An eye care professional can diagnose the underlying condition causing eye floaters with an eye exam. The ophthalmologist or optometrist will dilate your pupil so they can see inside the eye.
They may also check for signs of a retinal detachment or tear. Treatment for eye floaters depends on the cause. If eye floaters are not indicators of any other problem, they don't need to be treated. People often stop noticing them after a while and will usually learn to tolerate eye floaters when reassured that they aren't signaling an eye problem.
When eye floaters impact vision or if there's a serious cause, surgery may be recommended. Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing the vitreous from the eye and replacing it with a solution that mimics the vitreous. However, several risks are involved in this process—it can lead to a retinal tear or cataracts.
There is also no guarantee the surgery will eliminate all floaters. It is also possible to have laser surgery that will break up clumps of tissue that are causing the floaters. Some people who have this treatment report improved vision; others notice little or no difference. There is a risk that the laser can potentially damage the retina. Eye floaters can be a normal part of aging and are not a cause for concern in most cases. Getting your eyes checked by an eye doctor is the best way to make sure that your vision is healthy.
Whether you are experiencing floaters or not, it is essential that you schedule an appointment with an eye care specialist every two years—or more frequently if you have a family history of glaucoma or if recommended by your healthcare provider.
Routine eye exams can help catch and treat any serious conditions that cause eye floaters before the condition progresses. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Vitreous floaters: Etiology, diagnostics, and management.
Surv Ophthalmol. National Eye Institute. Vitreous Detachment. Updated September 8, Updated July 11, Vitreous hemorrhage. Cleaveland Clinic. Updated August 20, Mayo Clinic. Eye floaters commonly appear when you stare at a bright, plain surface, such as the sky, a reflective object, or blank paper. They may be present in only one eye, or they may be in both.
Age-related changes to the eye are the most common cause of eye floaters. The cornea and lens at the front of the eye focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye. As the light passes from the front of the eye to the back, it passes through the vitreous humor, a jelly-like substance inside your eyeball. Changes to the vitreous humor can lead to eye floaters.
This is a common part of aging and is known as vitreous syneresis. The thick vitreous begins to liquefy with age, and the inside of the eyeball becomes crowded with debris and deposits. The microscopic fibers inside the vitreous begin to clump together. As they do, the debris can be caught in the path of the light as it passes through your eye. This will cast shadows on your retina, causing eye floaters. Eye floaters are most common after age As the vitreous shrinks, it slowly pulls away from the retina.
If it pulls away suddenly, it may become completely detached. Symptoms of vitreous detachment include seeing flashes and floaters. Bleeding in the eye, also known as a vitreous hemorrhage, can cause eye floaters.
The bleeding may be caused by an infection, injury, or blood vessel leak. As the vitreous turns to liquid, the sac of gel will begin to pull on the retina. Eventually the stress may be enough to tear the retina completely. If a retinal tear is not treated quickly, the retina can become detached and separate from the eye.
A retinal detachment can lead to complete and permanent vision loss. They are often only a nuisance in otherwise healthy people, and they rarely signal a more serious problem. Your eyes will be checked to see if you might need to be seen by an eye doctor ophthalmologist for more tests or treatment. They're usually caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment PVD , where the gel inside your eyes changes.
Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment. Page last reviewed: 16 July Next review due: 16 July Floaters and flashes in the eyes.
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