Spot in front of eye

[Woodsey1]

Hi does anyone in this group suffer with a black spot in front of eye . Optician says it’s something attached to my retina & it should clear on its own , but it seems to be getting bigger. I am getting anxious now . Could steroids or PMR cause this . Be grateful for any advice .

[SnazzyD]

Did they say that after examining your eye or as over the counter advice? If it were me I’d be wanting a bit more explanation than that like what gets attached to the retina. If its supposed to be going away, then it perhaps shouldn’t be getting bigger. I don’t know much about eyes but I think you need an urgent check.

[piglette]

Is it a floater?

[SheffieldJane]

Presumably the optician examined your eye? I agree with Snazzy that in light of our conditions especially, we need regular and thorough eye exams from a well equipped optician at the very least, possibly a referral to an Opthalmologist. I did experience a lot of floaters before PMR was diagnosed, including a black spot that made me feel a bit migraine-like.

[Bcol]

Not an expert on eyes but I think I would be looking for a second opinion, particularly if the spot seems to be growing. Better to be safe than sorry particularly regarding eyesight.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Agree with others, needs further investigation.You need to be referred to your local hospital eye department in my opinion, or have a look at these for more info as well..

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

primaryeyecare.co.uk/servic...

Please keep us informed…

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have a patch in the middle of my left eye visual field that my superb optician said was a floater and nothing to worry about. I see an eye specialist every few years here (optometrists can't do as much as they can in the UK, not even eye pressures) and they have never commented about it. To me it looks like a greasy fingerprint on my glasses and it has been there for over 12 years.

But I'd accept no such comment without a full eye exam - MECS should provide that service for you if it hasn't already been done and say if it needs further investigation.

[Koalajane]

I get floaters now and again but they get smaller and disappear not get bigger.

[HappyDiamonds]

Hi, this sounds like the eye gel is detaching from the retina which happens as we get older and gives floaters which does eventually go away when the brain gets used to it. Have a look at Vitreous detachment on the RNIB website.

[Evercurious]

I have a large floater that has been examined well. Used to get small ones that seemed to disappear over time, but ophthalmologist suggests this one will likely stick around, and to expect more in my other eye. Due to age😵‍💫

[Nightingales]

I hope the optician did the scan of your retina. I had a similar thing but it was a blind spot in the middle of the vision in one eye. Spec savers didn’t find anything but I wasn’t satisfied so saw another optometrist who sent me to a specialist for several tests. The diagnosis was a macular bubble. It can resolve on its own, which mine did thankfully, or needs surgery. It needs to be watched as there is a higher risk of retinal detachment.

[Purple-Owl]

Please get your eye checked immediately Woodsey1. I started seeing a black spot in my left eye central vision for a minute or two on waking. Opthalmologist said at first it was just that the light sensitive cells had been short of oxygen during sleep, and it was nothing to worry about. However she also took a photo of the back of the eye - and found a spot of wet macular degeneration, which can be very serious, develop very fast and cause blindness. As my mother went blind with GCA I was doubly worried. (I am on 7mg Prednisalone for PMR.)

I immediately went on monthly injections of Avastin to check the wet macular degeneration. I'm told only one patient in three responds to this, and I am not one of the lucky ones. May have to have monthly injections for life.

[cranberryt]

Anything that is getting bigger should be checked urgently. I have a floater that I have had fir 20 years but it’s a speck and moves around but has never chnaged in size. With the concern of GCA, if something is growing, I would go to ER, or your equivalent.

[Woodsey1 in reply to cranberryt]

Thankyou to everyone on hear . I am going to go back to opticians . & ask for a referral . Wanted to make sure I wasn’t making a fuss. Thank you all again xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Woodsey1]

Please do

[Bcol in reply to Woodsey1]

So pleased with that decision