Eye Floaters?/Seeing Stars? UPDATE #18

[GuavaGirl]

I believe that's what they are. They only last for a few seconds and it's like floaty sparkly things in your vision. I've been noticing them lately. Why could that be? I've seen them before, few and far between through out my life, but lately it's been a few times a week, I think. What causes it?

[Bluegoat]

Yeah, I have been having these lately, especially after I bend over to get something. My guess was something like oxygen deprivation, but I really have no clue.

[tinybutterfly]

http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patient.../floaters.html

Here you go.

I had a "shower" of floaters awhile back. Going in tomorrow for a recheck. I had no tears, so it was just the back portion of the sac "detaching"...fairly commen in people my age who are very nearsighted.

If you lose even a small amount of your vision, then it's an emergency and you need to go see someone right away.

But it sounds like you are getting "normal" floaters/flashes.

If you are worried, go see your eye doctor.

[chel]

i was told that is a sign of high blood pressure and should be checked out

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by chel

i was told that is a sign of high blood pressure and should be checked out

I get them occasionally too, and mine are related to low blood pressure.

[Kidzaplenty]

First time I noticed them they were related to my high b/p. I can now tell when it is up because I will start to see them again.

[LittleLegos]

I've noticed them a couple times when coughing in the shower. I did a Google search and it seems for those instances, it may be normal.

[marcib28]

I get these too!! (I think). Mine don't take up everything I see. It's almost like a tiny swarm of a few flies or some kind of bug in the air, but shiny. It's always in my peripheral vision though-never right in front of me. Even though I get them about once every week or two, I still do a double-take because it totally catches me off-guard.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

First time I noticed them they were related to my high b/p. I can now tell when it is up because I will start to see them again.

I'm still dealing with headaches and floaters that have persisted for over 8 months, as a result of severe preeclampsia. I had to have a CT scan and MRI at 31 weeks pregnant to rule out cerebral edema. I now have hypertensive retinopathy that my ophthalmologist *thinks* will resolve once my BP has been back to normal for a few months. Still waiting!

[GuavaGirl]

Well, dh made me call my CNM's office. (I didn't think it was that urgent) ...and the nurse asked if I had any headaches. I told her I had a short and sharp one today. They're having me come in tomorrow to check my bp. It's been good so far, this whole pregnancy. Well it's usually good in general....but that probably doesn't matter at all.

[expat-mama]

I've had these before. I don't know what they're from. Sometimes I seem to get them when I'm really tired. I also have really low blood pressure.

[GuavaGirl]

So I got my bp checked and it was 134/76

She said it was okay.


I know that the last 2 visits I've had, it's been 118/68. Any need to be concerned?

[Bokonon]

Anything over 140/90, or a rise of 30 systolic or 15 diastolic is reason for concern and closer attention...yours isn't that bad, but it's definitely an increase. Just keep an eye on it and if you have any sudden weird symptoms, let your care provider know. FWIW, my floaters and headache started when my BP went up rapidly, even though I wasn't to 140/90 yet (I think it was 130s/80s at that point, up from 110s/70s).

Long story short - don't stress it, but be aware of it.

[megviolet]

I have 2 different things.

Floaters on my eyes, especially the right eye, and they are there everyday, i mostly ignore them. It's the same few little pieces drifting around (i recognize them lol) they just appeared in teh last year along with definite noticable vision loss.... i never thought of connecting the 2 issues though. I also have really low bp.

The second thing is sparkly flashers of light, often in my peripheral, often when i get a head rush or bend over or cough/sneeze. I also get them if a migraine is headed my way.

[FiberLover]

Originally Posted by GuavaGirl

So I got my bp checked and it was 134/76

She said it was okay.


I know that the last 2 visits I've had, it's been 118/68. Any need to be concerned?

It is a rise, but not enough to put you into any medical alert categories. That, combined with the floaters, I'd definitely watch your symptoms. You're still not 30 weeks, so this is early.

I'd check your BP every day or so if you can (pharmacies often have stations you can check it at) for a week just to double check.

If it keeps creeping up or if you have more visual symptoms, call your mw again.

[Ashes]

Go see an optometrist about it. It COULD indicate something as severe as retinal detachment. Hopefully it's just normal bu you should get it checked by a medical professional for sure.

[rhiOrion]

Mine are normal for me. I have the floaters, which are there all the time (like a previous PP: I recognize some of mine... I should name them or something).

Then I have the showers of sparkles (seeing stars, I suppose) that appear sometimes, especially if i do something strenuous. My BP has always been fine. I've always attributed them as being yet another symptom of migraines, even if they don't happen near an actual migraine event.

[GuavaGirl]

Okay, according to everyone's descriptions I would describe mine as "seeing stars."

During the last visit with my CNM we talked about it more. My bp was about the same (around 134/76) which is a bit higher than my normal. This visual disturbance, my weight gain, and the bp issue brought up the idea of preeclampsia and she ordered a pre-e blood panel and an ultrasound. Everything came back normal. She said it was normal for bp to rise in late pregnancy, but that it should be leveling off soon.

Well, I'm still "seeing stars" maybe once a day or every other day. I don't know if it is something to be concerned about or what I should do. My next scheduled appt. isn't until Jan. 4th. If it's blood pressure related, I'm thinking there should be things I could do to help lower it? (ie. actually take naps when I'm tired, getting my protein, fish oil, exercise, more water????) Is there something you do to help your bp?

What do you think?


Thanks.

[BeeBliss]

maybe anemia

I started seeing the stars like little fireworks at the same time I was diagnosed with anemia. They have me on extra iron and I haven't seen the stars since.

I also have low blood pressure naturally. When I bend down and come back up, it is a little different than the fireworks stars, more like a darkening sky with stars.

[GuavaGirl]

Interesting. I am a bit anemic. They have me taking 1 slowFE in the morning and one at night, along with my prenatal (Rainbow light complete prenatal system, 6/day)