Is there an issue with your reading or driving? You might not be alone if you have ever experienced this scenario. The shadows or dark spots floating across your field of vision, could be a sign of eye floaters.
Many residents in Sydney are suffering from the same situation. In most of the cases, these “floaters” are harmless and are quite frequent as you age. However, it is advisable that if you see an increase in this eye disease, you must seek medical assistance immediately.
Continue reading to learn about the disease briefly and how to treat them.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Floaters are specks that can be visible in your line of eye vision. They are formed when microscopic aggregates grow in the clear, jelly-like fluid inside the eyeball, the vitreous humour. Floaters are suspended in this ‘jelly’ and move in sync with the movement of your eyeball.
Simply put, when light passes through irregularities in the vitreous gel, floaters arise.
Certain floaters resemble tiny dots, while others resemble threads or small hairy masses. A sudden increase in their quantity may signal injury to specific interior structures of the eye. This situation necessitates quick expert intervention. Individuals disregarding the signal might risk losing their peripheral vision.
Symptoms of the disease may include:
- Visualized as dark flecks or knobby, transparent strings of floating material.
- Moving spots that move out of your vision area when you try to gaze at them.
- Spots stand out against a bright background like a blue sky or a white wall.
- Short forms of strings that settle down and fade away.
When Is the Time for Attention?
The vitreous gel separates from the retina as it changes. This natural process is referred to as posterior vitreous detachment. Though it may occur in an unrecognizable manner, you may notice an increase in floaters if it separates more abruptly.
Precisely, the following situations might demand a consultation with an eye professional instantaneously:
- Significantly more floaters than usual.
- A dramatic increase in the number of new floaters.
- In the same eye as the floaters, there are flashes of light.
- Darkness on either or all edges of your field of vision or peripheral vision loss.
Treatment Options
Your doctor will inspect your eye and may recommend you to an ophthalmologist. They will examine the back of your eye more closely to determine the cause of this eye disease.
Usually, there are two viable treatments:
Vitrectomy:
A microscopic incision is made in the eye to remove the eye floater and some or all of the vitreous. A solution obliterates it, but the method may not completely solve the problem. The procedure also has its own set of complications, such as bleeding and retinal damage.
Note: The eye is temporarily filled with a solution to keep it from losing shape until your body makes and refills the solution.
Vitreolysis (Laser treatment):
Through a contact lens, nanosecond pulses of laser light are given to the eye. They tend to convert collagen molecules to gas. This decreases the size of the floater or eliminates it entirely. The surgery typically takes an hour.
You might need two or three treatments to eliminate your floaters completely.
Final Notes
Generally, eye floaters are harmless and dissolve on their own. You can significantly reduce your risk of developing this condition by adjusting your lifestyle.
However, if left untreated, they can indicate more significant disorders such as posterior vitreous separation, retinal rupture, or retinal detachment. If you ever feel the disease is significantly impairing your vision, visit a reputable doctor in Sydney immediately.
They will do a thorough review and recommend the best course of action.