all 170 comments

[–]thatgirlchick 68 points69 points ago

When I was younger and I see those, I would always think that I have super powers and see cells that nobody else could see.

It's different now that I know what they are. Way to go.

[–]nightlife_for_dummi 18 points19 points ago

As a kid i thougt I could see the bacteria floating close enough to my eyes.

[–]Lauritsdude 9 points10 points ago

Wait.. That's not?.. Ohh.

[–]BioTiger 6 points7 points ago

Holy shit. I know what you're talking about! Haha

[–]Abusoru 5 points6 points ago

lol, I thought I was the only one to think like that.

[–]ItsAnArt 1 point2 points ago

Yeah, me too. I thought i saw atoms and stuff. I felt pretty awesome.

[–]Chiffy22 0 points1 point ago

Same here... But I still do! I just know it dang namet!

[–]un-sub 9 points10 points ago

Dag nabbit*

[–]dogsdieinhotcars 126 points127 points ago

I've embraced my squiggly friends. I look to the right and then quickly look left and watch them race. Oh the fun that we have!

[–]bobbyvanda 43 points44 points ago

I was so confused when i was a kid and i saw these...now I totally understand them...

[–]yoshi314 23 points24 points ago

doctor i told about this gave me a look like i was retarded or something. and i was maybe 7 years old or so.

so i decided to never mention this again. felt good to realize i was not alone in this.

[–]Late_Night_Grumbler 15 points16 points ago

I rubbed my eyes too hard once and thought I had permanently damaged my vision.

[–]fcap8987 10 points11 points ago

Family Guy does a good job with them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I7_al4mrfg

[–]dburton101 3 points4 points ago

[–]semondem0n 2 points3 points ago

I do this too, I probably look like I'm on crack.

[–]ANM22 2 points3 points ago

I trampoline them up and down!

[–]1KDS 67 points68 points ago

For the longest time I didn't know anyone else had/saw these. I think there was a Family Guy reference to them maybe five years ago, at which point I realized they were at least somewhat normal.

[–]morris1022 39 points40 points ago

Oh squiggly line in my eyes. Why do you drift away when I try to look at you? --stewie on his deathbed

[–]ri0t333 17 points18 points ago

[–]1KDS 4 points5 points ago

Yes! Thank you both.

[–]Jarrrp 1 point2 points ago

Thank you for quoting this!

[–]B_DUB_19 12 points13 points ago

"Oh Squiggly Line in My Eye Fluid

I see you there,

Lurking on the periphery of my vision

But when I try to look at you,

You scurry away!

Are you shy, squiggly line?

Why only when I ignore you

Do you return to the center of my eye?

Oh, squiggly line,

It's all right

You are forgiven! "

-Stewart Gilligan Griffin

[–]pheNam2000 3 points4 points ago

Yeah I thought I had superhuman eye sight as a kid.

[–]chak2005 47 points48 points ago

You only have 3 tiny floaters? Consider yourself lucky. My eyes look like a haunted house on Scooby Doo

[–]RogueChinchilla 25 points26 points ago

With all seriousness I hope your retina isn't detaching.

[–]Ramen44 21 points22 points ago

Commence RedditMD

[–]lnenad 19 points20 points ago

Bro that's just lupus.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]MightySneaker 5 points6 points ago

It's always worth a try. One day, ... it will be lupus.

[–]NacDragon 5 points6 points ago

I was really depressed when it actually was lupus...

[–]subshift 2 points3 points ago

It's cancer.

[–]pixelcat 4 points5 points ago

I had a serious panic one morning after playing starcraft for a long time. I woke up with tons of floaters. I got into a really expensive high quality eye place to check to see if my retina was detached and the guy looked into my eyes with a few instruments for 15minutes then told me to go home and drink some wine and relax.

I paid 350 with no insurance.

[–]foxdye 3 points4 points ago

yay let's give people something to have anxiety about!

[–]Sora_Livana 7 points8 points ago

I'm short-sighted and have several floating around permanently in my eyes. I got really stressed out until I went to the opticians just to make sure everything was still attached like it was supposed to be. He said it was normal - I wasn't happy, because that means there's no way to get rid of the buggers.

