Floaters: When eye spots are more than an annoyance
When there is a sudden appearance of larger floaters, you should call your eye doctor or primary care physician immediately. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Q: I developed spots in my left eye. My doctor called them floaters. I wear glasses and other than being a bit annoying, my vision seems fine. Will they go away? If so, how long will it take?
A: As we age, the thick, jellylike substance that fills the center of the eye — called the vitreous — can form blobs that look like spots, cobwebs or strings. Some of this debris may wind up floating around and blocking some of the light coming into your eyes.
Most floaters are small and don’t bother vision much. But if they are larger or ring-shaped, they might indicate that the vitreous, which normally hugs the retina in the back of the eye, has freed itself from the retina.
When there is a sudden appearance of larger floaters, it may be caused by a detached or torn retina. If that happens, you should immediately call your eye doctor or primary care physician. A detached or torn retina requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.
People at risk for retinal tears include those who are older, are nearsighted, have a family history of a retinal detachment, or have had eye surgery.
Most floaters are usually just a nuisance. In many cases, floaters become less noticeable or more tolerable over time and can even disappear. But how much they bother you and how long it lasts varies.
In extreme cases, surgery can be considered. The traditional procedure is known as a vitrectomy. The eye surgeon removes the gel along with its floaters. It’s effective, but it has risks, including cataracts (cloudy lenses) and retinal detachment. It’s usually a last resort for people whose floaters make it hard for them to see.
Another treatment called YAG vitreolysis uses a laser procedure to vaporize floaters by heating them. Although most eye surgeons don’t recommend it, a recent study suggested that for very large floaters it appears to be effective and safe, at least in the short run. However, the researchers acknowledge that larger and longer studies are needed.
(Howard LeWine, M.D., is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu.)
(c) 2018 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
'It's depressing, it's frustrating' A Newsday investigation revealed that Grumman Aerospace knew toxic chemicals were leaking into the ground in Bethpage. Newsday Associate Editor Paul LaRocco and Deputy Editor David Schwartz explain.
'It's depressing, it's frustrating' A Newsday investigation revealed that Grumman Aerospace knew toxic chemicals were leaking into the ground in Bethpage. Newsday Associate Editor Paul LaRocco and Deputy Editor David Schwartz explain.
