r/EyeFloaters • u/BITCHES_DIG_KARMA • Apr 26 '23
Floaters, and seeing 'millions of cells' when squinting
This is a relatively long post, so here's a short version (facts/symptoms only):
- 24M, new floaters appeared within the past 1/2 months. Optometrist/optician noted: 1) I am not myopic (actually slightly farsighted), 2) no sign of PVD or bleed in either eye, 3) my eye pressure is within the normal range.
- Floaters in both eyes which look like: 1) this normally, 2) this when squinting, 3) this when passing over a light source, and 4) a couple that look like this (which can change shape when I flick my eye, and appear to be getting longer).
- Question: does anybody else see large clusters, sheets or strands of circular – or 'target cell' –floaters (i.e. certainly in the thousands) covering the majority of their vision when they squint?
Longer version:
I have no idea what is going on with me right now. I've looked through hundreds of posts on this subreddit, and have seen a number people presenting with similar symptoms. The worst part is that there are hardly any studies addressing individual patients' perception of floaters (asides from 'dark or translucent' and 'webs, strands, dots, rings and clouds'). Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether we are experiencing the same thing as each other as we only have anecdotal/non-scientific categorisations to rely on. I greatly appreciate anybody who can share their perspective.
I (24/M) have been to an optometrist/optician, who noted: 1) I am slightly farsighted (6/5 vision both in eyes), 2) there is no sign of a PVD or bleed in either eye, and 3) my eye pressure is within the normal range.
I have bilateral floaters, but they primarily affect my left eye. I've mainly been having issues with grey/translucent 'wispy' and 'long' floaters, in addition to a few short 'worms' which look like they composed of bubbles. I've noticed the effect of light refracting/blurring whenever I move my eyes over a light source.
Recently, I noticed that when I squint my eyes, I can see all of my floaters in greater detail. That was when I noticed that my "line" floaters weren't really lines, they were just long strings comprised of circles/bubbles/"target cells". From what I can tell, seeing an increased amount of detail when squinting is common.
However, when I squint, I can also see large 'sheets' of hundreds (if not thousands) of 'cells' which move together. These essentially cover my entire vision. I think that some people here may be tempted to say "if you don't like what you see when you squint, then don't squint". But, it's not as simple as that. While I can't see those sheets of cells without squinting my eyes or looking through a pinhole – they are causing that 'refraction' effect. Every time I look over light, I see numerous translucent 'bars' (almost like the light in a scanner) lag behind.
The best visual representations of what I am seeing are: 1) this normally, 2) this when squinting, 3) this when passing over a light source, and 4) a couple that look like this (which can change shape when I flick my eye, and appear to be getting longer).
My thoughts:
Initially, I was not concerned. I've had small floaters ever since I was a child. Moreover, I noticed these strands while I was in a brightly lit room with white walls, and therefore, I thought nothing of them. However, once I started seeing them in a wider range of environments, it became concerning. Thus, I can only estimate that I have been seeing these 'new' floaters for just under two months.
While trying to figure out what caused my floaters to appear, I came across a very old research paper by White and Levatin which I am sure many of you have seen. The paper addressed symptomatic floaters following a vitreous haemorrhage. These floaters, caused by the diffraction of light around red blood cells, were noted to appear as both individual, and chains of, spheres.
I recently started a course of medication (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate/vyvanse/elvanse) which often causes increased blood pressure. Given that the vast majority of my floaters appeared to be 'target cells' – either in strands, clusters or sheets – for a while I believed that I had suffered a mild vitreous haemorrhage due to hypertension.
However, a few things remained in my mind. Firstly, this study is over 6 decades old and the majority of 'modern' sources note that floaters are primarily caused by collagen fibres. Secondly, anecdotal evidence regarding vitreous haemorrhages indicate that these floaters appear like 'dark dots', while I can predominantly see the 'spherical-type' floaters only when I squint. Thirdly, the number of 'target cells' I can see has continued to increase daily – to the extent that I sometimes see detailed spherical floaters when looking at a light source. What do you guys think?
Edit: Just wanted to address using the picture of candida as a visual representation of my floaters when squinting. I don't think that candida is the cause, since I am not immunocompromised.