[–]kernelhappy 8 points9 points ago

As someone with really crappy myopia (short sighted/nearsighted) I've come to accept that as my eyes get worse, my focal distance will continue to get closer and closer and anything on my glasses, contacts or eye will become more and more distracting. I figure at some point I'll be able to name my floaters.

[–]magenta-meow227 3 points4 points ago

What would you name them? I'd probably call one Jesus.

[–]Sora_Livana 0 points1 point ago

I fear that if I start naming mine I'll realise exactly how many they are and make myself miserable as a consequence.

[–]c10ne 2 points3 points ago

Vitrectomy may be successful in treating more severe cases; [17][18] The technique usually involves making three openings through the part of the sclera known as the pars plana. Of these small gauge instruments, one is an infusion port to resupply a saline solution and maintain the pressure of the eye, the second is a fiber optic light source, and the third is a vitrector. The vitrector has a reciprocating cutting tip attached to a suction device. This design reduces traction on the retina via the vitreous material. A variant sutureless, self-sealing technique is sometimes used. For most cases, vitrectomies for floaters are successful but complications do occur. Complications include cataracts, retinal detachment, macular edema, hypotony, residual floaters, anterior vitreous detachment and optic nerve damage.

Laser vitreolysis: [19][20][21] In this procedure an ophthalmic laser (usually an Yttrium aluminium garnet "YAG" laser) is focused onto the floater and in a series of brief bursts, the laser vaporizes and lyses (cuts) the collagen strands of the floater. It is an outpatient process, which is much less invasive to the eye than a vitrectomy, with potentially fewer side effects. As of July 2010, laser treatment is not widely practiced and is performed by very few specialists. One of them, John Karickhoff, has performed the procedure more than 1,400 times and claims a 90 percent success rate. [22] The MedicineNet web site states that "there is no evidence that this [laser treatment] is effective. The use of a laser also poses significant risks to the vision in what is otherwise a healthy eye."

[–]Sora_Livana 0 points1 point ago

Ah, I should have clarified. There's no way to get rid of the buggers that I'd actually be able to do because of my squeamishness/reluctance to risk the side affects. It's a shame and an annoyance :)

[–]randomactsofcrazy 2 points3 points ago

I have that too, friend. The dangling spider ones.

[–]McTator 2 points3 points ago

I used to shoot competitive air rifle, and as a result of only using one eye for hours on end floaters would become so frequent I would have to take breaks so I could clearly see my sight picture

[–]lospinas 2 points3 points ago

IVe always thought air rifle was an interesting sport. The college I went to had a womens air rifle team and an indoor range for them.

[–]McTator 0 points1 point ago

Interesting is a strong word. Doing it is fun and satisfyingly challenging. But watching it is worse than watching paint dry.

[–]Pickled_Gorilla 5 points6 points ago

Yup, I AM going blind.

[–]BADGERBORN 10 points11 points ago

Does anybody know what these are

[–]Synux 12 points13 points ago

They're actually called floaters. I had a couple for a few years. The eye-doc said they'd probably settle out over time and they did. Fun fact, he thinks I got them from a blunt force trauma.

[–]dogsdieinhotcars 19 points20 points ago

Wait... They're supposed to go away? I've always had them and still have them. I'm never alone.

[–]Open_Zipper 6 points7 points ago

They are cause by tearing somewhere in the eye. They settle then more come. This may be false I am no expert. You might want to ask your optometrist to dilate your eyes and check for them the next time you go though.

[–]jesf 13 points14 points ago

Just so this comment doesn't freak anyone out, most of the time they're not from actual tears (which are a pretty big deal and should be looked at and treated by a doctor quickly), but just a harmless change in the vitreous humor.

[–]paranoidi 17 points18 points ago

my humor has been bad for years

[–]digitalscale 3 points4 points ago

Mine too. Way too much black bile.

[–]Apex3 11 points12 points ago

TIL those spots aren't dust on my eye

[–]Synux 2 points3 points ago

It took years and there's no guarantee, of course, but yes, mine are gone.

[–]Hosfac 2 points3 points ago

I've had the same floaters for about 30 years or so.

[–]DrewTheSchu 1 point2 points ago

I've had the same ones in mine for a good 20 years.

[–]BADGERBORN 5 points6 points ago

You'd think they'd have a more complicated name..thank you

[–]Timetogetstoned -2 points-1 points ago

I read once that they're actually white blood cells repairing things on/within your eye. Don't remember where I read it (maybe Reddit?), but that'd explain why a doctor told Synux that it's from blunt force trauma.

