All about eye floaters!

• shadowy dots or specks
• small lines
• rings
• cobweb shapes
• other irregular shapes

Causes

Floaters and spots typically appear when tiny pieces of the eye’s gel-like vitreous break loose within the inner back portion of the eye.

At birth and throughout childhood, the vitreous has a gel-like consistency. But as we age, the vitreous begins to dissolve and liquefy to create a watery center.

Some undissolved gel particles occasionally will float around in the more liquid center of the vitreous. These particles can take on many shapes and sizes to become what we call  “eye floaters.”

How to get rid of it?

Ignore them

Sometimes the best treatment is nothing at all. In many cases, eye floaters will fade or disappear on their own But If they don’t fade, sometimes your brain will learn to ignore them. As a result, your vision will begin to adapt. You’ll no longer notice them as much.

Vitrectomy

A vitrectomy is a surgery that can remove eye floaters from your line of vision. Within this procedure, your eye doctor will remove the vitreous through a small incision. The vitreous is a clear, gel-like substance that keeps the shape of your eye round.

Your doctor will replace the vitreous with a solution to maintain the shape of your eye. Your body will then produce more vitreous that will eventually replace this new solution.

Though effective, a vitrectomy may not always remove eye floaters. It’s still possible for them to form again, specifically if this procedure causes any bleeding or trauma. This surgery is used for severe symptoms of floaters.

Laser therapy

In laser therapy, lasers are aimed at the eye floaters. This can cause them to break up and may reduce their presence. If the lasers are aimed incorrectly, you could risk damage to your retina.

This procedure isn’t the preferred treatment method since it’s still experimental. While seen as an effective treatment for some cases, some people have noticed little to no improvement. It can also worsen floaters in some instances. Discuss your options with your doctor before pursuing this method.

Some useful tips

Maintain a healthy diet

Consider eating leafy greens, salmon, and citrus fruits into your diet. Not only can these foods improve your vision, they can also reduce your risk of developing vision disorders.

Wear protective eyewear

If you’re physically active or play sports, consider wearing protective eyewear always to protect against injury.

Rest your eyes

Daily If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen, your eyes may weaken or become strained over time.

Practice the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes a break while working at your computer. Every 20 minutes, look at something that’s at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.