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[divad]

Can diving exacerbate "floaters" and eye flashes?

 

[diversteve]

Diving Medicine

moved this thread there.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Can diving exacerbate "floaters" and eye flashes?

Divad, can you provide more details about onset and resolution, e.g. did this happen suddenly after a single dive, or have you noticed it gradually? Do the symptoms resolve with time?

Best regards,
DDM

 

[divad]

Divad, can you provide more details about onset and resolution, e.g. did this happen suddenly after a single dive, or have you noticed it gradually? Do the symptoms resolve with time?

Best regards,
DDM

Thanks for responding. Will re-respond tomorrow with a less convoluted draft than my first response.
Thanks,
Dave

 

[divad]

Divad, can you provide more details about onset and resolution, e.g. did this happen suddenly after a single dive, or have you noticed it gradually? Do the symptoms resolve with time?

Best regards,
DDM

Sunday: Only had 1700 psi nitrox 32 in double '85s so descended to about 60' to do drills in front of a mirror in 52 degree fresh water. After 45 minutes, timely ascent to 20', followed by 10 minute ascent to surface. At some point in sun-lit clear water I notice a swarm of black and beige spots in my entire field of vision. (Suunto showed no nitrogen loading)

Monday: same dots with the addition of a crescent shaped white flash @ outside periphery of left eye when blinking.

Tuesday: white flash gone and didn't notice dots. On way to dive site started noticing tons of dots in both eyes and a translucent blob crossing left eye. Finally decided to turn around in case I was having a stroke that could lead to me wiping out an innocent family and, tragically, leaving me alive to think about it.

Wednesday: Staring @ blank sheet of paper, no dots in right eye, tons of tiny black and grey dots in swarming around in left eye. Vision generally better, left eye still a little blurry.

Thank you very much for your time,
Dave

 

[uncfnp]

Sunday: Only had 1700 psi nitrox 32 in double '85s so descended to about 60' to do drills in front of a mirror in 52 degree fresh water. After 45 minutes, timely ascent to 20', followed by 10 minute ascent to surface. At some point in sun-lit clear water I notice a swarm of black and beige spots in my entire field of vision. (Suunto showed no nitrogen loading)

Monday: same dots with the addition of a crescent shaped white flash @ outside periphery of left eye when blinking.

Tuesday: white flash gone and didn't notice dots. On way to dive site started noticing tons of dots in both eyes and a translucent blob crossing left eye. Finally decided to turn around in case I was having a stroke that could lead to me wiping out an innocent family and, tragically, leaving me alive to think about it.

Wednesday: Staring @ blank sheet of paper, no dots in right eye, tons of tiny black and grey dots in swarming around in left eye.Vision generally better, left eye still a little blurry.

Thank you very much for your time,
Dave

Go get an ophthalmology exam now. I rarely say that but in this case I need too. Sounds more like a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) but you need to get it checked to make sure its not a retinal detachment or that a hole has developed. These require surgery. If confirmed PVD they will likely moniter it for complications but fortunately complications or not typical. And it will not effect diving.

Not related to diving but to age, near sightedness or trauma.

 

[divad]

Thanks for the advice. I read just enough about PVD to think I might skate on this. At least it calmed me down re stroke.
I will take your advice.

 

[Rred]

Any type of flashes may indicate a problem with the retina detaching or pressure on the optic nerve. Both reasons to try finding a real ophthalmologist, preferably a retinal specialist, NOW. There are subtle problems that can lead to permanent vision loss, which the typical local "eye doctor" will not be sharp enough to find.

The floaters, aka "asteroids", are debris that has accumulated in the eyeball. Pressure changes from diving should have no effect on them. They're just "crap" that accumulates in the eye, and the only procedure to remove them can be very dangerous with collateral damage including loss of vision. In addition, any attempt to remove them pretty much guarantees the eye(s) will have significant cataracts requiring more surgery a year or two down the line.

DON'T IGNORE THOSE FLASHES. If they are significant and you ignore them, you may suffer major or total vision loss. Only a comprehensive exam can tell.

 

[divad]

Thanks for instilling a sense of urgency and articulating the difference between eye doctors. I'll go to
the surgical place nearby that operated on both my parents. They are suppose to be the best in 28803.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I contacted Dr. Frank Butler, noted diving physician who's an ophthalmologist, who echoed the above posters - he recommended an ED visit.

Best regards,
DDM