Floaters

What are floaters?

Floaters are small shapes that some people see floating in their field of vision. They can have a variety of appearances and may appear as:

tiny black dots
small shadowy dots
larger ‘cloud-like’ spots
long, narrow strands
‘cobwebs’ or a ‘net curtain effect’

Floaters occur in the vitreous humour which is a gel that fills the middle part of the eye. It consists of 99% water and 1% of other substances which help maintain the shape of the vitreous. It sits behind the lens and in front of the retina. Floaters occur as part of the ageing process in the eye but can also be due to a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) where the gel separates from the retina.

Do floaters affect vision?

Floaters are usually harmless and do not usually interfere with your vision. If you experience a sudden onset of floaters however then you should be seen urgently by your optometrist or the Eye Department at your local hospital as occasionally these symptoms may be due to a retinal tear or retinal detachment. Although floaters can be a nuisance initially, most seem to improve over time as your brain adapts to them. A number of patients however suffer significant visual disturbances from floaters which can interfere with their jobs, hobbies and quality of life.

Are there any treatments for floaters?

Vitrectomy

If floaters have been present over a significant period of time with no improvement and are impacting a patient’s quality of life a vitrectomy procedure can be considered. Vitrectomy leads to a significant improvement in visual symptoms in over 99% of patients. A vitrectomy involves removal of the vitreous gel along with the floaters. I offer this treatment to suitable patients after a careful discussion of the benefits and risks associated with the procedure.

YAG laser Treatment for Vitreous Floaters