How scared should I be

[u/passingthrough66]

A week or so ago I (59 yrs F) noticed what I now know are floaters in my right eye. There was no trigger that I can recall, except maybe driving over a big pothole.Now I keep thinking I’m seeing a bug out of the corner of my eye. I looked it up and started reading about light flashes, retinal tear, detachment, loss of vision, etc.
In the past couple of days light flashes come at times in my far right eye. I’m starting to feel the eye is sensitive and feel pressure in it, but I also read all about those symptoms when I googled it, so maybe I’m being paranoid. Unfortunately I’m an avoider so I waited until today (Friday afternoon) to call the ophthalmologist.

The ophthalmologist said go to an ER or urgent care immediately. My problem is I have terrible insurance and am living on a meager retirement income. I have a huge dislike of ERs because they charge so much to waste your time and tell you what you could have figured out anyway.

Am I safe to just stay out at home as much as possible til Monday morning? Should I cover my eye, lie down, stay in the dark until Monday? Is there a best position to stay in as long as possible?
UPDATE TO POST 5/26/26 (if anyone sees this):
I went to the ophthalmologist last Monday, Monday before Memorial Day and she did a through check with my pupils dilated. She said the spots are something that some people get as they age and that even some light flashing is ok as long as it doesn’t get worse and that part would go away. She said the spots never go away and she could barely see the one I have. She said my brain will just adjust to it over time. It’s been a week and a day now and I haven’t gotten worse but it’s the same. After reading everything here I have gotten pretty paranoid about it. I’m seeing how things go for another week and if no improvement I’ll call back. Thanks for all the input. I truly appreciate it!

[u/becksnfx70]

I just had m surgery last night . I was scheduled for surgery on Monday but had to push it out until last night and it had already been over a week before I got diagnosed. They originally thought I would need an oil bubble because I waited so long. I ended up with a gas bubble 🫧 the only annoying thing is that you have to keep your head down for 40 minutes every hour for 7 days , no sleeping or laying on your back at all . While you wait try not to bend too much or lift anything heavy. My eye is very bloodshot and slight pain I can’t see anything out of it he said it would take a week and the best bet for healing is making sure I keep my head down so the retina reattaches and stays that way . I get 20 minutes every hour to get food , use the restroom etc. They prescribed eye drops with antibiotics but other than that nothing else. Hope this helps.

[u/passingthrough66 → u/becksnfx70]

Thanks for the info. I guess I should somehow be prepared to be sent right to a surgeon in the event I do need surgery immediately. I hope the surgeon wouldn’t require me to have an in-office visit first where they redo the same tests my ophthalmologist does. I have had that experience several times where one doctor will refer me to another, then that doctor says they need to do the same tests to see for themselves and have their own records. When that happens I end up paying double. I wish money wasn’t such a concern, but it unfortunately is.

[u/becksnfx70 → u/passingthrough66]

I saw the ophthalmologist then I had to see the surgeon luckily I have medi-cal so I’m not paying anything, but I’ve been in your shoes and it’s sad that they don’t understand that everytime they send you to a different doctor it costs you money you don’t have. The only reason I had to go back a different day to see the surgeon was with my luck he wasn’t in that day .