What are eye floaters. How do they affect vision. When should you be concerned about eye floaters. What treatment options are available for eye floaters. How can you prevent eye floaters from worsening. What are the risk factors for developing eye floaters. How do eye doctors diagnose and treat eye floaters.

Understanding Eye Floaters: What They Are and Why They Occur

Eye floaters are a common visual phenomenon experienced by many individuals. These small spots, shadows, or squiggly lines that seem to drift through your field of vision are actually tiny pieces of debris floating in the vitreous, the gel-like substance that fills the back of your eye. While they may appear to be in front of your eye, they are actually floating inside it.

The primary cause of eye floaters is a natural process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). As we age, the vitreous begins to shrink and pull away from the retina, causing small fibers to clump together and cast shadows on the retina. These shadows are what we perceive as floaters.

Common Shapes and Appearances of Eye Floaters

• Spots
• Squiggly lines
• Thread-like strands
• Small shadowy shapes
• Black or very dark spots

While floaters are generally harmless, they can be a sign of more serious eye conditions in some cases. It’s essential to understand when they might indicate a problem that requires immediate medical attention.

The Prevalence of Eye Floaters: Who’s at Risk?

Eye floaters are a widespread visual issue, with an estimated 30 percent of the population noticing them at some point in their lives. However, certain factors can increase your likelihood of experiencing floaters:

• Age: Floaters typically begin to occur between ages 50 and 75
• Nearsightedness: People with myopia are more prone to developing floaters
• Cataract surgery: Those who have undergone this procedure may be more likely to experience floaters
• Diabetes: Diabetic retinopathy can lead to the formation of floaters
• Eye injuries: Trauma to the eye can cause floaters to develop

Understanding your risk factors can help you be more vigilant about changes in your vision and prompt you to seek medical attention when necessary.

When Eye Floaters Become a Cause for Concern

While most eye floaters are benign and don’t require treatment, there are certain situations where they may indicate a more serious underlying condition. It’s crucial to be aware of the warning signs that necessitate immediate medical attention.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

• A sudden and dramatic increase in the number of floaters
• Flashes of light in your peripheral vision
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Progressive changes to your vision
• Eye pain accompanying the floaters

These symptoms could be indicative of more serious eye conditions, such as:

1. Retinal detachment
2. Retinal tear
3. Vitreous hemorrhage
4. Inflammation of the vitreous or retina
5. Eye tumors

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to contact an eye doctor immediately. Early intervention can significantly improve the chances of protecting your vision and preventing permanent vision loss.

Diagnostic Procedures for Eye Floaters

When you visit an eye doctor with concerns about floaters, they will likely perform a comprehensive eye examination to assess your overall eye health and determine the cause of your symptoms. The diagnostic process may include:

• Visual acuity test
• Dilated eye exam
• Tonometry to measure intraocular pressure
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
• Ultrasound imaging of the eye

These tests allow the eye doctor to examine the vitreous, retina, and other structures of the eye in detail, helping them identify any underlying issues that may be causing your floaters or posing a risk to your vision.

Treatment Options for Bothersome Eye Floaters

For most people, eye floaters are a minor annoyance that doesn’t require treatment. Over time, the brain often learns to ignore them, making them less noticeable. However, if floaters significantly impact your quality of life or interfere with your vision, there are treatment options available.

Non-Invasive Management Techniques

Before considering more invasive treatments, your eye doctor may recommend some simple techniques to manage floaters:

• Eye movements: Moving your eyes up and down can shift the position of floaters, temporarily making them less noticeable
• Focusing on distant objects: This can help reduce the appearance of floaters in your immediate field of vision
• Maintaining good eye health: Regular eye check-ups and a healthy lifestyle can help prevent the development of new floaters

Vitrectomy: A Surgical Solution for Severe Cases

In cases where floaters significantly impair vision or quality of life, a surgical procedure called vitrectomy may be recommended. This operation involves removing the vitreous gel from the eye and replacing it with a saline solution. While effective, it’s important to note that vitrectomy carries some risks, including:

• Retinal detachment
• Retinal tears
• Cataracts
• Infection

Due to these potential complications, vitrectomy is typically only considered in severe cases where the benefits outweigh the risks.

