Do you see floaters? Here’s what to do
Floaters, also known as myodesopsias, are one of the most common reasons for consultation at Miranza centers. But what should you do when they appear?
Floaters are small dark or semi-transparent spots that appear in the visual field and can take on various shapes, such as dots, webs, or strands. According to Prof. Francisco Gómez-Ulla, their main characteristic “is that they move with eye movements—rising when we look up and slowly drifting down afterward, as if floating in the vitreous gel—which distinguishes them from other spots that remain fixed in the visual field.”
Prof. Gómez-Ulla helps us answer 3 common questions about floaters.
Floaters: When should I be concerned?
In most cases, their appearance shouldn’t be a cause for concern, “as they are usually benign and often secondary to a vitreous detachment—when the vitreous separates from its natural attachment to the retina, which commonly occurs with age,” explains Prof. Gómez-Ulla. However, there are certain instances where they may signal a more serious vision issue. That’s why it’s important to consult a specialist, especially if:
- They appear for the first time
- They do not move
- They are accompanied by flashes of light
- They change in size
These symptoms may be indicative of a retinal detachment, a vitreous hemorrhage, or inflammatory cells inside the eye that require urgent attention. This is why it’s essential to undergo a fundus examination to assess the condition of the retina and ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
If the appearance of floaters is sudden and abrupt, you should see an ophthalmologist to determine the cause.
Causes of floaters
Usually, floaters do not affect vision, and their appearance is most often related to aging of the eye and the changes that occur in the vitreous—a transparent gel that fills the posterior cavity of the eye from the lens to the retina and is attached to this layer of the eye.
In addition, they are also common in:
- In young patients, especially those who are nearsighted.
- If they are associated with eye trauma.
- After certain surgeries, such as cataract surgery, they can also be linked to the appearance of these floaters.
Over the years, this gel, known as the vitreous humor, becomes more watery rather than gelatinous, which leads to the formation of condensations inside it. These condensations float in the vitreous and cast shadows on the retina, with these shadows moving with the movement of the eyes, creating the floaters that are perceived in the visual field.
As a result, complications can sometimes occur, such as retinal tears, which can predispose to retinal detachment if not treated in time, macular holes, or the formation of tissue proliferation over the macula (such as a premacular membrane), which, along with macular holes, can cause vision loss and distortion of images.
Can they be treated?
Initially, floaters can be bothersome, but over time, patients typically adapt to this vision. However, there is currently no specific medical treatment to make floaters disappear.
Only when the retina is affected is laser treatment performed to prevent a retinal detachment, and in very exceptional cases, when the symptoms are highly debilitating for the patient, a vitrectomy may be considered. This is a surgery to remove the vitreous humor along with its opacities.
