What can you do about eye floaters to improve your vision and overall eye health?

Eye floaters are a common vision problem, often appearing as small shapes that drift across your field of vision healthdirect.gov.au. While usually harmless, they can sometimes be bothersome or indicate a more serious underlying condition healthdirect.gov.au.

Understanding Eye Floaters

• What they are: Eye floaters are small specks, dots, lines, or cobweb-like shapes that appear to move in your field of vision my.clevelandclinic.org. They are typically caused by small clumps of protein or other debris in the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance that fills the inside of your eye my.clevelandclinic.org.

• Causes: Floaters are often a normal part of aging as the vitreous humor can gradually shrink and become more liquid, causing these particles to become more noticeable healthdirect.gov.au. Other causes can include:

  • Eye injuries
  • Eye infections
  • Inflammation in the eye
  • Retinal tears or detachment
  • Diabetic Retinopathy eyefloaterstreatment.com
  • Cataract surgery complications eyefloaterstreatment.com

• When to seek immediate medical attention: If you experience a sudden increase in the number of floaters, especially if accompanied by flashes of light or a curtain-like blockage in your vision, seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist or retina specialist eyefloaterstreatment.com. These symptoms could indicate a retinal tear or detachment, which requires prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision loss eyefloaterstreatment.com.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosis: An optometrist or ophthalmologist can diagnose eye floaters during a comprehensive eye exam www.mayoclinic.org. They will dilate your pupils to get a better view of the inside of your eye and identify the cause of the floaters www.mayoclinic.org.

• Treatment Options:

  • Observation: In many cases, eye floaters are harmless and do not require treatment www.healthline.com. Often, they become less noticeable over time as the brain learns to ignore them www.healthline.com.
  • Vitrectomy: This surgical procedure involves removing the vitreous humor and replacing it with a saline solution www.healthline.com. Vitrectomy is typically reserved for severe cases of floaters that significantly impair vision, as it carries risks such as retinal detachment, cataracts, and infection www.healthline.com.
  • Laser Vitreolysis: This procedure uses a laser to break up the floaters, making them smaller and less noticeable www.healthline.com. It is a less invasive option than vitrectomy but may not be suitable for all types of floaters and carries its own risks www.healthline.com.

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Tips for Managing Eye Floaters

• Move your eyes: Looking up and down or side to side can sometimes help to move the floaters out of your direct field of vision www.healthline.com.

• Adjust your focus: Sometimes, changing your focus can make floaters less noticeable www.healthline.com.

• Stay hydrated: Dehydration can make floaters more noticeable. Drinking plenty of water can help to keep the vitreous humor hydrated www.healthline.com.

• Protect your eyes from the sun: Wear sunglasses when outdoors to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, which can contribute to eye damage and potentially worsen floaters eyefloaterstreatment.com. Blue skies and bright light constrict your pupils, amplifying the effect of floaters eyefloaterstreatment.com.

• Regular eye exams: Regular check-ups with an eye care professional are crucial for monitoring eye health and detecting any potential problems early on www.mayoclinic.org.

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When to Consult a Doctor

While most eye floaters are not serious, it's important to consult an eye doctor if you experience any of the following:

• A sudden increase in the number of floaters my.clevelandclinic.org
• Flashes of light in the same eye as the floaters eyefloaterstreatment.com
• A curtain-like shadow or blockage in your vision eyefloaterstreatment.com
• Eye pain
• Blurred vision

These symptoms may indicate a more serious condition, such as a retinal tear or detachment, that requires prompt treatment eyefloaterstreatment.com.

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Living with Eye Floaters

For many people, eye floaters are a minor annoyance that they learn to live with. In some cases, floaters can be more bothersome and affect quality of life eyefloaterstreatment.com. If floaters are significantly impacting your vision or daily activities, discuss treatment options with your eye doctor. Remember that sudden changes should be addressed immediately my.clevelandclinic.org.

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