Almost everyone experiences floaters from time-to-time, but if your symptoms affect your ability to work, read, or drive, don’t wait to seek professional help. At Marano Eye Care, Matthew Marano Jr., MD, Edward Decker, MD, Sanjai Jalaj, MD, and the team have years of experience diagnosing and treating floaters. To schedule an appointment at the Denville, Livingston, or Newark, New Jersey, office, call to speak with a member of the administrative staff or book online today.
Eye floaters are dots, specks, or cobweb-like spots that appear in your vision. They vary in size, shape, and appearance but move out of the way whenever you look directly at them.
Most floaters occur due to wear-and-tear that affects the vitreous — a squishy, gel-like substance that’s inside your eyeballs. As the vitreous breaks down, microscopic fibers clump together and cast shadows on your retina. These shadows are what eye doctors call floaters.
Common symptoms of floaters include:
Almost everyone sees floaters on occasion, but if yours persist, get worse, or occur alongside flashes of light, contact the team at Marano Eye Care right away.
The most common cause of floaters is the natural aging process. As you get older, the jelly-like substance inside your eyes liquifies. As the vitreous breaks down, it sags and becomes stringy. These fibers clump together and cast shadows on your retina.
Other factors responsible for floaters include inflammation or bleeding at the back of the eye, a torn retina, and certain types of medication.
Floaters affect people of all ages and races, but several factors may increase your risk, including:
You’re also more likely to experience floaters if you get hit in the eye or experience another type of trauma.
To diagnose floaters, the team at Marano Eye Care reviews your ocular health history, asks about your symptoms and lifestyle, and conducts a comprehensive eye exam. During your exam, the team assesses the back of your eyes, including the vitreous, to determine the underlying cause.
Treatment of floaters depends on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. Most mild cases resolve on their own with rest and at-home measures of care. If the floaters impair your vision or interfere with your quality of life, the team might recommend:
During surgery, the team makes a small incision in your eye and replaces the vitreous with a solution that helps maintain its shape.
During this type of treatment, the team uses a medical laser to break up floaters in your vitreous. Breaking up the floaters makes them smaller and less noticeable.
If floaters are negatively affecting your vision, request an appointment at Marano Eye Care. Book online or call the nearest location to speak with a member of the administrative staff today.