Eyes - floaters, focus and blood pressure

Eyes - floaters, focus and blood pressure

Author
Discussion

aero93

Original Poster:

477 posts

235 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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For the last couple of months I have had trouble focusing and lots of floaters in front of my eyes. I had a Boots eye checkup and they said they were fine but recommended something for dry eyes. It appears to be getting worse and making working on a computer screen difficult. It was also mentioned last week that my blood pressure was raised..

Any ideas if my blood pressure is causing this or what else it could be? Although I have had the Boots checkup I am tempted to find a London specialist for peace of mind if anyone can recommend one?

rolando

2,116 posts

154 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Having been through this, I would suggest you talk to your GP and get referred to an eye specialist. At least you'll have the comfort of knowing if there's anything wrong and that something can be done if needed. PM if you want to know more.

NoVetec

9,967 posts

172 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Do you wear glasses/contacts?

I started getting eye floaters a few years ago, mentioned it at an eye test and was told my eyes were fine in themselves and that it was a common thing to happen in short-sighted people.

No idea on links to blood pressure sorry.

craig1912

3,273 posts

111 months

Thursday 23rd July 2015
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Started getting floaters. GP referred me to a specialist and he said it was just an age thing. Doubt it is related to high blood pressure.

Edited by craig1912 on Friday 24th July 10:56

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Friday 24th July 2015
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I get them occasionally, doesnt seem BP related, my BP used to be pretty high and I assumed it was related, it has come right down (119/65 this morning) and they still occur, usually in bright sunlight.

NoVetec

9,967 posts

172 months

Friday 24th July 2015
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Yeah bright sunlight, very white walls etc when not wearing specs shows the floaters more.

I was also told as long as they move when I move my eyes and they don't increase in numbers it'll be fine.

Something to do with a type of gel breaking up around our eyes IIRC.

grumbledoak

31,499 posts

232 months

Friday 24th July 2015
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I was once told by a nurse that floaters were alcohol related. I've never seen it written or been told it by a doctor, so I have kind of mentally categorised this 'fact' as part of the more general political anti alcohol drive - i.e. bad sounding stuff that isn't necessarily true but if it works, who cares?

That said, I do now find mine difficult to see unless the conditions are right. I did stop drinking a while back, but I have made far too many other changes to isolate any single cause.

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
grumbledoak said:
I was once told by a nurse that floaters were alcohol related. I've never seen it written or been told it by a doctor, so I have kind of mentally categorised this 'fact' as part of the more general political anti alcohol drive - i.e. bad sounding stuff that isn't necessarily true but if it works, who cares?

That said, I do now find mine difficult to see unless the conditions are right. I did stop drinking a while back, but I have made far too many other changes to isolate any single cause.
Through dehydration it makes them easier to see, I havent had any alcohol for 5 weeks and they havent changed, very minor though one does look a bit like molecules under a microscope, its been there years, can see it against white tiles when sat on the bog biggrin doesnt bother me, its like an old friend now.

968

11,945 posts

247 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
aero93 said:
For the last couple of months I have had trouble focusing and lots of floaters in front of my eyes. I had a Boots eye checkup and they said they were fine but recommended something for dry eyes. It appears to be getting worse and making working on a computer screen difficult. It was also mentioned last week that my blood pressure was raised..

Any ideas if my blood pressure is causing this or what else it could be? Although I have had the Boots checkup I am tempted to find a London specialist for peace of mind if anyone can recommend one?
Floaters have nothing to do with blood pressure, alcohol or dehydration. They are a consequence of ageing processes affecting the vitreous. There are some treatments available on the private sector in certain circumstances. I treat these with laser. PM for further info.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 26th July 2015
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Get your blood pressure checked NOW!
Your retina is lifting away from the back of your eye, a hospital eye test (not a high street one) will be able to see this, but it doesn't matter. The problem is not the eye, this is a symptom. If your BP is over 140/80 you have a problem, if you are over 40 years old then you need some medication to sort this out. If you are too "manly" to visit the GP then buy a BP test kit from Boots for £50, then visit the GP when you see your results. Heart failure is not big, not clever and not very funny. Unfortunately most "blokes" ignore the early signs and end up in a bad way quite quickly, caught early it's very easy to fix. Best wishes, stay well.