Preventing Eye Floaters and Maintaining Ocular Health

While it’s not always possible to prevent eye floaters, there are steps you can take to maintain good eye health and reduce your risk of developing floaters or other eye problems:

1. Regular eye exams: Schedule comprehensive eye check-ups at least once every two years, or more frequently if recommended by your eye doctor
2. Protect your eyes: Wear protective eyewear during activities that pose a risk of eye injury
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: A balanced diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, can support eye health
4. Stay hydrated: Proper hydration helps maintain the gel-like consistency of the vitreous
5. Manage underlying health conditions: Keep conditions like diabetes under control to reduce the risk of eye complications

By adopting these habits, you can help preserve your vision and reduce the likelihood of developing bothersome eye floaters or more serious eye conditions.

The Impact of Eye Floaters on Quality of Life

While eye floaters are often dismissed as a minor inconvenience, their impact on quality of life can be significant for some individuals. Understanding how floaters can affect daily activities and mental well-being is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers.

Psychological Effects of Persistent Floaters

For some people, the constant presence of floaters in their field of vision can lead to:

• Anxiety and stress
• Difficulty concentrating
• Reduced enjoyment of visual activities like reading or watching movies
• Concerns about long-term vision health

It’s important for individuals experiencing distress due to floaters to discuss their concerns with an eye care professional. In some cases, counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful in managing the psychological impact of persistent floaters.

Adaptations and Coping Strategies

Many people find ways to adapt to the presence of floaters in their daily lives. Some effective coping strategies include:

1. Using reading glasses or magnifiers to make text clearer and reduce the visibility of floaters
2. Adjusting lighting conditions to minimize the contrast between floaters and the background
3. Practicing mindfulness techniques to reduce focus on floaters
4. Engaging in activities that naturally shift focus away from visual distractions

By implementing these strategies, many individuals can significantly reduce the impact of floaters on their daily lives and overall well-being.

Emerging Research and Future Treatment Possibilities

As our understanding of eye floaters and their impact on vision continues to grow, researchers are exploring new treatment options and preventive measures. Some promising areas of study include:

Pharmacological Interventions

Scientists are investigating the potential of certain drugs to break down or reduce the visibility of floaters. While still in early stages, this research could lead to non-invasive treatments for bothersome floaters in the future.

Laser Therapy Advancements

Improvements in laser technology may offer new possibilities for treating floaters without the need for invasive surgery. Ongoing studies are evaluating the safety and efficacy of advanced laser treatments for breaking up or vaporizing floaters.

Regenerative Medicine

Research into stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine techniques could potentially lead to methods for repairing or regenerating the vitreous, addressing the root cause of many floaters.

While these areas of research hold promise, it’s important to note that new treatments must undergo rigorous testing and approval processes before becoming widely available. In the meantime, individuals experiencing troublesome floaters should continue to work closely with their eye care professionals to manage their symptoms and protect their vision health.

Eye floaters, while common and often benign, can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life and may sometimes indicate more serious underlying conditions. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and available treatments for eye floaters, patients can make informed decisions about their eye health and seek appropriate care when necessary. Regular eye exams, a healthy lifestyle, and prompt attention to any sudden changes in vision remain the cornerstone of maintaining good eye health and preventing vision-threatening complications.

Eye Floaters: Should I Worry?

Dr. Russel Lazarus, February 11, 2021

Eye floaters can be a sign of serious disease, but now eye doctors can successfully treat with a range of very effective options.

What are eye floaters?

Eye floaters are small spots that can appear in a variety of shapes and shadows. They tend to drift or “float” through the visual field, and have the tendency to become even more noticeable after looking at a bright image or walking to the outside from indoors.

It is estimated that around 30 percent of the population notice eye floaters, yet the impact of this common visual problem on our quality of life remains hugely underestimated.

Though floaters may be irritating, they generally become less noticeable overtime, and they should not interfere with your clarity of vision.

