Flashers and Floaters

[ParrotY]

About 5 months ago I was diagnosed with pericarditis after a Covid booster shot 6 days previous - but that's another story!Anyway, during my stay in hospital the doctors noted that I had AF, symptomless and previously undiagnosed, could have been caused by pericarditis, maybe not, and prescribed blood thinners(Pradaxa) and beta blockers(bisoprolol)

The point of my query is that, about a month after these drugs were prescribed, I experienced the sudden onset of flashers and floaters in my left eye. Quite scary as I'd never even heard of these, let alone experienced them. Anyway, I was given an early appointment at the eye clinic in case it was a torn retina - it wasn't but they were worried enough to have a further look two weeks later, and thought the flashers and floaters were the result of bleeding at the back of the eye. I told them of the blood thinners, and they said that these could be the cause, but keep on taking them because that would be the least dangerous option.

You will note the preponderance of could, maybe and perhaps from the medical profession - which is why I am reaching out to the world of AF sufferers to see if this is a frequent experience, and what could(that word again!) happen next

[jeanjeannie50]

I get like a little fruit fly in my vision originating from my left eye. It started shortly after my optician had given me an eye test and puffed that little bit of air into them that they do. I rang my optician and was told to go to the eye department at my local hospital. They did a thorough test and then showed me what the problem was on a computer screen. I had a very tiny tear at the back of my eye. They said this was of no great problem and said to go back if it started to get worse of appear as strings of black.

Did you have a thorough eye test where they numb your eye and put an instrument on it to see the back area? Could they actually see blood at the back of your eye? Had you been to your optician recently for an eye test? I think I would want to speak to my GP about trying a different anticoagulant.

Jean

[ParrotY in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes, the opthalmologists did all that, that's where she came up with the diagnosis of a bleed at the back of the eye. And no, no recent eye test before this occurrence, last one a couple of years ago.And not sure if my GP could be if great help if the specialist eye people aren't. Was trying to find a wider audience by using this group of fellow AF sufferers

[mav7 in reply to ParrotY]

Flashers and floaters can be common as we age. The brain adapts and you want notice them per my opthalmologist. That has been my experience.

Suggest you consider a second opinion from an opthalmologist and have annual exams.

[Desanthony in reply to jeanjeannie50]

A fruit fly that's just what my wife said the first one looked like and it changed colour over 24 hours from being greeny blue to brown. The second time it was just a dark colour but she was walking around town at the time and actually felt pain when it happened - thought something had been blown in her eye so it was a little more concerning and she was given a scan at the hospital.

[jeanjeannie50]

When her eye was tested at the eye clinic it was thought to be bleeding at the back of her eye.

[BobD Volunteer]

It sound far more like gel detachment. The aqueus gel in your eyes gets thicker as you age and can fail to contact all parts inside your eyes. This can cause the symptoms you describe, particulaarly if the flashing lights are around the edge of your vision. I know it is scary as had it a few times. Used to think a car was creeping up behind me at night. Very hard to -pull out of side turnings. It never lasted more than a few days

[ParrotY in reply to BobD]

But my point is the timing. The first incidence of flashers and floaters was so soon after I started taking an anticoagulant ie Pradaxa, which is one of the nastiest things I've ever been prescribed, but I recognise is probably a life extender if not saver.After starting, the flashing and floaters has not gone away, and, according to the opthalmologist, is unlikely to ever do so. I've got a friend(?) for life it seems.

[ParrotY]

No, no retinal detachment, no cataracts, just flashers and floaters. Don't even need glasses for driving. It's the onset of flashers and floaters so soon after the start of my use of anticoagulant that concerns me.

[Bagrat]

I've had several PVDs ( posterior vitreal detachment caused as BobD said by vitreous humour gel at back of eye,drying out with age, it can cause a tear or bleed if it only partially detaches from retina) The first one, I thought it was snowing and was sent to eye clinic, they did all the stuff and said no tear or detached retina. I now have many floaters who your brain soon learns to ignore.I was told if you get a sudden shower of floaters or partial loss of vision, emergency eye clinic. We have a fab optician who if you ring usually sees you within a few hours to check. I've had laser treatment post cataract and that too can cause new floaters.

If I had to guess, suspect the timing of this incident is unfortunate but probably incidental. Don't know if anticoagulants would increase risk of bleed.

[Desanthony]

My wife has had this twice (not on anticoagulants) and contacted the optician straight away. Apparently both times it was gel detachment (apparently this gets more common as we get older) but always worth getting it checked out in case of a tear and bleeding. The first time she was working in the garden and thought a fly was sat on the bridge of her nose. The second time she was walking around town and actually felt a little pain and thought something had been blown into her eye or dropped off a roof into her eye. She telephoned Specsavers the first time and the optician told her to come in straight away. He thought he could see something wrong at the back of her eye and made an appointment for later that day at emergency eye clinic where she was given an appointment every week for a month and monitored. The second time because of the pain Specsavers sent her to A&E and she was given a scan and again monitored for a month but again it turns out it was just the gel detachment and everything is fine. A friend of mine had a similar thing happen and ignored it for over a week before eventually telling his wife that something had happened to his vision/eye as he was lifting his golf clubs into the back of the car. Yes he had a torn retina and bleeding which should have been dealt with much sooner. Luckily it was not too late and he had treatment and an operation - which he had to travel to a hospital 3 hours away to have which worked. Since then he has also had cataracts done in both eyes but luckily no further problems and can still see pretty much as well as he could previously.

You only have one set of eyes if you feel anything is wrong get it checked out as early treatment is better.

[ParrotY]

Thanks, but it was the coincidence of the start of the flashers/floaters and the start of using an anticoagulant that was the main concern. After research, I do understand that flashers/floaters can be age related.

[maurice2]

hi, I had a bad episode of pericarditis, then afib, then a cardioversion, went on bisoprolol and apixaban. Have now stopped the biso. No floaters above normal but marked increase in short sightedness over the following six months. Bruising on arms, legs also show up a lot, I do a lot of work on old cars (hobby) and quite often get clonked by things, but on the whole I get on with apixaban well enough.

[ParrotY in reply to maurice2]

The doctors reckoned that there was no cause and effect with the pericarditis and AF, just that I was fortunate that the AF had been picked up by the ECGs I had because of the pericarditis. Not so sure, but maybe. Anyway, whatever the cause, c'est la vie. Concensus on this site seems to be no link between the anticoagulant and the floaters, so ain't it great getting old?

[maurice2 in reply to ParrotY]

👍

[wilsond]

I would speak to your GP about the coincidence of starting on anticoagulation this issue. There are several different varieties, which may suit you better.I do get aura migraines ,which had ceased after my twenties until a few years back .

[ParrotY in reply to wilsond]

Spoke to the opthalmologist, and a) she hadn't heard of any correlation and b) said live with it because the reason for the anticoagulant was more important than a few floaters.So I think I'll go along with that - no sign of retinal detachment and eyesight still ok so live with that for now I suppose. Ain't it great getting old?

[wilsond in reply to ParrotY]

Yes not for the fainthearted ( pardon the pun)I do see floaters too more noticeably in sunlight.

X