Drug use and eye floaters

[jess046]

Just wondering what causes the appearance of eye floaters? I've had them with panic attacks as well- lots of tiny dots that move around and generally provoke more panic symptoms. Once I notice them they seem to multiply.

I've also had them twice on drugs- one time where I took a lot of meth, which led to a panic attack, and another time on MDMA (one pill) in which I ignored the floaters and they didn't effect me much apart from a racing heart for a few minutes.

But what actually causes them to appear? And are they a warning sign?

I'm just worried it might be the body's way of saying 'stop using drugs!'...or are they just psychological, anxiety symptoms?

 

[Xegh]

can you explain these floaters better.

For example there are very thing small vesicles of trapped air in your eyeball that are actually formed when you are in the womb these are always there and especially noticeable when you look up at a clear sky some people have more of them then others some people may not even have them.

I read one research that suggested that people who use LSD alot and i mean 20+ times a year will increase the size of these floaters but nobody knows why or by what action.

If it is something else you are talking about please be slightly more descriptive. I haven't heard of these floaters becoming more visible on stimulants but maybe your just only notice them when you are on stims ( heightened senses perhaps )

 

[Foreigner]

Floaters are cells that shed from the inner lining of the eye ball and then float in the vitreus fluid between your retina and pupil of your eye. When light enters your eye the floaters cast tiny shadows on your retina. It's normal to get floaters with age but they get worse with dehydration and lack of proper nutrition.

There's no connection between floaters and panic attacks aside from your own psychology about it, unless what you're calling "floaters" is not what I just talked about.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I've experienced these when I was in withdrawal from amphetamines/or i had taken a high dose of them and more specifically, opiates. I think it's due to the high blood pressure while withdrawing from either substance.

If I also have low blood pressure (which is rare, I'm constantly on amphetamines) I also experience them. I do think its your body saying "stop ingesting so much of that substance!" Or "give me more of that substance!" Either way, it's a sign you need to either cut down your drug use from such high levels, or you're in withdrawal.

The dots are a sign of a panic attack. They are unrelated to floaters and I too have experienced them. It feels like your vision is going to black out and you'll collapse when in reality it's nothing serious, just your mind manifesting symptoms to create further distress in panic mode.

 

[jess046]

Usually they come out of nowhere and I go into panic mode...they make me really nauseous and dizzy.

I don't know if they're all in my head or related to what Xegh and Foreigner are talking about. They're just like these colourful dots that float around, I can't really describe it any better. And like I said, the more I focus on them, more appeared. I felt like I was about to go blind and pass out during the initial panic attack. They especially multiplied when I turned the light off.

It's a worry if it's some kind of physiological sign of drug abuse since they only seem to appear when I'm high...maybe it's just an anxiety-thing.

The only time they appeared when I wasn't under the influence of anything I had a severe panic attack, which my doctor said was a flashback to my panic attack on meth. So maybe it's some form of HPDD. Because I definitely felt like I was on drugs again and even my pupils dilated. It came out of nowhere as well.

The question is- do I need to be worried? :s

 

[jaspersilence]

What you call"floaters"could be what Foreigner mentioned,but there are some other possibilities.Yes your blood pressure can cause spots,but it could also be a parasite...Either way it is something to take seriously,and you really should see a Doc.I wish you a healthy clean life

 

[Xegh]

They're just like these colourful dots that float around, I can't really describe it any better.

This is actually sounds like a completely different phenomena to the one i was describe so I am sorry but i am not sure i have experienced this.

I do sometimes get black and white flashing dots very tiny in my vision sometimes after sneezing or sometimes just randomly, althought I am sure you are not talking about that either.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I've been having vision problems for about 4 months with floaters (a lot of them) being one of them. I've seen an optometrist and an opthamologist and they both saw no heath problems with my eyes. The optimologist said sometimes they (as well as my other issues) come on with age (I'm 37). He said he has the same symtoms as I do but his started in his mid 20's.

Mine never came from panic attacks or migrains it was something that just happened.

 

[freehugs]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floater

I think they're fun.

 

[bronson]

I've experienced changes in vision in the past in relation to having panic attacks, somewhat like what you describe with a mild episode. Up to the point of seeing opaque red once during a very sever panic attack.

I would say, that since you're using substances that might induce panic and are prone to it in the first place, this is the cause. Indeed a sign to slow down a bit.

This is just my opinion, and if it's something really concerning you, talk with a doctor as others have said.