Have you ever noticed spots, strands or squiggly lines floating about in your field of vision when you look at something bright like a blue sky? These are “floaters,” and in most cases they are harmless and can usually be ignored.
That said, if the floaters become more prominent, this could be a sign of an underlying eye condition. Your local cataract doctor explains more about floaters below.
What Causes Floaters?
The vitreous humor, the part of the eye that separates the lens and the retina, helps maintain the eyes’ round shape. As you age, the gel-like substance of this area may slowly shrink. When this happens, it becomes stringy, and the strands cast small shadows on the retina. These are the floaters that you see on your line of vision.
The strands or specks appear as you continue to age. They can be distracting, but they should eventually “settle” below your line of sight. That said, floaters may appear more frequently as a result of an infection, inflammation or injury to the eye. Your local cataract doctor explains that floaters are more common among people who have had cataract operations, are very nearsighted or have diabetes.
Treatment for Floaters
There is no recommended treatment for floaters. Simply move your eyes to shift the floaters away from your line of sight. However, there have been rare instances in which the density of floaters is so high that they seriously interfere with vision. In such cases, a vitrectomy may be needed to remove these annoyances.
In this procedure, the vitreous gel, as well as the floating debris is removed and replaced with a salt solution. This operation can lead to potential complications, such as retinal detachment and cataract formation. Unless floaters have significantly affected one’s vision, eye surgeons won’t usually recommend this procedure.
EyeSite of The Villages is here to help take care of your eyes. If you have problems with your vision, contact our glaucoma doctor or our eye care professionals at (352) 504-4560. We will look into what ails you and recommend the proper treatment. We serve residents of Oxford and Lady Lake, FL.
