What are Eye Floaters?

Q: Can "floaters" be removed surgically?

There are 2 surgical options: Laser Therapy Laser treatment is used to break larger and concentrated vitreous floaters into smaller fragments to improve and eliminate floater symptoms. However, it is not suitable for everyone. For example, if the floaters are loose or the location is too close to the macula or lens, it is not suitable to perform it to avoid complications such as cataracts or macular damage. Vitrectomy The vitreous humour is removed through a small incision and replaced with a solution to maintain the shape of the eye. Vitrectomy does not necessarily remove the floaters completely, and new floaters may form if the surgery itself causes bleeding or slash in the retina.

Q: How to distinguish physiological and pathological floaters?

Physiological floaters: Normal physiological changes in the vitreous body The vitreous body has congenital impurities in it Pathological floaters: Retinal tears, peeling, punctures, and degeneration Vitreous hemorrhage Macular degeneration Eye bleeding and inflammation caused by diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and ocular stroke

Do you see any floaters in your field of vision, e.g. small black spots or blotches, threads, fragments of cobwebs? These are all symptoms of eye floaters.

Eye floaters are a condition in which the clear vitreous humour in the eye degrades slowly, liquefies and becomes opaque, forming small debris floating in the vitreous. When light enters the eye, the refracted and clouded tissue is projected onto the retina. What we see is the shadow of a floating object. Causes include vitreous degeneration, vitreous detachment and retinal holes, etc. But if you see flashes or the sudden appearance of a large number of floaters, these symptoms may indicate the possibility of retinal detachment. It is necessary to seek immediate medical attention and conduct an eye examination as ophthalmologists will advise on the proper treatment to prevent permanent visual loss.

Causes of Eye Floaters

Vitreous degeneration due to aging

Aging of the eyes is the most common cause. As age increases, the vitreous body of the eye degenerates and shrinks, gradually detaching from the originally tightly bound retina, and the vitreous body fibers inside may become turbid, projecting many small black dots on the retina, becoming a common sight for people with floaters.

Vitreous detachment from the retinal surface

Retinal detachment can cause floaters. If floaters are caused by retinal problems, you must seek medical attention immediately, otherwise it may lead to blindness in severe cases.

Retinal holes

A tear in the retina can cause floaters. If floaters are caused by retinal problems, you must seek medical attention immediately, otherwise it may lead to blindness in severe cases.

Diabetes

Diabetic patients are prone to new and abnormal blood vessels on the retinal surface. The blood vessels are fragile and prone to rupture, making the vitreous hemorrhage and retinal damage prone to blurred vision, making them more susceptible to floaters.

Deep myopia

The deeper the degree of myopia, the longer and longer the eyeball will become, and the tissue in the eye will be stretched, thinned, and even ruptured, thereby increasing the risk of retinal rupture and detachment, causing floaters.

Eyeball hemorrhage

Eyeball hemorrhage, also known as hemorrhagic floaters, as the name suggests, is caused by retinal hemorrhage, causing dense black spots to appear in front of the eyes, forming floaters.

Eye inflammation

If your eyes have been traumatized or inflamed, impurities may enter the vitreous and cause "floaters" to be seen in your eyes.

Symptoms of Floaters

According to patients' descriptions, common symptoms of floaters include: black spots in front of the eyes, black mesh-like floating objects, flashes of light, and a veil in the field of vision. These symptoms are particularly noticeable in brightly lit areas or against a white background. If the symptoms of floaters increase significantly, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately for a detailed eye examination.

Dark spots

Floating cobwebs

Flashes in vision

Veil crossing vision

Treatment methods for floaters

Under normal circumstances, as long as you are used to coexisting with floaters and your daily life is not affected, no treatment is required. If the floaters are too large or too numerous, floaters suddenly attack or flash, causing vision damage, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible and remove them with surgery or laser treatment. It is also recommended that patients with floaters undergo a retinal examination every six months to one year. If symptoms worsen during the period, they should return early and receive a comprehensive examination.

Laser Therapy

This treatment aims at breaking larger and more centralized floaters into smaller pieces to improve and get rid of eye floaters. The procedure is painless and will be performed under local anaesthesia. This therapy, however, may not be suitable for all patients, for example, if the floaters are not loose or located too close to the macula or lens, it is not advisable to undergo laser treatment to avoid complications such as cataract or macular damage.

Vitrectomy

The vitreous inside the eye is removed through a small incision and replaced with a solution to maintain the eye's shape. Vitrectomy does not necessarily completely remove floaters, and new floaters may form if the surgery itself causes bleeding or retinal tears.

It is crucial to have regular eye examinations so that your doctor can be aware of any changes and help detect eye floaters and other abnormalities.

Floaters FAQ

Why do "floaters" appear?

When the transparent vitreous body in the eye gradually deteriorates, the vitreous body will liquefy and become cloudy, forming small debris floating in the vitreous body. There may also be flashes of light or a sudden large number of floaters due to retinal detachment, so regular eye examinations are required to follow up on the condition of the eyes.

Do floaters disappear or heal on their own?

Eye floaters do not go away over time, but they do become less noticeable and settle at the bottom of your eye.

Do eye floaters affect my vision?

In general, they do not affect the visual acuity and you can get used to floaters. If you see flashes or a sudden appearance of many floaters, these symptoms may indicate retinal detachment, which can be serious enough to cause permanent visual loss.

Can "floaters" be removed surgically?

There are 2 surgical options:

Laser Therapy

Laser treatment is used to break larger and concentrated vitreous floaters into smaller fragments to improve and eliminate floater symptoms. However, it is not suitable for everyone. For example, if the floaters are loose or the location is too close to the macula or lens, it is not suitable to perform it to avoid complications such as cataracts or macular damage.

Vitrectomy

The vitreous humour is removed through a small incision and replaced with a solution to maintain the shape of the eye. Vitrectomy does not necessarily remove the floaters completely, and new floaters may form if the surgery itself causes bleeding or slash in the retina.

How to distinguish physiological and pathological floaters?

Physiological floaters:

Normal physiological changes in the vitreous body
The vitreous body has congenital impurities in it

Pathological floaters:

Retinal tears, peeling, punctures, and degeneration
Vitreous hemorrhage
Macular degeneration
Eye bleeding and inflammation caused by diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and ocular stroke