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The Appearance of Floaters

Posted on October 14, 2010 Written by admin

You may have heard of eye floaters, but might not know what they are or what they look like. It can be hard to tell if you have ever had a floater before if you do not know what to look for. Though they are typically harmless and quite normal to experience, in some cases they can signify an eye issue. Thus, it is still helpful to know what they are and why they exist.

What Do Floaters Look Like?

Most people describe floaters as either straight or squiggly lines, though they can also look like spots or blobs. You may see just one at a time, or several, and they are usually either black or gray. They can also vary in width, with some appearing thin and others thicker. In fact, the look of floaters usually varies from person to person, and they even look different in one eye than the other. Note that floaters occur only when your eyes are open, so do not confuse them with flashes, which you may notice when your eyes are closed.

What Is the Significance of Floaters?

Now that you have an idea of what floaters tend to look like, you may be realizing that you have in fact seen them before. It is quite common to see floaters at some point in your life, which means that you do not need to worry. However, in some cases, they are a sign that you should get your eyes checked at the doctor to look for other possible issues.

The following are symptoms that your eye floaters may signify that something is wrong:

You suddenly see floaters much more often than before
You see a sudden shower of them, along with flashes of light
You begin to get cloudy vision or lose your side vision

If these problems occur, it is important to seek medical attention immediately since your retina could be detaching, eventually resulting in blindness.

Floaters in the Eye Causes

Posted on October 14, 2010 Written by admin

Even if you are already aware that eye floaters are normal, you may be wondering what causes them. When it comes to floaters in the eye, causes vary, but there are a couple of main reasons that they exist. One is quite normal, while the other may be cause for concern, making the causes helpful to know.

Normal Causes

Floaters are found in the vitreous humor of the eye, which is a jelly-like substance that tends to shrink a bit over time. Eventually, the jelly begins to liquefy, creating small pockets of the jelly within the already existing vitreous. The border between the firmer vitreous and the small pockets of jelly may be recognized as floaters by most people. Since this occurrence is considered normal, it is okay to see floaters in the eye occasionally, especially as you age.

Abnormities in the Eye

On the other hand, some floaters in the eye causes are not normal, and should be checked out by an eye doctor right away. One abnormality that may cause floaters is the sudden appearance of cellular material in the eye, particularly in the vitreous. One type of cellular material may be white blood cells, which is brought on by inflammation. This could be caused by an injury to the eye, some type of eye surgery, and any kind of infection since the body uses white blood cells to fight off harmful substances.

Red blood cells may also appear, usually due to a hemorrhage in the eye. This may occur after the vitreous has been poked or injured in any way, a blood vessel has been torn, or there has been some type of eye surgery. These are just a few of the main floaters in the eye causes that should be looked at by a doctor rather than just ignored. In such cases, eye floaters treatment is the next step since once the underlying problem is fixed, the floaters should be eliminated.

Causes and Treatment for Floaters and Flashes

Posted on October 14, 2010 Written by admin

Many people have experienced both floaters and flashes in the eye before, sometimes at the same time. However, it should be known that these two issues are not the same thing, and even occur for different reasons. It is helpful to find out what the main difference between floaters and flashes is, and whether there is treatment available.

Causes

Most of the time, floaters mean very little, as most people get them for no apparent reason. However, in some cases, they indicate that a retinal detachment is about to occur, which signifies a need for medical attention. If you have both floaters and flashes, you might wonder if this means anything in particular.

Flashes occur when the retina is touched or pulled by something, so if it is pulling away from the back of the eyes, you might notice a few flashes of light. These can occur a few times without warning, or may continually happen for a while until the issue is resolved. This requires reattaching the retina.

You may also see flashes after being struck on the head, or even just before a migraine. If you have been hit in the head or a headache follows the flashes, it is likely that either the blow or migraine is the cause of them. However, if you are seeing floaters and flashes with no other symptoms, you should see an eye doctor in case your retina is detaching.

Treatment for Floaters and Flashes

If your floaters and flashes are caused by migraines or a blow to the head, you will have to treat those issues in order to get rid of the bothersome eye problems. If your retina detaching is the cause of the floaters and flashes, you will need to get it reattached before they will go away.

If your doctor is unsure of the cause of your eye issues, and you are still bothered by the floaters and flashes you experience, the only cure would be to take the vitreous out of your eye and replace it with saline. However, not every doctor will perform this procedure since it is not medically necessary, which means that unless your floaters and flashes are caused by an underlying issue that can be solved, they are likely here to stay.

Learning About Eye Disorders: Eye Floaters

Posted on October 14, 2010 Written by admin

When it comes to eye disorders, floaters are some of the least worrisome since they do not typically cause long-term issues. They occasionally signify a more serious problem that could end in blindness, but in such cases, they are merely a symptom, not the main issue. Once you find out some facts about floaters, you will likely see why they are considered so harmless.

Why Are Floaters Not Considered Serious?

Since only adults tend to have eye floaters, they are now considered a normal part of aging. It makes sense that as the eye ages, the gel between the lens and the retina, called the vitreous humor, tends to break down a bit. The result is several tiny strands or spots that seem to float around in the eye, moving as the eye moves so that you can never seem to get a good look at them.

For most people, they show up randomly and are not always visible. In fact, many people do not even notice them until they increase in number, or they look at bright objects. It is probably for this reason that when most people think of serious eye disorders, floaters do not come to mind, as they are not painful and can usually be ignored.

Who Gets Eye Floaters?

This issue usually begins when young adulthood is reached, as the vitreous humor in children and teenagers is still rather new and in particularly good shape. This means that as you get older, you have a higher chance of developing eye floaters. The following are also most at-risk for floaters:

Those who are nearsighted
People who have had an operation to get rid of cataracts
Those with diabetes
People with a history of severe eye injuries or infections

If you fall into any of these categories and are worried about eye disorders, floaters may be a concern for you. It may be prudent to see an eye doctor soon if you are truly worried. However, you will likely find that even if you develop floaters, you will not feel any pain or discomfort from them, and in fact will probably just get used to them.