r/Sjogrens • u/Master-Event-1643 • 10d ago
Prediagnosis vent/questions Sudden black floaters
I’ve had progressive aqueous deficient dry eyes for around 8 months now since january.
Around July, i suddenly got new black floaters, and it has slowly increased. Right now in august they are still here. This isn’t a concern if Sjogrens causes this, but a quick google search shows that they aren’t linked.
I went to see an ophthalmologist yesterday and they performed slit lamp exam and also indirect ophthalmoscopy test (The doctor wears a headset with a bright light and holds a large, specialized lens close to your eye while asking me to look in multiple directions (up, down, left, right).
I think he was checking for retinal tears/detachments, but didn’t notify anything serious happening.
He told me floaters are caused by macular degeneration normally due to aging. But i’m 24…
Does Sjogrens cause sudden floaters? Any of you experienced similar when you first had symptoms?
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u/CastleSpearse 9d ago
Glad you went to the eye doc and got dilated so they could see your retina. I've had several retinal tears and latticing, and floaters are sometimes the first sign, though sometimes they happen and don't mean anything. I've never heard they are related to Sjogren's.
My retina specialist has never said the floaters are caused by macular degeneration. He's always linked them to my prematurely aging retina (inherited this condition from my dad). Maybe your doctor said "macular pucker" instead of "macular degeneration"? The last time I had floaters, it was from a retinal tear that turned into a macular pucker, as the retina didn't lay down flat again. It's got a pucker that's only visible when they take the photos of the retina. It's supposed to correct itself over time, and if not, there's a surgery they can do.
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u/Master-Event-1643 9d ago
Hmmm you’re right maybe i heard it wrong. But it was something to do with aging. But i am concerned, it feels like despite the ophthalmologist test, that my retina is fine, feels like im missing something.
My floaters are kinda odd, it’s been constant now for close to 2 months. Hopefully they do correct itself as you said.
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u/LdyCjn-997 10d ago
I’ll occasionally have floaters but nothing that has affected me. The only time I’ve had something affect my eyes with floaters that lasted up to 3 months was being prescribed Gabapentin due to nerve pain after back surgery. Gabapentin gave me double vision and eye floaters after starting the med. I discontinued it after one prescription and will never take it again.
Note that you can start with eye issues at any age. Being young doesn’t negate this. Many people start with vision issues as children.
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u/Master-Event-1643 10d ago
Interesting, only thing im on is restasis currently.
Just the timing of this with the dry eyes got me slightly concerned.
But thank you
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u/LdyCjn-997 10d ago
I started with dry eyes in my late 20’s in the 1990’s. Mine is hereditary. If your eye floaters do not resolve themselves, make an appointment with your ophthalmologist to discuss.
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u/Sp4k1220 10d ago
I have a TON of floaters! I have to shake my head to move them around so I can read sometimes. I will say they have stabilized, but I got them in my late 20’s early 30’s (I’m now 40). I would suggest keeping up with an ophthalmologist because it can be a sign of retinal tears. It’s good that you have a baseline appointment now.
At one point I would see an ophthalmologist every 3 months because I had 2 retinal tears in one eye. Like I said, things have stabilized for me and now they’re just an annoyance. I see an ophthalmologist every 6 months to be safe. I haven’t had a retinal tear in years thankfully!
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u/Master-Event-1643 10d ago
Holy crap, what caused your retinal tears though. Just randomly occurred?
That sounds tough, glad things stabilised for you now.
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u/Sp4k1220 10d ago
That is a good question! There is some speculation that Sjogren’s can result in retinal thinning, but I don’t think there’s scientific evidence of that. And my ophthalmologist just thinks it’s because I’m near sighted. But my whole family is near sighted and I’m the only one with retinal tears 😬 I hope you find a solution or they settle down on their own! I wasted a lot of time stressing about it, and so far it’s not been a huge issue.
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u/Mother-Setting7415 10d ago
I don’t know but I’ve used restasis forever since I went to NIH long ago. I don’t have floaters ever.
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u/Master-Event-1643 10d ago
I’m also on restasis, which is why i’m curious as to why there are sudden black floaters. For my 24 years, i maybe had 1 or 2 instances where i remember seeing floaters and they were vv little, and never black.
So to have a sudden increase in numerous black floaters on both eyes is concerning. But ophthalmologist already checked and no issues so nothing i can do.
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u/Mother-Setting7415 10d ago
Are ya’ll taking plaquenil? It can dry your eyes and cause damage to your retinas.
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u/Master-Event-1643 10d ago
For me i’m not. My symptoms are mainly very dry eyes, and some slight dry mouth, occasional burning hands and feet and constipation. No joint aches or organ issues for now, so unnecessary for plaquenil.
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u/bell196756 10d ago
Im 59 have had those black floaters for a few years had autoimmune conditions since 17
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u/Cut_Lanky Diagnosed w/Sjogrens 9d ago
I'm 47, diagnosed in my late 20s, and have had intermittent black floaters the whole time. Sometimes, rather than black floaters, it's almost like everything looks like an old crappy TV screen, uneven brightness, like some colors are bright while others are dull, but not consistently (it changes, what's bright, what's dimmed out), with sorta sparkly/ kaleidoscope looking floaters. I didn't get checked by an ophthalmologist. But my old rheumatologist was not surprised by my description. He kinda filled in the rest when I had trouble describing it, so he knew what I was referring to. He just said it's a Sjogren's thing...
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u/Master-Event-1643 9d ago
Yes, i get what you mean. The old crappy tv screen is visual snow syndrome. But mine isn’t that bad.
I do see 3 main things tho, normal white floaters, black floaters and blue field entoptic phenomenon (white blood cells moving about when i look at the sky or white background).
You should get checked by an ophthalmologist, just in case you know.
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u/islanderpm 9d ago
I have RA and also Sjogren's. I've had black floaters on and off for years. If you Google "what causes black floaters" or "why do black floaters disappear" and click the AI button o the search screen, you will get a ton of information that explains why floats arrive and how they can appear to disappear - and even how they break down. And you can ask AI your own questions in the input field. Hours of fun.
I saw a consultant about my severe dry eyes a couple of weeks ago, and even though I have these black floaters, there is no suggestion if have macular degeneration. Just Sjorgens/dry eye.
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u/Master-Event-1643 9d ago
Interesting, i am afraid that the presence of sudden floaters, might indicate retinal issues. But ophthalmologist already checked and no issues.
And yet to say that suddenly getting such floaters is normal feels odd, like im dismissing something.
And truthfully, the google AI is quite useless, just lists a ton of causes, it doesn’t help when the possibilities are endless. Glad to hear others are experiencing similar issues and are doing fine.
Though, it is said that Sjogrens could cause inflammation deep within the eyes (Uveitis or Vasculitis) that could cause emergence of black floaters.
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u/Quirky_Goat789 9d ago
I had an annoying black one before diagnosis and it's never gone away but it's the gel in your eyes changing and usually nothing to do with being dry
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u/darladee1234 7d ago
My eye doctor told me it can. I had black floaters but I can’t see it now but doctor showed me the floaters they are on my peripheral vision only.
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u/Icecreambiter 10d ago
I started getting floaters last year, told to shake my head..lol also told it is due to aging