However, if eye floaters start to bother you or affect your quality of life your eye doctor may be able to help you.

If you have floaters, you may see:

• Spots
• Squiggly lines
• Thread-like strands
• Small shadowy shapes
• Black or very dark spots

If eye floaters come on suddenly or change in shape or size, or you suddenly begin to see flashes in your visual field, contact your eye doctor immediately, as this may a sign of a serious retinal disease.

What causes eye floaters?

Floaters are made up of tiny pieces of protein, called collagen, that break off of the vitreous, or the jelly-like substance located in the back of the eye.

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)

As we age, the vitreous inside the eye begins to shrink and detach itself from the retina, this is called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

PVD is the most common cause of floaters and occurs when tiny fibers of collagen break away from the vitreous and join together, casting shadows onto the retina— and manifesting as floaters in your visual field.

Floaters can appear at any age, but typically begin to occur between ages 50 and 75. People who are nearsighted or who have undergone cataract surgery are more likely to experience floaters.

In rare cases, floaters can also result from:

• Eye injury
• Eye disease
• Eye tumors
• Diabetic retinopathy

Serious eye conditions that can cause floaters include:

• Retinal detachment
• Retinal tear
• Bleeding in the vitreous
• Inflamed vitreous or retina
• Eye tumors

If you suspect you have an eye condition, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: The 4 Frequent Eye Conditions

Find an eye doctor near you

When should I worry about eye floaters?

Contact your eye doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms: 

• A sudden and dramatic increase in the number of floaters
• Flashes of light
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Progressive changes to your vision
• Eye pain

The sooner you receive medical care, the greater your chances of protecting your vision and preventing vision loss. 

How can I get rid of floaters?

Floaters are a common occurrence and are a part of the natural aging process. If they begin to get on your nerves, believe it or not, moving your eyes up and down can make floaters disappear, at least temporarily.

Shifting your eyes up and down helps to move the eye fluid around and consequently, the collagen fibers as well.

In most cases, if floaters are not disrupting your quality of life, there is no need to treat them. 

However, if floaters begin to affect your vision clarity, your eye doctor may recommend a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy. This procedure involves removing the vitreous and replacing it with a specific saline solution.

It is important to be aware though, that while uncommon, this surgery can pose some risks to your vision, such as:

• Retinal detachment
• Retinal tear
• Cataracts

If you notice floaters in your visual field, you can rest assured that in most cases, they are not a cause for concern. 

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

It is always a good idea to schedule an eye exam if you experience any type of vision changes to rule out any serious eye conditions.

Keeping up with your regular eye exams is the best way to protect your eyes and to ensure a lifetime of good eye health and vision.

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Eye Floaters: Should I Worry? »

8 ‘Do Not Ignore’ Warning Signs of Serious Eye Problems

Serious eye problems often do not cause any pain. Here are 8 warning signs that should not be ignored.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 21 million Americans are impacted by vision problems. Many of these issues are comparatively minor, such as mild hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness), both of which can be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.

However, eye conditions such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy and wet age-related macular degeneration can cause sudden damage to your eyes – even complete and permanent blindness, if your eye doctor doesn’t detect and treat them early.

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of these serious eye conditions, so  you can alert your eye doctor immediately if you are experiencing them.

Here are 8 “Do Not Ignore” warning signs of serious eye problems.

1. Sudden blurry or distorted vision

This symptom may be the most obvious one for patients to notice.

If you experience sudden blurriness or a distortion in your vision, like a straight line that appears wavy, consult your eye doctor immediately.

Sudden blurry vision can affect either your peripheral vision or in your central vision, and can be a sign of many very serious eye conditions.

Some of these conditions require immediate attention from an eye care professional in order to prevent permanent total or partial blindness.

Conditions that may cause blurry or distorted vision include:

• Detached retina
• Angle-closure glaucoma
• Corneal infection
• Wet age-related macular degeneration
• Macular edema
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Diabetic retinopathy

2. Swelling on or around the eye

Inflammation and irritation of the eyelids and the tissues surrounding the eye can cause the eye to swell and become discolored.

