Eye floaters are cobweb like spots that seem to move or float across your field of vision. These are exceptionally prominent when you look at a white surface (a sheet of paper, or a blank wall) or when you look at the blue sky. Most patients who complain of floaters find them distressing and annoying. Very rarely, however, do floaters interfere with your vision. In case they are large in size, floaters can cast a shadow on the visual field. In case the floaters are numerous, they can cause interference with vision also.
Floaters can affect anyone, but are more common after the age of 50, and in people with myopia.
Symptoms of eye floaters
Most of us notice a spot floating or darting around in our eyes. They usually do not make your vision hazy. The eye floaters can be of different shapes:
• Dots
• Squiggles and helices
• Threadlike
• Cobwebs
• Ring or a collapsed ring
Causes of eye floaters
Vitreous degeneration
The vitreous is a gel like substance at the back of your eye. This vitreous is loosely attached to your retina in the periphery. With age, the vitreous degenerates into its solid (protein) and liquid components. The protein thereafter clumps to form shadows on the retina. These are the floaters that we see. The small flecks of collagen, thus, appear to float inside the eye.
Retinal tear
The vitreous also shrinks, and pulls away from the retina. This is called posterior vitreous detachment or PVD. As the vitreous detaches from the retina, you may see a ring like floater.
Consequent to a PVD, you may also see flashes of light. This is because of a pull on the retina. This pull can cause damage to the retina. The retina may, thus, have small tear or hole. The damage to retinal blood vessels may also add to the problem as they bleed into the vitreous. Therefore, there is an increase in the number of floaters.
Migraine
Sometimes, a migraine may start with floaters. This is called a visual aura. You may see different colors and haloes before the start of a headache. Generally, it lasts for a few minutes and may affect both eyes. The floaters then disappear, unlike those associated with vitreous degeneration.
Other causes of floaters
• Uveitis
• Eye injury
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Crystal-like deposits in the vitreous (asteroid hyalosis, synchisis scintillans)
• Eye tumors
Don’t ignore eye floaters
Floaters can be a sign of serious eye diseases. These include
• Retinal tear or hole
• Retinal detachment
• Vitreous hemorrhage or bleeding in the vitreous
• Inflamed vitreous, uvea, retina or choroid
• Eye tumors
When to see the doctor promptly
All symptoms, when persistent, must be discussed with your eye doctor. Floaters, however, are usually benign and do not constitute an emergency. That said, if the floaters are accompanied by any other symptoms, you must contact the doctor immediately.
• An increase in the number of floaters
• Flashes of light
• A curtain in front of the eye
• Partial field loss or loss of side vision.
• Floaters after any eye surgery or injury
• Pain and redness of eyes
• Decrease in vision
You will need to schedule a comprehensive eye examination with your eye doctor. This involves a dilated retinal check also. You may want to see a retina specialist, in case of any doubt.
Treatment of eye floaters
Most floaters do not need any treatment. Usually, your doctor will check your eyes, and reassure you that your floaters are benign. Mostly, floaters disappear over time, as long as you learn to ignore them.
You doctor will also suggest you look up and down, so that your vision clears, whenever the floaters bother you more.
In case of an underlying pathology, the doctor will treat that first.
Treatment options include:
• Lasers for retinal tears or holes
• Cryotherapy or freezing of retinal tears or holes
• Steroids or immunosuppressive agents for eye inflammations
• Injections into the eye
• Vitreoretinal surgery in case of retinal detachment
Things to remember
- These floaters are translucent to black squiggles or “worms,” webs, or “mosquitoes” or “flies” that dart across your field of vision.
- Floaters are usually benign, and resolve over time, without any treatment.
- They may be caused by potentially serious eye disorders. So please contact your eye doctor, and discuss them during your annual eye check.
- In case of any associated symptoms, like flashes of light, or any other disturbances in vision constitute an emergency. So, please contact your eye doctor immediately.
- The accompanying flashes usually resolve in about four weeks. Floaters, however, persist. You will eventually stop noticing them, but the process may take up to six months or more.
- More often than not, floaters do not require treatment.
- A comprehensive dilated retina check will leave your vision blurred for a few hours.
- Your doctor will either treat the cause, if required, or reassure you of the benign nature of the disease.
- If you are anxious about floaters, remember that eye floaters are not dangerous, and are only rarely severe enough to cause vision problems. If you are still in doubt, talk to your doctor. That will usually help alleviate your fears for good.
- As for everything else, prevention is better than cure. So, don’t miss your annual eye exam, and contact your eye doctor.
