Eye Floaters – What You Need To Know

1. Eye floaters can be very frustrating, they are spots that move around your field of vision, looking like black or grey strings, cobwebs, or specks. When you try and look at them they dart away. Most eye floaters are a result of age, which is caused when the jelly substance (vitreous) inside the eye becomes a liquid, causing the microscopic fibers to clump and cause shadows on the retina, these are known as floaters. Floaters are harmless, but if you notice an increase in floaters with light flashes or loss of peripheral vision, then this could be an emergency and you should contact your eye specialist immediately. Symptoms can vary, but usually include small shapes in your vision, spots that move around your eyes and disappear when you look at them to small strings that settle down and drift away. You must contact your eye specialist if you suddenly have a lot more new floaters, you have flashes of light in the eye that you have the floaters or you have darkness on the sides of your vision, known as your peripheral vision. The symptoms are painless, but they can be a result of a retina tear, which could be a serious problem and threaten your vision moving forward. Eye floaters are usually a result of the normal aging process, but they can also result from other eye diseases. Age-related changes are when the jelly substance that fills your eyeball becomes more liquid, causing the vitreous to pull away from the eyeball. The vitreous shrinks and sages, clumping and becoming more like string. Another common cause is when you experience inflammation at the back of the eye, causing the release of the inflammation debris into the vitreous, which you see as floaters. The inflammation is usually caused by infection. Bleeding in the eye is caused by several conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and injury. The blood cells are seen as floaters. Other causes of eye floaters include eye medications and surgery. Some surgeries that use silicone oil bubbles into the vitreous, may be seen as floaters. Risk factors include being over fifty, being near-sighted, experiencing eye trauma, having complications with cataract surgery, having diabetic retinopathy, or eye inflammation. Eye floaters can be managed without surgery or treatment. Most people learn to live with them, eventually even forgetting they are there. They are most visible when you look at a bright light, such as the sky or a blank page on your computer. Eye specialists will not offer surgery until it is necessary, which means regular monitoring of your floaters, ensuring they don't become more, and incorporate flashes of light in the eye.

2. If you do require surgery to manage your floaters, simply because they are affecting your quality of life, then you may be offered a vitrectomy. Vitrectomy is when the vitreous, jelly-like substance that gives your eye its shape is carefully removed and the area is filled with a gas or saline, which eventually is absorbed into the body as your body fills the area with natural liquid. This process is a relatively common day case surgery that does require strict post-operative requirements to ensure your surgery is a success. If you have eye floaters, it's advisable to speak to your eye doctor and discuss your options. Most eye doctors will monitor your floaters and only offer surgery when it advances or impacts your daily life. About Us: Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract, and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eyesight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina, and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons, and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit https://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com.