Is it possible to get rid of eye floaters without surgery?
Eye floaters are the tiny specks or imaginary ‘clouds’ that appear and tend to float in your field of vision, especially if you happen to be staring at a clear cloudless sky during the day. These small clusters of gel or cells are located inside the vitreous humor of the eye. Vitreous humor or vitreous body is the transparent gelatinous fluid that occupies the interior of the eye. Eye floaters are common among people who:
- have had an eye inflammation in the past
- are shortsighted or myopic
- have experienced a cataract operation
- have had laser eye surgery
Most eye floaters are basically innocuous and just a minor annoyance. They tend to recede over a period of time and become less annoying. Eye floaters generally need no treatment. On some occasions people who find these floaters extremely annoying are interested in surgery but doctors do so only in rare cases where medical attention is required. If, however, there is an abrupt occurrence of a substantial number of tiny specks, that are associated with flashes of light or other visual disruptions, it could point out to a visual defect known as detached retina or a similar eye problem. If the eye floaters have suddenly appeared and interfere in your field of vision, visit your ophthalmologist immediately.
Eye floaters have a tendency of increasing with age, because the clear colorless transparent jelly that fills the posterior chamber of the eyeball pulls slightly away from the retina and deteriorates with advancing years. The detachment of the vitreous body from the retina can make tiny rips of jelly snap off and form more floaters.
In the initial days, the floaters tend to be quite a nuisance, but eventually the brain becomes habituated to the floaters and you may realize that it is not such a bother after all. Some people stand a chance of developing tears in the retina with advancing age due to the separation of the vitreous body from the surface of the retina. As a result, small specks of blood may emerge as a fresh crop of floaters. Nearsighted or people with myopia including those who have gone through cataract surgery are at a heightened risk of developing rips in the retina.
If these retinal tears are left neglected without any medical care or treatment, they could possibly lead to retinal detachment. When this takes place, the retina shrinks away from the back of the eyeball, causing permanent loss of eyesight in the absence of immediate medical attention.
An ophthalmologist would be the best judge to determine whether the floaters need medical attention. Eye experts probe into and analyze both the vitreous body and the retina, with the help of specialized instruments to find out any incidence of tearing or detachment of the retina. In most cases, initial stages of retinal detachment can be corrected with the help of surgery.
