Vitreous floaters

Vitreous Floaters

Vitreous floaters, also known as eye floaters, are tiny specks or strings that float into your field of vision. They are particularly noticeable when you look at something bright, such as white paper or a blue sky. They are caused by clumps or specks of undissolved vitreous gel material floating in the dissolved gel-like fluid (vitreous) in the back of the eye, which cast shadows on the retina when light enters the eye.

Causes

Vitreous floaters are often caused by age-related changes that occur as the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes becomes more liquid. Microscopic fibers within the vitreous tend to clump and can cast tiny shadows on your retina. Other causes include eye diseases, eye injury, and nearsightedness.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of vitreous floaters is the appearance of floating specks or cobwebs in your field of vision. These can appear as different shapes such as little dots, circles, lines, clouds, or cobwebs.

Treatment

Most eye floaters and spots are harmless and merely annoying. Many of them will fade over time and become less bothersome. In many cases, no treatment is required. However, in some cases where floaters are so dense and numerous that they affect vision, a vitrectomy may be performed to remove the vitreous gel and replace it with a salt solution.

See Also

• Retina
• Vitrectomy
• Eye diseases
• Nearsightedness