Floaters

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Floaters

Before going in to the details here it must be said that if you notice Floaters or Flashers you must consult your optician immediately.

Eye

Floaters are deposits of various sizes which reside in the Vitreous Humour pictured above. The Vitreous Humour is the fluid like gel that fills the eye.

Floaters are not uncommon and for most people they do not cause too much trouble. However, at first they can be quite a distraction if they constantly drift across our vision.

Usually floaters are caused when the Vitreous Humour shrinks. This causes the Collagen in the Vitreous Humour to breakdown in to what we call Fibrils (Floaters) they tend to be few and linear in form.

However, floaters can be caused in many other ways such as Retinal Detachments, Posterior Vitreous Detachments, Retinal Tears, Cataract Operations or Trauma to the eye to name a few.

They can appear in various shapes and sizes. However, if you notice a sudden appearance of floaters you MUST consult your optician immediately as this could be the signs of a retinal detachment and could easily lead to blindness.

Normally there is no treatment for floaters. Procedures such as a Vitrectomy (a procedure to remove some or all of the Vitreous Humour from the eye) are not normally justified due to the complications and potential for causing blindness, bearing in mind most people live and get used to floaters as time goes by, In fact some have become so used to them that they just don’t notice them anymore.

To summarise floaters come in many different shapes, sizes and causes so needless to say the only person who can inform you of your particular condition is your optician. If for some reason you feel that your optician has not explained your situation clearly enough simply ask them to go over it again I am sure they will be happy to help.

Please feel free to leave comments. However, any concerns you have regarding floaters really must be directed to your optician. Obviously I cannot diagnose or offer advice on floaters over the internet apart from the fact that if you notice floaters contact your optician immediately.

Many Thanks
Mark Bowden

 

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This entry was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 10:05 am and is filed under Eye Conditions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

15 Responses to “Floaters”

  1. grahame3000 Says:
    August 11th, 2007 at 9:09 pm

    thanks mark very informative blog about floaters

  2. brenda white Says:
    August 12th, 2007 at 3:00 pm

    Thanks for the floater information. I saw optician when first noticed and was reassured. Now no longer aware of them but they are still there if I concentrate and look for them! Great mails we receive from you, always informative without being scary.

  3. Mil Says:
    August 13th, 2007 at 8:51 am

    My optician said that if a floater is “in your way”, to move your eye to one side to allow the floater to move and then quickly move your eye back to normal position. It does seem to help.

  4. CC Says:
    August 16th, 2007 at 5:58 pm

    I sometimes have zig-zag flashing lasting a few minutes. Do your comments about floaters apply to these as well? Are these what you mean by “flashers”?

  5. thomas Says:
    August 17th, 2007 at 12:58 pm

    All this ruddy adivice : go see your doctor, check up on this , that, t’other, watch when you pee is it purple (ooops) you off
    BUT..
    100 needless visits won’t cancel a missed needed one.
    I’ve had short sight and floaters i was told not to worry about since childhood. I NEVER KNEW SHORT SIGHT CAN PHYSICALLY BE ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAS THAT CAN TEAR AND DETACH MORE READILY UNDER THE RIGHT STREESS
    9 years ago a blackboard fell on me sideways( Some anonamous git’s idea of a funny boobytrap)
    A hospital casualty dept just laughed at my concerns- ididnt know if it were head or back causing what problems, I didnt have a broken back , they said, nor brain damage, take paracetamol and get an appointment with a traumaytologist
    In fact I had impacted lumbar vertebra and a smmall fracture at the back of the neck, plus one torn and 2 detching retinas. Waiting for the appointment with the traumatologist, I didnt get to an oftalmologist until there were swarms of floaters a few days on.
    Only just in time!
    Treatment started imediately after diagnosis, 3 days with medication in exactly the same odd position 24hrs/day, then laser stitches, I was 3 months off work, long story.
    Moral:
    1.It’d be worse to go blind once than feel a stupid nana 100 times by a specialist telling you you’re worrying unneecessarily.
    2. Gotta feeling that not only that one hospital at that moment got overworked doctors dont think to check up on retinal tears and detachments.
    3. I had a nasty bang, Just in the right direction,
    God bless you all

  6. Rajendra K Says:
    January 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    Sir,

    Thanks for information, It is really usefull

    I am a 35 year old Healthy Indian (Except Flotters).

    I just cant understand why these flotters come to me even if I used to follow Health Life Style. Sometimes i think that mt CRT Monitor is responsible for this… totaly confused why I conveived it, what wrong I did?

    I noticed flotters 4 months ago and saught advice from 3 specialist doctors but none of them could convinced me, actually it is hard to accept the fact that now onwards they will live with me till rest of my life

    Should I give up the hope that some day they will go away in the same way they came. I know there is no treatment for flotters, but still can’t Healhy Living, Healthy Diet, Physical Excercises etc. remove them

    Is there any instance that flotters gone from someone’s life?

    I would be obliged is I get a reply from you

    Thanks & regards

  7. daniel Says:
    January 17th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

    ive had these floaters for years i thought they were normal but now theyre getting anoying so im going to go to the opticians plus have banged my head very hard once or twice when i was younger also never been to opticians in my life

  8. loui Says:
    January 28th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    i had my first eye floater last summer an its really annoying i now have about 3 i have now plucked up the courage to see someone about cause im scared it could be serious.ive read up about it and most serious cases it can be cancer,has this ever happened to anyone.can anyone tell me a good out come to make me feei better before i go get it checked

  9. Mark Bowden Says:
    January 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am

    Dear Loui

    Thank you.