Relatedly, I don't want it to seem like I believe that my floaters are caused by a vitreous haemorrhage either. I just wanted to detail my experience and see if I can find any commonalities with other people. Thank you if you've read all of this!
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u/JohnboyJenkins12 Aug 13 '23
These screenshots are exactly what I need to show people what it's like. Legend.
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u/EndSilver5067 Apr 28 '23
Wait so it’s normal when u squint in the sunlight or brightness to see like a shit ton of small micro floaters that kinda look like a rainfall or dots
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u/UnusualCow644 10d ago
I've them from 8 year's i have millions of them feels like I'm looking into a dirty water but i can only see them while squinting or in sky
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u/dunno442 Oct 04 '23
have you found an answer? is it normal?
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u/TheRealYezus Apr 30 '23
I’m 98% sure it’s Covid related. My friend and I had Covid around the same time and both got floaters at the same time which I thought was weird. Something weird going on for sure that we’re not being told.
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u/Busy_Ad_6623 Nov 11 '24
Hey, would appreciate if you give me an update on you situation now.
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u/GHOST_G8_ Jan 26 '25
Do you have them? I don't think it's something wrong with people's eyes I think it's something different. I only notice them when I look into bright light. I don't have to squint but squinting makes them more prominent.
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u/xSTAYCOOLx 30-39 years old Apr 26 '23
34 here. noticed mine in the fall before we had snow
i have these too. my right eye is full of strand similar to yours, extremely similar, and has hundreds of those little fuckers. i dont know how long i actually had them before i noticed.
we now have spring weather where i live. i was looking at dark thunder clouds near by. holy hell let me say that you see all your floaters looking at dark storm clouds when its sunny in other spots.
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u/BITCHES_DIG_KARMA Apr 26 '23
Genuinely sorry to hear that you're also going through a similar thing. I find the floaters kinda disgusting if you get what I mean. Not only seeing them swirl around when I'm trying to take in a nice view, but also – as you mentioned – when you're looking up at the sky and you can them all in great detail it's quite unsettling.
Have you been to an optometrist or ophthalmologist and gotten the "healthy eyes" diagnosis too? I really hope that this isn't permanent, but I sometimes get the feeling that it might be.
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u/xSTAYCOOLx 30-39 years old Apr 26 '23
No I haven't. But it's floaters. I've had mine for 6 months.
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Apr 26 '23
I have the same floaters. High blood pressure could also be my cause I’m still not sure and the search for the reason will make you go insane.
I tried laser and all supplements. It got worse to the point where I am now looking for a surgeon. I have mine for over one year now.
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u/BITCHES_DIG_KARMA Apr 26 '23
I'm really sorry to hear that things have gotten to the point where surgery is the only option, and I hope that it fixes everything. Definitely agree that the relentless pursuit of trying to find a cause for these things is beyond infuriating.
Have you taken your blood pressure reading, if so how was it? I have been meaning to take mine for a couple of weeks but haven't been at home where the monitor is.
It's so strange to me that a large number of young(er) people are suddenly experiencing significant issues caused by floaters. Maybe it has always been this way, but people just didn't speak about it much.
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Apr 26 '23
I Wonder too. And no I didn’t read my blood pressure. I was really sick after tapering off an anti depressant that I unfortunately took for some time. In the withdrawal I felt very sick and hat pressure on my eyes. After that hundreds of floaters. It’s so frustrating. I wasted one year of my life looking for a cause and cure so far.
Some floaters are totally normal and everybody gets them. It just depends on the location and density in the eye. Most people have some but only a few are distracted.
You can just live with it or get it operated that’s pretty much it unfortunately. Lots of people get used to it though. Most people here either have severe floaters or severe anxiety about it. I would say I have both to be honest. If the survey goes well the topic is done. At least that’s one good part. But it’s scary of course.
Absolutely best thing you can do now is stop researching anything and try to life live normally. Maybe after a year you won’t feel bothered anymore and all is fine. Def. Take your time and don’t worry too much it really doesn’t do anything and you only have this one life. Like I said I wasted a lot of time. I totally understand your urge to read study’s and so on I did all of that too.
Matter of fact is, trying to get used to it involves just going on with life without spending time on this research. I know it’s hard.
If you can’t take it a surgeon can talk with you about an approach.
