About
I'm Simon — and I see floaters.
Founder of FloaterGuide · living with floaters since my early 30s
I didn't build FloaterGuide because I'm an ophthalmologist or because I make money from it. I built it because I missed the platform I would have needed myself — back when I first noticed that little black dot drifting through my field of vision and had no idea what it meant.
The moment it started
I was in my early 30s when I first noticed a small black dot in my field of vision. It was there — and it followed my gaze wherever I looked. I had no idea what it was, and I was genuinely scared.
My first stop — heart pounding — was an eye doctor. Luckily, he was patient and thorough: full exam, no findings, harmless. I walked out relieved. And I thought the topic was closed.
"I still remember exactly how it felt when the doctor said: 'It's harmless, a lot of people have this.' For a moment I was relieved. I had no idea back then that this one little dot was only the beginning."
What I was missing back then was a calm, matter-of-fact voice explaining: What exactly are you seeing? When is it harmless, when is it not? What options exist — and what do the clinics quietly leave out?
What I couldn't find online
I searched. A lot. In English you get plenty of generic patient explainers, a handful of clinic websites pushing treatment, and big medical publishers like Mayo Clinic or WebMD that stop at the surface. Helpful if you already know you want a procedure — not so helpful if you're trying to understand what's actually going on.
There are a few dedicated patient organisations and engaged forums, and they do good work. But I couldn't find a single platform that pulls everything together: foundational knowledge, treatment options, day-to-day coping, specialists, and an honest first-person perspective.
At some point I stopped looking — and started building.
What I am — and what I'm not
What I am
- ✓ Living with floaters myself for several years
- ✓ An obsessive researcher (studies, journals, doctor conversations)
- ✓ Independent — no clinic, no device manufacturer in the background
- ✓ Honest about uncertainty and gaps in the evidence
What I'm not
- ✗ Not a doctor, not a medical professional
- ✗ No medical training
- ✗ Not a substitute for medical advice
- ✗ Not an affiliate marketer for treatments
I'm trying to close the gap between what a doctor can explain in a 10-minute consultation and what patients actually want to know. Everything I write is either backed by sources or clearly marked as personal experience.
My path with floaters
The years after that first visit went by quietly — at first. One dot turned into several. The day-to-day strain grew: screen work became more tiring, the beach turned into a stress test, even the gym — bright walls, bright lighting — made the floaters impossible to ignore. Dark mode became my default. Outdoors, I switched to very dark sunglasses.
I asked several ophthalmologists. The message was always roughly the same: "You'll have to live with it." Sometimes blunt, sometimes kinder — but the core message didn't change. A vitrectomy was considered too risky in my case. YAG laser vitreolysis wasn't an option either, because my opacities were sitting in an unfavourable position.
Where I stand today: I haven't had a procedure, and right now no procedure is on the table for me. I follow the research closely — there are promising approaches, and I hope that picture shifts. Until then I get by with dark mode, good sunglasses, and the knowledge that I'm not alone.
I know that's not the right answer for everyone. Some people are genuinely suffering — and they deserve fair, honest information about their options, without scare tactics and without a hidden sales agenda. That's exactly why FloaterGuide exists.
Why FloaterGuide — and not just a blog?
I wanted more than a blog. FloaterGuide should grow into a platform where people affected by floaters can not only read, but also get a sense of how much it's affecting them (self-test) and stay on top of new research.
This is a one-person project — I build, write and curate everything myself. That means it grows slowly. But it also means no SEO agency is mass-producing empty content here, and no publisher is deciding which treatment gets the spotlight.
If you have feedback, spot an error, or simply want to share your own experience — I read every message.
My promise to you
- → I always separate established facts from personal experience.
- → I link to sources — no unsupported claims.
- → I tell you when I don't know something, or when the evidence is thin.
- → I never recommend a treatment I have a financial stake in.
- → This site isn't a replacement for a doctor — it prepares you for one.