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Floaters can be a serious problem if the retina is torn, which can lead to a retinal detachment. You should make an appointment as soon as possible if you experience symptoms such as a new floater appearing suddenly, seeing sudden flashes of light, and/or loss of side vision. The appearance of floaters may be alarming, especially if they develop suddenly. You should contact us right away if you suddenly develop new floaters, especially if you are over 45 years of age. FLOATER LASER TREATMENT PATIENT INFORMATION You will undergo a comprehensive, dilated examination and have photos taken of the inside of your eye. After the examination and photographs, the Doctor will decide if you are a candidate for the Laser Floater Treatment. If you are a candidate and decide to undergo the procedure, a numbing drop will be placed in the eye to be treated, and a special contact lens for the Laser Floater Treatment will be placed on the eye. The laser is then carefully aimed through the lens and the floater or floaters are either vaporized with the laser, or the floater€™s attachments are vaporized so that the floater is repositioned to a different part of the eye. This disruption also helps the eye to absorb any remaining particles. After vaporizing the big floater or floaters, we may have to leave tiny particles that are just too small to aim on. The procedure is performed using an invisible beam of light through the dilated pupil. There is no incision, and in most cases, no discomfort. Usually, the day after surgery the floaters are gone or quite noticeably reduced. The improvement in reading, driving and mental distraction can be dramatic. Post operatively, there are no restrictions on activities. You will be seen in a follow up appointment the next day. In some instances, it is not possible to disrupt the floaters in one sitting. If an additional sitting is required, we will discuss this with you at your post operative visit. |
Although most flashes and floaters occur in people with healthy or merely nearsighted eyes, they can be symptoms of serious problems including injury and retinal and posterior vitreous detachments.
Flashes in vision are caused by pressure on the retina, the bundle of nerves in the back of the eye where images are detected and transmitted to the brain. When the vitreous gel rubs or pulls on the retina, you may see what look like flashing lights or lighting streaks. You may have experienced this same sensation if you have ever been hit in the eye and seen "stars."
The flashes of light can appear off and on for several weeks or months. As we grow older, it is more common to experience flashes. If you notice the sudden appearance of light flashes, you should contact us immediately in case the retina has been torn.
Floaters are often seen when fibers move within the vitreous humor, the gelatinous substance made of water and protein fibers that fills the eye. They appear as small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision. You can often see them when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky. While these objects look like they are in front of your eye, they are actually floating inside. What you see are the shadows they cast on the retina, the layer of cells lining the back of the eye that senses light and allows you to see.
When people reach middle age, the vitreous gel may start to thicken or shrink, forming clumps or strands inside the eye. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment. This is a common cause of floaters. Posterior vitreous detachment is more common in people who:
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