by Administrator
6. May 2011 12:24
What are eye floaters?
Eye floaters are tiny specks of debris floating through the vitreous fluid within the eyeball. Often individuals think them to be dust particles or tiny insects floating across in front of the eye. Nevertheless, eye floaters are inside the eyeball and cannot be removed by rubbing the eye. They lead to rapid movements of the eye while floating gradually from one place to the other. If floaters do not move, they probably would be invisible due to a procedure named neural adaptation.
How are they caused?
A gel like substance fills up 80 % of our eye and assists it in maintaining a round shape. This gel is addressed as Vitreous. As we get old, the vitreous shrivels up and turns stringy. These strings or fine fibers cast small shadows on the retina.
Who is affected with floaters?
- People who are very nearsighted.
- Diabetic people.
- People who have undergone cataract surgery.
- People who have any sort of inflammation within the eye.
- People who have undergone YAG laser surgery of the eye in the past.
Symptoms:
- You can see unexpected flashes of light.
- Appearance of a big floater.
- Appearance of new floaters all of a sudden.
- Loss of side vision.
Risks:
Eye Floater's risk -
Vitreous Detachment:
Appearance of floaters could suggest Vitreous detachment. Because of the shrinking of the vitreous, the fine fibers pull on the retinal surface and break. This results in the detachment of the vitreous from the retina.
Retinal Detachment:
In some of the cases, vitreous fibers pull so hard on the retina that they produce a macular hole or cause a retinal detachment. Both of these conditions are sight-threatening and require to be treated instantly. If left untreated, a macular hole or detached retina may lead to permanent vision loss in the afflicted eye.
Treatment:
There is no particular treatment for Eye floaters and Vitreous detachment as such. These floaters may slowly fade away with time.
Just to make sure that you are not at a risk of a torn retina, you need to get your eyes tested beforehand.
If you have floaters for quite some years now, then you need to visit an Eye Doctor.
For complete eyecare solutions, visit Killeen Eyecare Center. You can also book your appointment with us by calling at 254-634-7805.
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