[–]ItsPieTime64 0 points1 point ago

I had mine for 9 years now. It seems to happen when I play sports. Should I be worried? Edit: "play" was spelled wrong.

[–]Synux 0 points1 point ago

I'm no doctor although I play one - oh forget it, I don't even play one. Anyway, maybe the jostling of athletics is stirring up the floaters and making them more visible. Just tossing that one out there.

[–]vanillaspice_ 0 points1 point ago

I think, and I may be very wrong, but I think it has something to do with blood pumping(or lack there of) through your body. I used I get terrible head rushes all the time and would see these floaters. And then my eyes would go black and I would hit the floor but I'm all good now!

[–]Hosfac 1 point2 points ago

When I was in rehab, I was told that repeated LSD use can cause them too. Not sure how true that is because I had them before that.

[–]rossryan 5 points6 points ago

Yeah, no. LSD gets blamed for an unbelievable number of things.

[–]walkthedog 1 point2 points ago

. . . and floaters is a new one.
Yup, it's a mad mad world out there.

[–]morris1022 -1 points0 points ago

Or blunt smoked trauma

[–]Synux 0 points1 point ago

I can't say if that would cause them but it likely would make them more entertaining.

[–]yourmumsface 0 points1 point ago

I had then for many years, gone now.

[–]ThaGriffman 0 points1 point ago

I'm sure i read here on Reddit a few months ago that they are white blood cells.

[–]sugarkat28 0 points1 point ago

It's the degrading of the vitreous humor of your eye.

[–]Vuguroth -1 points0 points ago

it's dust lying in the eye coating

[–]laur7620 19 points20 points ago

Am I the only one who doesn't have these?

[–]AsperaAstra 6 points7 points ago

I don't have 'em, apparently that's weird.

[–]SilverSultan 2 points3 points ago

Loosers.....

[–]bangbangchiefkeef 5 points6 points ago

right? tighten that shit up

[–]Oheina 5 points6 points ago

I've never had them. I've seen colored spots from looking into light or something, but I've never had an eye floater. I'm told that I'm weird.

[–]laur7620 3 points4 points ago

Reddit: where you find weird people just like yourself.

[–]Oheina 1 point2 points ago

Woohoo.

[–]KemptonS 2 points3 points ago

I've always wanted to experience them...

[–]ThePenguinBro 19 points20 points ago

Trust me. You don't.

[–]lucyintheskies 5 points6 points ago

I've never had them either. I do see like stars sometimes if I get up too fast or move to suddenly though.

[–]fossil98 0 points1 point ago

Yeah. That's the coolest shit ever. You can in my experience look at the stars, like little slow motion lightning bolts.

[–]Raver32 2 points3 points ago

I'm 45 years old, and I had to do some research to figure out what people are referring to.

[–]autorotatingKiwi 0 points1 point ago

Thanks, 40 year old ex raver here. At least I know it wasn't the raves that caused them...

[–]Cholerajim 1 point2 points ago

I've been reading up a bit on what it is and trying to induce them. Without much succes

[–]Consequentialist -1 points0 points ago

Same. Someone on reddit straight up told me a few months ago that I was lying when I told them I hadn't seen any. So I tried staring at paper, staring at a blue sky, staring at any single color, to no avail. I just can't see them. Where are you guys?!

[–]hefnetefne 1 point2 points ago

nope, never had these.

[–]sry9681 5 points6 points ago

OH GOD! i was moving my eyes because I thought it was happening to me but didnt realize that i was moving my eyes exactly the way that it was moving in the gif.....

[–]versanick 0 points1 point ago

I came here to confirm that I wasn't the only one to look at this gif for more than a few seconds before realizing this.

Damn!! Someone did an amazing job recreating these things on a computer image.

[–]sry9681 0 points1 point ago

True that.

[–]Jarakuda 3 points4 points ago

I like to look down then up and straight really fast to watch them slowly float down.

[–]hav118 6 points7 points ago

"Oh squiggly line in my eye fluid. I see you lurking there on the periphery of my vision. But when I try to look at you, you scurry away. Are you shy, squiggly line? Why only when I ignore you, do you return to the center of my eye? Oh, squiggly line, it’s alright, you are forgiven."