968

11,945 posts

247 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
YorkshireWhisky said:
Get your blood pressure checked NOW!
Your retina is lifting away from the back of your eye, a hospital eye test (not a high street one) will be able to see this, but it doesn't matter. The problem is not the eye, this is a symptom. If your BP is over 140/80 you have a problem, if you are over 40 years old then you need some medication to sort this out. If you are too "manly" to visit the GP then buy a BP test kit from Boots for £50, then visit the GP when you see your results. Heart failure is not big, not clever and not very funny. Unfortunately most "blokes" ignore the early signs and end up in a bad way quite quickly, caught early it's very easy to fix. Best wishes, stay well.
This is complete nonsense.

Floaters have nothing to do with BP. Retinal tears and detachments have nothing to do with BP. Indeed blood pressure causes very few symptoms in the eye at all, and has minimal contribution to the eye pressure.

If the OP has developed new onset floaters, yes, he should have a dilated examination of his retina but this could be done by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. If these floaters have existed for more than 6 weeks, it's highly unlikely there is a detachment.

However the assertion that floaters are linked to blood pressure is utter nonsense.

tobinen

9,184 posts

144 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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I have high blood pressure and loads of floaters in one eye. The eye has always been like this and the high BP has made no difference.

968

11,945 posts

247 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
tobinen said:
I have high blood pressure and loads of floaters in one eye. The eye has always been like this and the high BP has made no difference.
Yep, there's no link between the two things.

PoleDriver

28,616 posts

193 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
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Please can the doctors and ophthalmologists on this thread raise their hands and be counted!

968

11,945 posts

247 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
PoleDriver said:
Please can the doctors and ophthalmologists on this thread raise their hands and be counted!
Yes, I am a Consultant Ophthalmologist

PoleDriver

28,616 posts

193 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
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968 said:
Yes, I am a Consultant Ophthalmologist
Hoorah!
(It just makes it easier to know who is qualified to answer questions put forward!) smile

larsson7

305 posts

141 months

Saturday 1st August 2015
quotequote all
YorkshireWhisky said:
Get your blood pressure checked NOW!
Your retina is lifting away from the back of your eye, a hospital eye test (not a high street one) will be able to see this, but it doesn't matter. The problem is not the eye, this is a symptom. If your BP is over 140/80 you have a problem, if you are over 40 years old then you need some medication to sort this out. If you are too "manly" to visit the GP then buy a BP test kit from Boots for £50, then visit the GP when you see your results. Heart failure is not big, not clever and not very funny. Unfortunately most "blokes" ignore the early signs and end up in a bad way quite quickly, caught early it's very easy to fix. Best wishes, stay well.
Total nonsense you have posted, if you don`t know what you are talking about, it`s best not to post anything.

aero93

Original Poster:

477 posts

235 months

Monday 24th August 2015
quotequote all
968 said:
aero93 said:
For the last couple of months I have had trouble focusing and lots of floaters in front of my eyes. I had a Boots eye checkup and they said they were fine but recommended something for dry eyes. It appears to be getting worse and making working on a computer screen difficult. It was also mentioned last week that my blood pressure was raised..

Any ideas if my blood pressure is causing this or what else it could be? Although I have had the Boots checkup I am tempted to find a London specialist for peace of mind if anyone can recommend one?
Floaters have nothing to do with blood pressure, alcohol or dehydration. They are a consequence of ageing processes affecting the vitreous. There are some treatments available on the private sector in certain circumstances. I treat these with laser. PM for further info.
Hi 968,

I did try to PM you a couple of weeks ago but not sure if it is working on not. I still have the issue and eyes watering a fair bit and only improvement is if I wear sunglasses. Can you try and PM me some details please.. I am interested in having this investigated further and seeing what the options are.

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Monday 24th August 2015
quotequote all
aero93 said:
968 said:
aero93 said:
For the last couple of months I have had trouble focusing and lots of floaters in front of my eyes. I had a Boots eye checkup and they said they were fine but recommended something for dry eyes. It appears to be getting worse and making working on a computer screen difficult. It was also mentioned last week that my blood pressure was raised..

Any ideas if my blood pressure is causing this or what else it could be? Although I have had the Boots checkup I am tempted to find a London specialist for peace of mind if anyone can recommend one?
Floaters have nothing to do with blood pressure, alcohol or dehydration. They are a consequence of ageing processes affecting the vitreous. There are some treatments available on the private sector in certain circumstances. I treat these with laser. PM for further info.
Hi 968,

I did try to PM you a couple of weeks ago but not sure if it is working on not. I still have the issue and eyes watering a fair bit and only improvement is if I wear sunglasses. Can you try and PM me some details please.. I am interested in having this investigated further and seeing what the options are.
I think what you have is a rare thing called "Sunny Weather", I find I squint and my eyes water if by some miracle the sun comes out.