At a recent eye examination, I told my doctors I was seeing spots or something floating in my eye into my field of vision. These eye floaters are tiny spots, flecks or cobwebs that drift around into your field of vision. People also describe them as straight and curved lines, strings or blobs in the shape of an “O” or “C”. They are very common, annoying, but usually not cause for alarm. These floaters are tiny pieces of vitreous (the gel-like substance inside your eye) that breaks loose within the inner back portion of your eye. As you age the vitreous begins to dissolve and liquefy to create a watery center. Undissolved gel particles occasionally will float around in the liquid center of the vitreous. You will notice floaters more when you look at a bright clear blue sky or a white computer screen or wall. These are shadows are from the floaters that cast it onto the retina as light passes through the eye.
What causes eye floaters and spots?
You eye is filled with vitreous gel that presses against and attaches to the retina. Floaters result from a vitreous detachment and are in the interior center of the eye. Floaters move when you move your eye. They eventually settle down to the bottom of the vitreous cavity out of the line of vision. These eye floaters are results of age-related changes in the vitreous humor that helps to maintain the round shape of the eyeball. As the gelatinous gel shrinks within the space in your eyeball, the back surface of the vitreous moves forward into that space. Risk factors include persons over the age of 50 years of age, nearsightedness, eye trauma, complications from cataract surgery, diabetic retinopathy and I inflammation in the eye.
When to seek medical attention.
If you see an increase in the number of floaters with light flashes you should seek medical attention immediately. This could mean the vitreous is pulling away from your retina or the retina is becoming dislodged from the inner back of the eye, tearing your retina and leading to detachment. An eye surgeon needs to reattach the retina and restore function so you do not lose your vision permanently.
Keep your eye health in check with yearly eye examinations, which includes the doctor dilating your pupil to monitor eye floaters. Most require no treatment unless they interfere with your vision. There is a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy where a needle withdraws the vitreous humor from your eye and replaces it with a saltwater solution. However, the complications of this procedure included retinal detachment and cataracts. Laser treatment of eye floaters is an option to break up the floaters, however, poses significant risks to your vision. Most eye floaters decrease in size with time as they are absorbed in the eye.
Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eye-floaters/DS01036
Medicine Net: http://www.medicinenet.com/eye_floaters/article.htm
