Floaters in eye while swimming

When I hear the word "floaters" in relation to swimming (especially in a pool), it's definitely not something I would want in my eye...

I have never experienced what I think you are describing.

I first thought of a Baby Ruth too...

Yeah, i see them swimming or agaist a clear blue sky or painted walls

Seems i've  had them since getting lyme then bell's palsy the same month a few summers ago.

But I hear is just part of getting ....rymes with bolder...

Same here I think that the slight added pressure of the  Swim Goggles around the eye socket tends to make them a bit more visible in the water Kathy, also they may be a bit more visible when you rotate you head to breath because of the way the light is refracting off the surface of the water and entering your eye.

HA HA!  "Floaters"!

Oh, you mean those funky microscopic nuances inside your eye.  Yeah, I've been getting them all the time now with getting older.  A couple of them look like black threads, and one or two look like some kind of plasma floating around.

There is supposedly a surgery that can remove those, but I'm sure it's expensive, and risk.

In the lake on a sunny day, very visible.  The light green color of the water makes them stand out.  Funny though, typing this I just noticed them.

Ahhhh, floaters.  I see them all the time and, as mentioned by 1stTimeTri, some are longer strands and some are just specks.

If I look down and then back up they come racing across my vision. 

Had 'em for years.  As a kid I would always play a game and try and catch up with them or look straight at them but they keep on movin'. 

x2 on the swim goggle pressure.  This is per my ophthalmologist when I asked him about why I tend to see odd things out of the corner of my eye while swimming.

It's creepy in a murky lake until you get used to it......is that an eye floater or something swimming in the water???

Uncanny, similar. Though i intercepted my lyme early.  That's bad shizzy, wish you best. Must have been quite the ordeal

You can get pink eye that way

Floaters are a result of the Vitreous break down in the eye. You should consult with an opthamologist.  Floaters can be of concern,as some times as a result of the vitreous break down,it can cause traction on the retina, which in turn can cause some vision loss.

However most of the time, Floaters are harmless and are a result of normal aging.

Just had to add a little something to that. 

My wife is an optometrist in Ontario, Canada.

Floaters can and more often are a natural part of the aging process but can be a sign of a oncoming retinal detachment, bleed in the eye or other potentially visually devistating problems.

Go see an Optometrist to have your eyes checked out.  If you are experiencing a sudden increase in the amount of floaters, flashes of light in your eyes, and/or a curtaining of vision make sure you see a Dr. ASAP!

Kathy,

This is long-winded, but I hope complete.

I'm an ophthalmologist and see this as my patients presenting complaints at least 3 or 4 times each day.  As others have said, they are related to the vitreous gel inside the eyeball liquifying with age.  Although common and annoying, they can be associated with retinal tears or detachments (some studies say up to 15%; however in my experience it is much lower).  This is why I advise anyone with new onset or dramatic changes in their floaters to have a dilated eye exam.

As part of my discussion with patients in the office I specifically tell them that their floaters will be more noticeable when there is little background noise (ie. clear blue sky, plain white movie screen).  They rythmic roation involved in swimming may also play a role in causing the floater to move in a repetitive pattern and therefore become more noticeable (maybe I'll look into a research paper!)

There really is no treatment for floaters.  Vitrectomy surgery where the entire vitreous gel inside the eye is removed would remove most of the floaters, but is reserved for more severe, potentially blinding diseases such at retinal detachments or hemorrhages inside the eye.

Sorry for the long response, but hope it helps, Glenn

Thanks for the input.

I've talked to my eye doctor about them and been checked out. I would never have surgery for them. They aren't getting worse.

I was interested if other triathletes saw them while swimming.

My left eye has one that is like a little string bundled up - before I knew what it was I tried every type of Visine on the market thinking that there was something ON my eye instead of inside. 

As annoying as the floater is, one of the times it seems to be more noticeable is when I'm open water swimming.  Not so much in a pool, but definitely outside.  I wish there was a way to zap the little sucker out of existence, but until then I'll just continue to try and chase the floater with where I'm looking.