DISCLAIMER:  I'm a simple hardworking Math/Cs instructor,
   not a Vet. This is the general rest in bed drink plenty of 
   fluids wear your sweater advise your mom would give you.

-- 

             unixcorn  (alias m. gould)

                   "there's a unicorn in the garden and he's eating a lily"
                    gatech!dcc1!unixcorn