Clearing the Fog: understanding and coping with eye floaters

Eye floaters are a common condition that most of us experience at some point. Small floaters that don’t interfere with your eyesight are best left alone. However, in some cases, they become more than something you can live with, meaning you might seek help to have them removed.

But what are they exactly? Are they dangerous and how are they treated?

The following is the definitive guide to understanding, coping, and treating eye floaters.

Eye Floaters: What they are, their significance, and how they’re treated

• What are eye floaters?
• When to worry about eye floaters
• Floater removal: clearing the fog

What are eye floaters?

Eye floaters are little clumps of collagen fibers that float around in the vitreous—the jelly-like substance that’s in the interior of the eye. We see them as tiny specks, dots, or squiggles that, quite literally, float around the eye. When you try to focus on them, they move out of the center of your gaze.

You’re most likely to notice them when you’re looking at a plain, bright background. Many people often notice that they’re more obvious when working at a computer screen.

When to worry about eye floaters?

Floaters are completely normal and are generally nothing to worry about. The only time you should seek medical help is if:

• A sudden onset of multiple new floaters
• You get sudden flashes of light in the same eye
• You notice a dark curtain drooping down over your field of vision
• Any other vision-obstructing condition occurs

These are all symptoms of a more serious condition, known as retinal detachment.

You might also consider seeking help if a floater interrupts your central field of vision.

Floater removal: clearing the fog

Eye floater removal is carried out in two ways: either by removing the vitreous and replacing it with an artificial substance or with a laser technique. The former is only carried out in very rare circumstances and is quite an invasive procedure.

Laser floater removal is now the preferred way of treating floaters—it’s effective, quick, and generally trouble-free. The treatment is carried out in the doctor’s office on a day-patient basis. The floaters are targeted with a special type of laser, called a YAG laser. This causes the floater to break down into much smaller pieces, after which they naturally dissolve within the eye.

The process has a high success rate, with up to 80% of patients reporting a complete removal or improvement in the number or size of floaters. Side effects are extremely rare and full recovery takes between 2-4 weeks. However, you’ll be able to leave soon after the procedure and you should expect only minor post-op soreness or eye redness.

Depending on the size and number of floaters to be treated, you’ll need to visit your ophthalmologist anything from 1-3 times, with each session lasting about 20-30 minutes. The treatment is pain-free, with anesthetic drops used to numb the eye. 

Laser floater treatment is suitable for most people and provides a very long-term cure that lasts many, many years.

Worried About Eye Floaters? Get them Assessed at the West Boca Eye Center 

Most eye floaters are nothing to worry about. If you can live with them, then they tend to remain stable and—usually—are only apparent in certain situations. However, if they interfere with your field of vision, there’s no better place to get them zapped away than at the WBEC. Our expertise and advanced treatment options mean that the process is fast, painless, highly-successful, and has virtually no recovery time.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit https://westbocaeyecenter.com/ for more info and call us today to book a consultation.

Eye floaters are a common condition that most of us experience at some point. Small floaters that don’t interfere with your eyesight are best left alone.

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