If your vision is always obstructed by grey or black specks, spots, strings or cobwebs, chances are you have what is known as eye floaters.
Most cases of eye floaters are age-related changes occurring in the vitreous humour, a gel-like substance in the eyeball.
A “fresh” vitreous should be gelatinous in consistency, but as we age, it can become more liquid. And the fibres within the vitreous tend to clump together and cast a shadow on the retina, causing what appears to be floaters.
Even if you have eye floaters over a period of time, it is generally nothing to worry about.
However, if you experience a sudden increase in the number of floaters, or are seeing flashes in your vision, or have lost your peripheral vision, you should consult an eye specialist as it could be indicative of a more serious problem.
What eye floaters look like
• Spots in the vision that appear as dark specks or knobby, transparent strings of floating material.
• Spots that move in accordance with your eye movements. When you try to look at these floaters, they move quickly out of your visual field.
• Spots that are most appreciable against a plain bright background such as the blue sky or a plain white wall.
• Spots that eventually settle down and drift out of your field of vision.
What causes eye floaters
• Inflammation of the eye: Floaters occur when the layers of uvea at the back of the eye is inflamed. This condition is called posterior uveitis.
• Bleeding into the eye: Damage or injury to the countless blood vessels that supply blood to the eye can cause bleeding into the vitreous humour, and result in the formation of floaters.
• Retinal tears: The retina is the layer in the eye that receives light stimulus and converts it to electrical information to be brought to the brain for interpretation. It resides just beside the vitreous humour. In cases where the vitreous humour contracts e.g. in extreme cold, enough force is produced to pull the retina inwards and cause a retinal tear. If left untreated, this can progresses to retinal detachment, where fluid accumulates behind the retina, separating it from the back of the eye. This eventually leads to a permanent loss of vision.
Who is at risk?
• People age 50 and above
• Those with nearsightedness
• Those suffering from eye trauma
• Post-cataract surgery patients
• People with diabetes retinopathy
• Those who frequently have eye inflammation
When should a doctor be consulted?
• When the number of eye floaters is more than normal
• When there’s a sudden onset of new floaters
• When eye floaters are associated with flashes of light
• When there is darkness at the sides of one’s peripheral vision
Note that pain is not a feature to distinguish an eyesight emergency. A retinal tear can occur without the slightest pain, but it is actually the first event of a chain reaction before permanent sight loss.
What should I expect?
A diagnosis can only be reached once a full eye examination is conducted. It will involve eye medication to dilate the pupil to create better visualisation of the inside of the eyes.
Eye floaters in general do not require treatment unless it is associated with an underlying problem. The condition can be frustrating, and adapting to the presence of eye floaters will take time.
Available treatments
If eye floaters affect your vision badly, which rarely happens, you may consider several treatment options.
Laser treatment: A special laser can be aimed at the eye floaters in the vitreous to break them up so they are less noticeable. Note that while some experience improved vision, many others notice little or no improvement post-treatment.
Surgical removal of vitreous humour: The vitreous humour can be removed and replaced with a solution to help the eye maintain its shape. The surgery may not remove all floaters and the formation of new floaters may still occur down the road. There are also other surgery-associated risks such as bleeding and retinal tears.
While eye floaters can be annoying, it is not a serious or painful eye condition. However, if there are other changes to the eye, seek immediate medical attention as eye floaters can be an indication of a more dangerous disease lurking in the background.
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DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained here with other sources, and review all information with your physician. Please do not disregard professional medical advice or delay treatment because of something you have read here. FMT is not responsible and liable for any damage caused through information obtained here.