Swelling around the eye can be caused by trauma anywhere on the head, face or neck, or from a mild to severe allergic reaction to bug bites, pollen, animal dander or other allergens and irritants in the environment.

Usually, the swelling goes down as the affected area heals, or the allergens causing the swelling are removed.

However, if swelling persists over a longer period of time, this may be a sign of a more serious issue, such as:

• Black eye
• Corneal ulcer
• Graves’ disease
• Cellulitis
• Scleritis
• Blocked tear duct
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Blepharitis

3. Headaches

Headaches can feel different depending on what is causing them. Individuals can feel a dull ache or sharp pain behind their eyes or in the temples.

Headaches can come and go quickly, or they can linger for hours or days.

If there are no serious underlying issues, over-the-counter medications can be very helpful.

However, if regular headache medications aren’t working and the pain persists, it is advisable to consult healthcare professionals.

Although they are often a sign of emotional or physical stress, headaches can also be a symptom of serious eye conditions as well.

Some of these conditions may be emergencies requiring an urgent call to your eye doctor immediately.

Eye conditions that can cause headaches include:

• Photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye)
• Angle-closure glaucoma
• Migraine
• Corneal infection
• Eyestrain

SEE RELATED: Pressure Behind the Eye: 6 Frequent Causes

If you are experiencing any signs on this page you may have an eye disease or injury that requires immediate attention. Contact an eye doctor immediately.

Find an eye doctor near you

4. Red eyes

When your eyes become irritated or inflamed, the blood vessels expand, causing the white parts of your eyes to appear pink or red. This can be caused by a number of factors, including allergies, smoke and pollutants in the air around you.

If you suddenly notice red eyes, you may have an eye condition that, in serious cases, can potentially cause long-term eye damage and even blindness. 

Injuries and conditions that can cause extended red eye are:

• Uveitis
• Blepharitis
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Glaucoma

5. Oversensitivity to light

Our eyes are naturally equipped to deal with varying degrees of light.

However, when the eye is unable to cope with the amount of incoming light, it causes what’s known as photophobia, or light sensitivity.

Some mild photophobia is normal, as when you walk outside after a movie at the theater, or when first waking up in the morning to sunlight in your room.

But severe photophobia that lingers may be a sign of something more serious.

Severe or extended photophobia may signal:

• Migraine
• Cataracts
• Strabismus (eye turn, either inward or outward)
• Allergies
• Keratoconus
• Corneal abrasion (a scratch on the eye)

5. Floaters

Floaters are the little lines, dots, specks and webs that seem to float around in your vision, especially when you’re looking at plain or blank objects, such as a white wall or blank computer screen.

If you experience a sudden onset of floaters, or more floaters than you’re accustomed to, you should contact your eye doctor immediately. 

Although they seem to be floating around in front of your eyes, what you are actually seeing is clumps of cells floating inside your eyes. These clumps cast shadows on the retina, at the back of your eye, and appear as floaters.

As with many things on this list, occasional floaters in small numbers should not be cause for concern.

Some conditions that may cause severe floaters are:

• Uveitis
• Torn retina
• Detached retina
• Ocular lymphoma
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Posterior vitreous detachment

6. Night blindness

Normally the eye is well equipped to handle low-light situations. The pupil will expand to take in as much available light as possible, allowing us  to see in poorly-lit environments.

Some serious eye conditions limit the eye’s ability to take in this light or to process it, making it difficult to see at night or in dimly lit environments.

Conditions that can cause night blindness include:

• Nystagmus
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Retinitis pigmentosa

7. Flashes

Sudden flashes in your vision can be common as you age, as this usually happens as a result of vitreous fluid tugging or rubbing on the retina, at the back of your eye.

If you notice lights that can appear as lightning flashes, flashing bulbs, or bright stars, these can be the first sign of injury or other eye conditions.

A worrying sign is seeing these after a head injury or concussion.