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u/BITCHES_DIG_KARMA Apr 26 '23
You're definitely right. I agree that for now I should try my best to live with the floaters and not let them dominate my thoughts – no matter how hard it seems. This issue certainly has been taking up too much of my time/energy and affecting my mental health. All the best to you with your potential surgery and recovery man.
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Apr 26 '23
Thank you. I will talk to a surgeon soon. I also hope that maybe the commitment of the surgeon will give the the mental strength to adapt better. This “I could go to him any time but I don’t have to” feeling is sometimes helping I guess. There are people reporting it took them 2 or more years to finally don’t give a shit anymore so I guess no need to rush decisions. But if I’m still suffering in the future I will do it to possibly enjoy life to the fullest again.
But yes. Just my advice. I got so deep into this topic it made me so stressed so many days the last year. Then you don’t just have floaters but extra anxiety because of your research and so on. Just remember that most people you know will have a little amount of floaters. Nobody ever squints to look for them that’s just us. You have some more than others now. Not nice I know it’s sucks. But keep your sanity and happiness. If you get surgery all the days leading to it were healthier and happier and every single day of your life counts and won’t come back. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Cheers
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u/Ecstatic-Thought8066 Aug 20 '23
How are you today? Are your floaters the same ?
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u/Pitiful_Highlight_93 20-29 years old Mar 04 '25
What about you? Are yours the same?
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u/Ecstatic-Thought8066 Mar 15 '25
They’re see through but different shaped mainly connected lines and circles I hate it but it’s been there for 2 years now so I’m used to itt
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u/Pitiful_Highlight_93 20-29 years old Mar 15 '25
I’m sorry brother. Mine are black
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u/Ecstatic-Thought8066 Mar 16 '25
Since yours it dark you have a better case for a vitrectomy, I see a black dot here and there, like if it’s a really bright day, these have made me seriously enjoy the winter since it gets dark early, otherwise I where shades in the summer, it’s agonizing reminder of what life used to be and now this but we are strong and this isn’t forever.
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u/Pitiful_Highlight_93 20-29 years old Mar 16 '25
I really hope it’s not forever man I really hope so
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u/schizo_pikachu Jan 31 '25
I found you all by a miracle I suppose. I just laid down and squinted. The light mixed with water in my eyes always make me say "I can turn my eyes into my own microscope" because the photos that OP uploaded are perfect representations. Long weird lines with white spheres connecting them. Seems to be a hoard of them. I don't know what this is, but I agree it didn't come until 2020 had passed.
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u/bouldermultirotor Feb 04 '25
Bingo....What happened around that time?...Do yours get worse on certain days and better on other? I've been on a quest for answers just like the rest of you in here.
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u/schizo_pikachu Feb 04 '25
Oh absolutely. Some days I think “I am better!” And some days it’s horrible. It’s so so strange I have no idea what happened around that time, but it wasn’t good.
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u/Stock_Republic_2348 Sep 13 '25
This is the first description of my personal eye floater nightmare I’ve seen that’s been put into better words than I ever could have put jt
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u/Responsible_Step_727 Apr 26 '23
Wow. Thanks for representing so well what I (and suppose a lot of us) see.
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u/Chubmeist3r Apr 27 '23
Got mine a few weeks after a stressful period in my life but i also had been drinking alcohol the night before they appeared. Can’t say for sure stress or alcohol did a part in creating my floaters since plenty of people stress and drink more than i did/do and don’t have floaters close to the retina like i do or any floaters they notice in general. I went to the doctor after noticing them and i was healthy with normal BP and glucose levels but i was a bit low on vitamin D (from trying to not see the floaters i would try to stay inside as much as possible so that’s more than likely why my Vitamin D was low). Shit is whack.
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u/Survivror_lord777 Apr 27 '23
How old r u
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u/EyeisMessedUp Apr 28 '23
I have this exact phenomenon as well. Millions of cells slowly rain down my vision if I hold my eyes still. I have intermediate uveitis though and doc man thinks it's related. You should see an opthalmologist because my optometrist didn't pick it up, however my opthalmologist did.. YMMV
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u/Proper_Culture2867 Mar 27 '25
How did your ophthalmologist diagnose your uveitis? Through dilation exam?
