Floaters
What are floaters? Complete information about the causes, symptoms, treatments, and possible complications of eye floaters.
Symptoms and Causes
Floaters are spots that appear to move across the visual field, which is why they are commonly called "eye floaters." These spots become more noticeable in brightly lit environments or against a white background.
In most cases, floaters are not serious, as they are a normal consequence of aging. However, it is advisable to consult a specialist when they first appear, especially if they do so suddenly, as they may indicate a retinal detachment.
Although floaters seem to be in the front of the eye, they actually originate inside it. They are tiny particles floating in the vitreous humor, and their shadows are projected onto the retina.
Regular monitoring of floaters is recommended to ensure timely treatment if there is a risk to retinal integrity.
Symptoms
The symptoms of floaters are mild and generally do not interfere with vision, as they do not appear continuously:
- Moving spots in vision
- Perception of flashing lights
Causes
The primary cause of floaters is aging. Over time, the vitreous humor inside the eye loses its gel-like consistency and becomes more liquid. As this process occurs, small clumps form and float in the fluid, casting shadows on the retina.
Additionally, with age, the retina slightly separates from the vitreous humor (vitreous detachment), leading to flashes of light that may even be seen with closed eyes.
Risk Factors
Aside from aging, some factors that contribute to floaters in younger individuals include:
- Myopia, especially high myopia
- Laser eye surgery
- Cataract surgery
- Chronic eye inflammation
- Occasionally, diabetes
Complications
The primary complication associated with floaters is retinal detachment.
Prevention
Floaters cannot be prevented, as their main cause is aging.
Which Doctor Treats Floaters?
Ophthalmologists are the specialists who diagnose and treat floaters.
Diagnosis
The symptoms reported by the patient help guide the specialist toward a diagnosis. To confirm it and rule out complications, an eye exam with pupil dilation is typically performed to assess the condition of the retina.
Treatment
In most cases, no treatment is necessary for floaters, as they do not affect quality of life or cause complications.
When the retina is at risk, treatment should be applied to protect it, although the floaters themselves will not disappear. The most common treatments include:
- Vitreolysis: A laser surgery that breaks up the clumps, making the floaters less noticeable.
- Vitrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the vitreous humor and replace it with an artificial solution of similar consistency. However, this approach does not prevent floaters from reappearing in the future.