Conditions that can cause flashes include:

• Migraine
• Detached retina
• Torn retina
• Post-surgical complications

LEARN MORE: Guide to Eye Health

If you are experiencing any signs on this page you may have an eye disease or injury that requires immediate attention. Contact an eye doctor immediately.

It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of serious eye conditions, so you can alert your eye doctor immediately if you are experiencing them.

Early treatment of serious eye conditions could restore your vision and ensure you enjoy years of good eye health. 

Visual impairment: main causes

Author

Shcheglova Zoya Pavlovna

Ophthalmologist

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Causes of visual impairment

Visual impairment can be caused by various reasons.

When working with papers and a computer , vision inevitably decreases somewhat towards the end of the day. This means that you are at risk of developing ophthalmic diseases. The risk increases if you have to strain your eyes all the time, if general fatigue accumulates, with stress, insomnia, lack of vitamins and malnutrition,

Against this background, refractive errors – myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism can progress. With age, retinal atrophy can occur (this is a common cause of visual impairment in people over 70). One of the most common causes of visual impairment is cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye). Another possible cause is glaucoma (a disease associated with an increase in intraocular pressure caused by excessive accumulation of eye fluid). The development of glaucoma is accompanied by pain in the eyes and the appearance of iridescent circles when looking at a light source. Visual impairment can also be caused by an eye injury.

If vision falls unevenly or only in one eye, the difference between the signals received from both eyes is significant, and the image may double. If the double vision is too strong, the brain can disable the weaker eye from seeing (amblyopia). Amblyopia
becomes an additional factor that worsens vision. Especially often amblyopia develops in children 3-7 years old.

systemic diseases can also be the cause of vision loss i. Endocrine diseases such as pituitary adenoma, Basedow’s disease, diabetes mellitus can cause visual impairment.

A sharp deterioration in vision in both eyes may be the result of disorders of the central nervous system , and a drop in vision in one eye may be due to a violation of the blood supply . Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is one of the possible causes of visual impairment.

Decreased visual function can be caused by taking certain medications. It can also be explained by poisoning and even infectious diseases (for example, botulism). In the latter case, visual impairment is only one of many severe symptoms.

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When you need a doctor’s help

In case of significant visual impairment in a short period, you should urgently contact an ophthalmologist. Also, the help of a doctor is necessary if the decrease in vision is accompanied by pain in the eye, swelling and redness of the eye.

Where to turn in Moscow in case of visual impairment?

If you notice that your vision has begun to deteriorate, contact JSC “Family Doctor”.

Experienced and qualified ophthalmologists of our polyclinics will determine the cause of visual impairment, prescribe the necessary treatment and correct visual function. If a child’s vision deteriorates, it should be shown to a pediatric ophthalmologist.

You can always choose a clinic that is conveniently close to your home or work.

Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

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Blurry image, flies before the eyes, double vision – signs of visual impairment caused by injury or disease, and not only the eye. Age and modern lifestyle also affect eye health not in the best way, but even this should not be put up with.

If your eyes begin to see poorly, you need to seek professional help, because initially slight changes in vision worsen over time and sometimes lead to blindness. Consultation with an ophthalmologist will save you from expensive treatment and serious illnesses.

What visual problems do we have?

A person notices that he can hardly distinguish between bus numbers and squints while reading small text. Only then does he realize that he began to see badly. But this is not the only sign of visual impairment. Typical changes that not everyone immediately pays attention to:

• fuzzy, double image;
• flies before the eyes, halo effect, light flashes;
• brightness and color reduction;
• photophobia;
• strabismus.

Why does vision deteriorate?

Most of the problems are associated with age-related changes and diseases:

1. Presbyopia occurs due to the weakening of the eye muscles and lens;
2. Cataract occurs in the elderly;
3. Glaucoma appears more often in hypertensive patients;
4. Diabetic retinopathy due to high blood sugar and high blood pressure;
5. Macular degeneration is the main culprit in blindness after 60;
6. Retinal detachment.

Vision sometimes deteriorates as a result of taking certain medications (antihistamines and antimalarials, for example), trauma, or excessive sun exposure.