A poem by Stewie Griffin

[–]qwertyqaz2314 20 points21 points ago

HOLY FUCKING SHIT I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO GOT THESE JESUS CHRIST I DON'T FEEL ALONE ANYMORE !!!!!!!!!

p.s anyone know why we get these ?

[–]unsilentninja 3 points4 points ago

am I the only one that thinks these look like some kind of funky eye bacteria?

[–]andshewas_45 2 points3 points ago

Gotta hate the floaters.

[–]Clydeworgen 2 points3 points ago

In my younger days I was convinced that this is what air looks like. I asked my parents if they also saw "flying invisible worms", which of course they didnt. Therefor I knew I was the only one able to focus my eyes well enough to see air

[–]Zachrod 2 points3 points ago

Did anybody else get those in yur eyes after watching.

[–]Meebert 2 points3 points ago

I always saw a little connection between these and the random little particles floating around Kokri forest in Ocarina of Time.

[–]eawhite 0 points1 point ago

Kokiri Forest

FTFY

[–]bro-of-bros 1 point2 points ago

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD THIS PROBLEM

[–]Elliottderp 0 points1 point ago

What...

[–]LeFuneh 1 point2 points ago

I have 7 of them and perfectly round circle at the bottom of them all, my existence hurts because of it.

[–]deanjoseph 1 point2 points ago

i have one vitreous floater in my right eye that is so thick that it is essentially black. i was born with it, and it still drives me crazy.

[–]MeNicolesta 0 points1 point ago

Am I the only one who doesn't see this..?

[–]robt69er 1 point2 points ago

I thought I was the only one

[–]fifty2fifty 0 points1 point ago

they're called floaters and there is a doctor in aspen who specializes in clearing them up.

[–]strineGreen 0 points1 point ago

I thought i had some superpower to see radioactive waves with naked eyes, this is the first time i heard anyone else talk about this.

[–]adifferentkindasilly 0 points1 point ago

Omg thank you! For the longest time I thought these things were an early form of eye cancer. I've been so scared to get them checked due to my extremely sensitive eyes. You kind sir just gave me the ability to rest easy!

[–]ihatewolves 0 points1 point ago

This doesnt happen to me. I've been confused seeing them on the internet and family guy for years until a few months ago. Am I going to die?

[–]Rpgguyi 1 point2 points ago

I can say with 100% certainty that you are indeed going to die.

Also anyone that read this comment will unfortunately die too... sorry guys.

[–]TsukiKawaii 0 points1 point ago

Visit your optitian/eye doctor. I had floaters, and went for a routine appointment and it turned out I had a torn retina, and had surgery 2 days after.

[–]Gniwa 0 points1 point ago

I don't see anything?

[–]nick_is_raging 1 point2 points ago

Omg! You see it too. I never knew wth those things are. I thought I was alone. . .

[–]FattyMcPatty 0 points1 point ago

I have never had those ever. Why?

[–]davion223 0 points1 point ago

yea hate those

[–]spm_outkast 0 points1 point ago

I get them pretty badly. I should go to the doctor and make sure everything is alright. My optometrist told me I have a stretched retina and warned me about it becoming detached

[–]DeliciouzWafflz 0 points1 point ago

I get these when I'm taking a huge dump.

[–]OmeronX 0 points1 point ago

These things have been devastating to me recently. They're only in the right eye; but it doesn't matter because they're in center of what I'm looking at most of the time. Very frustrating while reading or driving.

There is nothing wrong with them (They have been looked at), they just suck. Multivitamins are suppose to help.

[–]BbIT 0 points1 point ago

Of*

[–]atydeny 1 point2 points ago

I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE! I used to think that I had the sole ability to see atoms or some shit.

[–]sasquatch606 1 point2 points ago

Oh squiggly line, its all right. You are forgiven.

[–]Bratva 0 points1 point ago

Usually from this repost, someone states this can be a horrible precaution to being hospitalized which is never explained.

Then the rest of the comments talk about how fun they are.

[–]boredottawaguy 0 points1 point ago

they're called floaters, just dead cells floating around in your eyes, if you also see a small dark dot thats a white blood cell. basically theres nothing you can do about it unless you want a rather risky surgery. those fuckers just wont go away

[–]onekoolkiddo 0 points1 point ago

I must be the only person on the planet who has never had one of these...