    Please do not be concerned floaters can be quite common.

    However, you have done the right thing by booking in with your optician. Im sure everything will be ok for you.

    For anyone else reading this you must consult your optician if you notice floaters. Sure use the internet to find out more about your condition but the first port of call should be booking in with your optician.

    Mark Bowden

  10. Crazy Craig Says:
    February 18th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    Hi to everybody who is experiencing floaters.I have just returned from my opticians for my eye test,i was quite concerned about my “arms not been long enough to read a paper.”So i am now officially long sighted,and suffering with “floaters”.
    I have been re assured that it is quite common,and although in some cases it can be serious,im not that concerned,nor is my optition.
    I cant believe that upto around midday today,i didnt know anybody else was suffering with floaters,or even that there was a clinical term for the ilness.Maybe that was my ignorance,because i stumbled on this great site after being quoted nearly £100 for a basic pair of glasses,before today i didnt have any reason to search for a spectacle website.
    Im so pleased my search engine got me here,im no longer worried about my eyes,or the cost of new glasses (here you can get designer spex for the same price as basic glasses at your local optician)and online advise from other people who understand your anxieties.
    Sorry if this is a long post,but im so pleased i no longer have the worries of pre eye test times.I would urge anyone to get an appointment for an eye test if they have any worries,then bring your prescription to this site,save pounds and have a weight lifted from your shoulders.
    Thank you for taking the time to read this(my first novel)!!

  11. John Wright Says:
    April 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    I am a 73 year male, Years ago I had a floater in the left eye which over time faded until it went unnoticed.
    However on Monday of this week I suddenly got some floaters in my right eye, also I get in the dark quick flashes to the right side.
    I went to the Doctor who could not find anything a miss, I came away not feeling to happy, so I went to the optishioins who gave my eyes a good examination, he could not find anything wrong.He said that in time the problem should improve.
    I might add I only wear Glasses for reading.
    Question how long would you say I will have to put up with the problem before it deminishes

    regards
    John

  12. Lesley Says:
    May 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    Hi,
    I am 39, and first noticed 1 small black floater last August (at the time I had began to suffer with Blepharitis & Dry Eye i.e feeling of something in your eye, and sore eyes on waking).
    Since that time, I have developed numerous floaters in both eyes, some clear, some black, all different shapes which swirl around my eyes all day especially in bright light.
    My reading vision and sight test is excellent though (can read the bottom line of the chart), which is one thing I suppose - and shows they don’t really affect your sight as such.
    Anyway, the original floater was diagnosed by my Optician - but with the vast increase of them, I was referred to the eye department of my local hospital.
    A thorough detailed examination was conducted, whereby I was told that my retinas were healthy, and that the floaters were just “age related and one of those things”, and that in time your brain will just learn to ignore them.
    I was also advised to do this regular test, which I would suggest to anyone suffering from this condition. It is a test to make sure that your retinas are not detaching, which if they are you MUST IMMEDIATELY GET TO A HOSPITAL ….
    Look at a white blank wall, cover one eye, make sure you can see the whole wall with that eye, no black curtain at either edge, do the same with your other eye, again make sure no black curtain at either side. (if you can see a black edge, get to your Hospital!). Apart from that, I was told, no they can’t be cured, vitamins don’t help and that your sight (if your retinas remain healthy), will not be affected by these floaters. (which is true in my experience).
    I do know how you all feel, I have gone from trouble free, fab vision, to this irritating problem. But, there is nothing to be done except work around them, and keep going to your Dr if you’ve any concerns … I agree with everyone who says, don’t self diagnose, PLEASE GET PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU DECIDE YOU JUST HAVE HARMLESS FLOATERS - YOUR VISION IS PRECIOUS AND CAN NOT BE RESTORED ONCE GONE.

  13. Linda Spencer Says:
    May 15th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    I have had a floater now for about six weeks and didn’t know what it was until I went to the optician.

    Had an eye test today and she said yes you have a floater but was really very unhelpful in explaining exactly what it was, what causes it and if anything can be done about it. Her main interest seemed to be in selling me a pair of varifocals which I personally don’t think I need.

    In view of my having had eye surgery in the past I do think this should have been looked at more thoroughly and am going to make an appointment to see my doctor.

  14. Julie Says:
    May 30th, 2008 at 8:03 am

    I must thank you for all the information on floaters I first noticed mine on holiday two months ago and really beleived there was a hair in my eyes I had not even heard of floaters until my doctor explained but is there really anything to help ? lots of sales on the Website but do they help. good luck to everyone

    Julie

  15. Veronica Dawber Says:
    July 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    I Have noticed ”floaters” in my right eye off and on for a few years, but very tiny and went within a few hours, Last week they seem to get worse and have stayed ‘put’ so I went to the local A & E Dept. Eye was examined by a ‘Casualty Doctor who thinks it is ”age related” but has referred me to the Eye clinic tomorrow. which I am happy about. and hopefully will have a good examination with my eye been dilated. Fingers crossed :)
    Veronica.

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