Eye floaters are tiny, cloudy clumps of cells that appear in vitreous humor of eye. These can be seen as small specks of clouds or cobwebs moving in the field of vision. They may be ignored mostly but sometimes they may hinder the normal activities of life such as reading, or writing etc. They are caused due old age changes which result in shrinking of vitreous. Vitrectomy is the only process for correcting it.
What Are Floaters In Eye?
Floaters are deposits of various shape, size, refractive index and motility within the transparent vitreous humor of eye. Floaters can be seen because they cast their shadow on retina. Floaters appear as spots, threads, or fragment of cobwebs which float slowly in front of patient’s eyes. As these objects exist within the eye itself, they are not optical illusions but are entoptic phenomenon.
Floaters in the eye are fibrils which are formed due to the breaking of collagen found in the jelly like substance called vitreous. These are generally formed due to age-related changes. When such changes take place, microscopic fibers within vitreous tends to clump together. These clumps of debris float around in vitreous cavity and they cast their shadow on retina.
Eye Floaters Causes:
Some of the major causes which initiates in formation of eye floater are:
- Shrinkage Of Vitreous Humor: This is the main cause of floaters. Actually, Vitreous Humor consists of 99% of water and only 1% of solid elements. The solid elements comprise of a network of collagen and hyaluronic acid which has water molecules trapped in it. When Depolymerization of this network takes place, it makes the hyaluronic acid release its water, thereby liquefying the gel. The collagen breaks down in fibrils, and floaters are formed.
- Posterior Vitreous Detachment: When the vitreous humour liquefies, its body loses support and its frame work contracts. This results in ‘Posterior Vitreous Detachment’ in which the vitreous body is detached from the sensory retina.
- Other Common Causes: patients with retinal tears may experience floaters if red blood cells are released from leaky blood vessels.
Treatment For Eye Floaters:
There are not many options available for treating floaters. Only Vitrectomy may prove to be successful in treating more severe cases. In this process whole vitreous fluid is removed and replaced with an artificial gel. Another treatment, Laser Vitreolysis is not widely in practice. Laser Vitreolysis is practiced by only few specialists in the world.
