Floaters

Floaters is an eye condition whereby something like a fly or a mosquito appear to be floating in the visual field. The floating object follows slowly with your eye movement. The shape of the floating object has different forms, e.g. stringy, worm-like, sesame-like, circle etc.

Although floaters isn’t necessarily age related, they are often more noticeable with age. It’s important to pay attention to a sudden onset of floaters as it’s sometimes accompanied by a serious eye condition such as retinal detachment.

This article describes the following topics.

・Causes of Floaters
・Symptoms to be paid attention
・Treatments of Floaters

Floaters are objects to be noticed in the visual field with a shape like a fly or mosquito.

The shape of floating object varies from person to person. Regardless of size and/or shape, if you experience something floating in your visual field following, eye movement. You should notice that floaters emerged.

Generally, people over the age of thirty notice floaters, especially patients with myopia. If you occasionally notice floating spot flying in your visual field, it isn’t necessary to pay attention immediately. However, when you notice a sudden increase in the number of floaters or notice them more frequently, it’s better to see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

The vitreous body in the eye degenerates and liquifies as patients get older. There is also shrinking and condensation of the vitreous. This results in dark specks in the vitreous seen by the patient as floaters.
Occasionally floaters occur congenitally or by other eye disease.

(When the vitreous body becomes opaque, symptoms of floaters appear.)

Present from birth

In some cases, floaters can be congenital (present at birth). This is because the blood vessels pass through the vitreous until the baby’s eyeball is formed in the mother’s womb. If blood vessels remain in the vitreous after birth, they eventually become cloudy and appear as floaters.
However, as long as the symptoms don’t get worse, there is no need to be concerned.

In case of disease

After birth, the development of floaters can be caused by bleeding around the vitreous or by inflammatory cells entering the vitreous.
Vitreous hemorrhage and inflammatory diseases such as uveitis are the most common causes, but it can also be caused by hereditary vitreous diseases and systemic diseases. Most people who suffer from retinal detachment experience floaters in the early stages of the disease. Diabetic retinopathy, in which the retinal vessels are damaged due to diabetes mellitus, should also be considered.

In case of aging

The healthy vitreous is consisted of a clear viscous, liquid similar to the white of an egg. However, as we age, a small chamber-like cavity filled with fluid is formed inside the vitreous. As the space gets larger and larger, the vitreous body shrinks.
These changes in the vitreous body can cause cloudiness which can lead to floaters. When the back wall of the cavity ruptures, fluid flows out, leaving a contracted vitreous body at the anterior portion of the eye and fluid at the posterior portion of the eye. The vitreous, which is normally attached to the retina, detached from retina, causing sudden appearance of floaters.
Even if floaters appear, it‘s difficult to determine by yourself whether the cause is due to the disease. Therefore, if you’re concerned about the symptoms of floaters or if they suddenly become severe, please see an ophthalmologist.

A fundoscopic examination, which is the most important method of diagnosing floaters, the vitreous and retina are examined for abnormalities.
During fundoscopic examination, an eye drop called a mydriatic agent is used to dilate the pupil, so the eye won’t be able to focus for about 5 to 6 hours after the examination. Please note that this makes it difficult to drive or write. You will feel a more glare than usual.

There is no effective treatment, eye drops or oral medications for physiologic floaters that are present at birth or caused by aging. The principle of treatment is to perform regular fundus examination and monitor the progress.
Surgery is performed if a retinal tear or detached retina is found.

How can I check for floaters by yourself?

If you notice blackish shadows or floating objects like small insects or lint in front of your eyes, you may be suffering from floaters. These are more common after the age of 30, especially in older or more nearsighted people. If you notice an increase in the presence of shadows or soot in front of your eyes, you may be suffering from retinal detachment or fundus hemorrhage. Please visit an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Can Floaters be cured with eye drops?

Unfortunately, there are no effective eye drops for the treatment of floaters. Since there are no oral medications either, physiologic floaters is basically treated by observation. If a disease is suspected, another treatment, including surgery, may be performed. As it’s difficult to self-diagnose, we recommend that you see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible if you are concerned about the symptoms of floaters or if you feel that the disease has suddenly progressed.