[–]Marieluvsu 1 point2 points ago

OH SQUIGGLY LINE IN MY EYE! I see you lurking there on the periphery of my vision. But when I try to look at you, you scurry away. Are you shy, squiggly line? Why only when I ignore you, do you return to the center of my eye? Oh, squiggly line, it's alright, you are forgiven.

[–]gynoceros 1 point2 points ago

Those are called floaters. If you wear glasses/contacts and are due for a new exam but your health insurance plan doesn't cover eye exams, tell your eye doctor you see them sometimes (because who doesn't?). Chances are, you'll get your eye exam for the cost of your copay (since it's now being done for a medical reason), which is typically cheaper than an exam done just for glasses.

[–]owendt74 0 points1 point ago

Here you are (mouches volantes): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouches_volantes

[–]Wycked1 0 points1 point ago

I had an eye injury 7 years ago. There was a lot of blood behind my eye for a long time. 99% of it cleared up... Cept for a tiny bit. Every now and then I notice it.

[–]gkanski 0 points1 point ago

I took shrooms once, and for about an hour i just saw those everywhere. It was amazing.

[–]keyboard_crusader 0 points1 point ago

I always thought it's due to a clog in some tiny arteries or blood vessels or whatever transports blood in your eyeballs. I can definitely see moving cells in my vision from time to time, and whenever these "floaters" enter one of my eyes' direct field of vision, it definitely looks like a bunch of tiny cells all stuck in some sort of vessel.
I sometimes get the urge to punch myself in the eye when this happens, just to unclog that sucker :/

[–]maclaugh622 0 points1 point ago

First time I found out they were common was in the movie Osmosis Jones. They're in Franks head and looking through his eyes and they appear.

[–]Frrstr 0 points1 point ago

Came to the comments expecting the science, was disappointed.

[–]TheMeatball 0 points1 point ago

I tried explaining this to friends and they thought I was crazy. I even showed them the wiki article.

[–]ChuckCharles420 0 points1 point ago

Wait, what is this phenomena called? I feel like i notice it more when it's sunny outside or very bright. I have noticed this before I was old enough to do drugs, so we can rule LSD out...

[–]AdrenochromeOD 0 points1 point ago

Is it weird that I have never experienced this? Or are you lot the weird ones?

[–]Jdf121 0 points1 point ago

They are called floaters. When the vitreous humor (the jelly like filling of your eye) degrades, OR you have had some sort of trauma to the eye. Mostly Harmless. They are visible because they move around in your eye, unlike the blood vessels and other stationary things in your eye that your brain tunes out.

[–]bigalpha 0 points1 point ago

I have one that looks exactly like the top one. I knew they were normal, but thought they were like snowflakes (each one is unique).

[–]Aussie_chopperpilot 0 points1 point ago

Dust. You have a close up of dust.

[–]themaskedugly 0 points1 point ago

When I was a kid, I always thought these were atoms, and that was my super power.

[–]rebellious_ltl_pony 0 points1 point ago

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE!

[–]BLANK23 0 points1 point ago

I have permanent squiggles after a finger in the eye during a football game. So annoying

[–]TobiMeller 0 points1 point ago

I've never had that in my eyes.

[–]manonion83 1 point2 points ago

This shit drives me NUTTTTSSSSS!!!!! I only ever see it at the office and I can't concentrate on my work! I am going to kill all of my colleagues.

[–]kkristynn 0 points1 point ago

It's weird seeing that and then having them in real life too at the same time.

[–]SloppySailor 0 points1 point ago

Am I the only one who's never experienced this?

[–]Alexrox437 0 points1 point ago

I thought I was the only one...

[–]cadsmar 0 points1 point ago

lol I have never had these before

[–]staringispolite 0 points1 point ago

Fun fact: You can actually get them off your pupil. I do something like this:

  • Slowly look right
  • Dart eyes to the left
  • Slowly circle around to the right again.
  • Repeat if scumbag other squiglies came in from the right

[–]the_mr_nutter 1 point2 points ago

How did they film that?

[–]DaGhostQc 15 points16 points ago

They've drilled a hole in the back of the patient head and fitted a GoPro behind his eye!

[–]Hollaberra -1 points0 points ago

I feel like this needs Red Foreman's qualifier.