Dr. McDougall's Online Discussion Board

HI all,

Does anyone here suffer from eye floaters or vision floaters? I was recently diagnosed with this and I am trying to deal with it.

I also would like to know if anyone here, through diet has been able to reverse the condition? There is very little literature on eye health and diet.

If anyone can respond, that would be great

Thanks

From what I understand, those are quite common and almost everyone experiences that. I know I remember having them, even as a kid.

Are they interfering with your day-to-day life?

I got these about 5 years ago, and have been asking the same question since. A few people responded that once they got their blood sugars under control, the floaters lessened.

However, I'm not diabetic, and improvements in diet haven't helped me, personally.

Yes, I have had them for about 14 years and no mine never settled and they still get in my way in certain light and when reading. Sometimes they are worse than others. My eye doctor told me that the vitrous humeour had broken away from the back of my eye and that is what is causing floating in front of the vision. I have been eating this way about four years and I can't say that it has changed them. Sometimes I feel that if my blood sugar fluctuates they get worse. I don't eat sugar just occasional fruit. I hate them and find them highly annoying and I do wish there was something that would correct them.

I have had floaters for many years and unfortunately, with all the benefits of McDougalling, this WOE has not completely eliminated them. I do remember though when I first quit dairy products a pronounced improvement. Now that jelly fish that floats through is not nearly as big nor as dark!

My eye doctor says people just get used to them. So far that hasn't been true. Maybe I just need to give it another 10 years or so

I've had floaters since I was in junior high, so around 30 years. I've never noticed any difference when changing eating habits. I'm not aware of anything that can make them go away.

I have had floaters forever, and in the last couple of years have developed some big annoying ones. My eye doctor says the same as those mentioned above--they happen, and there is nothing to be done about them, and people get used to them. I'm used to them, but they are still annoying.

Very interesting. I've had a couple over the years. I hadn't thought of them for awhile. They seem to be gone. Or I'm so totally used to them I can't even find them. One was worse than the other, but neither was so bad that they affected anything much.

They tended to be more visible in the sun. I'll have to check again tomorrow when I'm outside.

Another benefit.

I have them. Went to a specialist who looked for detachment from the back of the eye.
When he completed his exam he said "I couldn't see anything wrong but those damn floaters kept getting in the way".
$160 wasted.
I guess I have learned to live with them.

Wow....im surprised that so many other people have them. In a way I kind of feel comforted to know im not alone. I was told the same as others have mentioned, that the vitrous humeour had broken away from the back of my eye and causing the floating. Its actually a shadow that is being produced. I don't know what I did to cause this. I find it is pronounced when I am on the computer (which is often) and in bright lighted - white walled rooms/hallways.

What is disappointing though, is that McDougalling can't solve this. If this is an auto immune issue, one would believe that a proper diet would solve the problem.

I'd love to hear from some of the medical experts on this topic and its relation to diet.

My doctor told me I would get used to them too but I am still waiting. I think the floaters are actual little clumps of gel. It has a lot to do with aging. No matter how many potatoes you eat you will get older. McDougall can't improve that!! Usually what happens is that you will see flashing lights. Then you will experience the floaters. HOWEVER, if you are smart you will get yourself to an eye doctor if this happens because the flashing lights could also mean that the RETINA has pulled away and you do not want to mess with this. You will also get floaters in this case. So flashing lights could mean either the posterior vitreous humor or the retina is involved.

While McDougalling can do nothing for the posterior vitreous humor detachment and floaters it can do something good for your retinas. A high fat diet clogs up the blood vessels in your eyes just as it clogs up the vessels in other parts of the body and damages the retina. So to keep that blood flowing through those vessels, stick to the low fat, plant based diet.

Didi

I thought floaters are a precursor to cataracts...but some of you are experiencing at a young age

No. I do not think they are a precursor to cataracts. Perhaps the two things just happen to older people. I have no sign of cataracts so far. I am counting on wearing sunglasses and a good diet being preventive. Anyone know anything else? I do know that a good plant based diet will prevent ARMD and the type of glaucoma that involves the retina as opposed to the channels of the eye.

Didi

I've had floaters my whole life. Sometimes I like to look a blue sky and try to get a real good look at them.

I know that the sudden onset of floaters can indicate a problem with the eyes but since I've had them forever I rarely pay attention to the fact that they are there and they don't annoy me at all.

Emmet. Please pay attention if you see flashing lights when you blink. Just because you have had them all your life does not mean the retina cannot separate.

Didi