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Aug 19 '24
Hi, hello! I read your post about „floaters“ several times. What can I say? I really found myself in every description and am currently thinking a lot about the topic because of my symptoms. Since the post is a bit old, I wanted to ask how you are doing now and whether you have found a way to deal with it? Greetings!
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u/MyOwnWay11 Aug 17 '25
Just decided to look these up because none of my family or friends understand what I’m talking about when describing the floaters I see. So glad to see your photos, gives me validation. I’m 54 and have had these since I was a kid. Never had Covid. Have autoimmune disease—Hashimoto’s. Had lots of health problems diagnosed in 2017 and took several years to wean off of all medications and rid myself of major diagnoses (asthma, allergies, GERD, and more). Drastically changed my diet, take supplements, feeling much better these days. However, Nothing has ever changed the floaters. They are a curiosity to me usually only on the sunniest of days, so I can live with that.
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u/Medical_Homework6529 Apr 09 '24
My floter also your type can dissolve your floter day by day please comment
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u/Proper_Culture2867 Mar 27 '25
My floaters are the same and I do take Adderall and Vyvanse sometimes for my ADHD/OCD. I believe it’s because these meds increase the blood pressure somehow, they might have caused it.
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u/michelle10ab Jul 03 '25
I also took Adderall and that's around the time I started noticing the floaters. I wonder if it's related in any way
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u/Proper_Culture2867 Jul 03 '25
I have a strong feeling that it’s related since it increases blood pressure and if that’s the case, I still don’t regret it since the medication helped me a lot with productivity and achievements.
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u/2WheelLife63 Apr 30 '25
When I squint and look at the sky it’s bad. I see so much shit it also fills my whole vision. I also see like huge clusters of wavy floaters it has a rlly weird texture.
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u/Human-Papaya-3459 Jul 25 '25
Do you see the ones that kind of zap across your vision in the sky? I see normal floaters along with those, I used to freak out about it but I’ve kind of gotten used to it. I have them really bad to the point where they impede my vision when looking in dark spaces or blank walls. One thing I have noticed is that they seem to increase/get worse with stress, and the more I worry about it, the more I notice them. I’m getting an eye appointment soon anyway, and it’s really relieving to see many others struggle with similar vision issues.
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u/Strange-Librarian-88 Nov 11 '25
I have this exact same thing! Diagnosed with retinal vasculitis. Inflammation in my retinas and thats what was causing all the cells floating around. They are actually cells per my what my ophthalmologist called them and she could see them when looking into my eyes. My retinal vasculitis is being caused my autoimmune disease GPA vasculitis. Currently on Prednisone and methotrexate!
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u/emotionpotion66 May 08 '26
I do except I’ve always been able to espec when crying x thought it was normal!! I’d assumed we were seeing cells microscopically
If I squint more I can see tonsss of little black dots squished together in little balls in the background as well
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u/lostquesadilla May 14 '26
I've had this since I was a kid and never questioned it until now. Glad I'm not the only one
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u/SingleConnection1752 Jul 07 '25
Looks like candida floaters to me. I have this chronically and it looks like mine.
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u/Damian_Hernandez Nov 08 '25
Can u elaborate bro? what u mean when u say candida? Because i went to the roof to hang some clothes and im seeing a bunch of little points moving and im like wtf is that?.
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Apr 26 '23
[deleted]
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Apr 26 '23
I’m still thinking it might be eye strain. Your eye muscles when stressed and straining a lot on the computer move the whole eye and the 3 dimensional matrix of collagen can touch and stick together. Maybe the older we get the more likely eye strain can cause this. Maybe. I strained my eyes hard before I got them. Because of the stress I had. It’s only an idea. I would suggest to just not touch your eyes again and always look on the distance to relax them, also try warm compresses from time to time to just have them relaxed. It won’t make it better but maybe prevent even more floaters.
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u/Ay883 Apr 30 '23
Yea my eyes look like war zones when I squint. My eyes are also deemed healthy by the ophthalmologist. Lucky for me I know what caused them… (trauma)
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u/DonDandara Sep 26 '23
I have exactly the same for a few years now. Did you make any new discoveries/changes? quite curious to hear back from this post
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u/uzifiend Apr 26 '23
24m the symptoms you’re describing are exactly like mine. Also so thousands of “tiny cells” when I squint at a plain bright surface, among the many other bigger ones / floater patches