Floaters look like small specks, dots, circles, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision. While they seem to be in front of your eye, they are floating inside. Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous that fills your eye. What you see are the shadows these clumps cast on your retina. These transparent specks or spots move about when you move your eyes. As you look at them directly, they seem to dart away. As you rest your eyes, they seem to float on their own.

If you experience these floaters or a sudden increase in them, it is advisable to contact Dr. Dory Neu-Ner immediately. He is an eye care specialist with the knowledge to diagnose and treat vitreous floaters. It is especially crucial if you lose your peripheral vision or see flashes of light. These painless symptoms can be caused by a retinal tear that will require immediate attention by Dr. Neu-Ner

Common symptoms of eye floaters

Eye floaters are normal as we age. They are tiny but can significantly affect your vision. They can present in the following ways:

Strings or shapes in your vision that appear as if they are floating
Spots that are noticeable against a plain background
Spots, specks or shadowy dots that move out of your visual field when you try to look at them
Lines or cobweb-like shapes
Rings or any other irregular shapes

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What causes vitreous floaters?

Vitreous floaters can be caused by the normal aging process or by other conditions and diseases that include:

Trauma or tearing in the retina
Eye medications or surgeries
An eye injury or haemorrhaging
Eye inflammation or infection
Bleeding in the eye
Eye tumour
Torn retina
Diabetic retinopathy

Eye floater treatment

Eye floaters can be extremely annoying but are very often harmless. Many of us will experience them at some stage in our lives. Rare cases of vitreous floaters could disrupt your vision and ultimately require surgery. Most do not require any treatment as they may settle outside your field of vision.

If floaters become dense and disrupt your vision, visit your Dr. Neu-Ner as soon as possible. Dr Neu-Ner will determine if laser vitreolysis will benefit you, and remove your floaters. This laser treatment will dissolve large floaters and make them less noticeable.It is a painless and safe treatment.

Should laser treatment not be an option for you, Dr Neu-Ner will discuss surgery to remove the floaters. Whilst this is a definitive treatment it does carry higher risk. Dr. Neu-Ner will however reserve this treatment for serious circumstances. An alternative treatment for floaters is laser vitreolysis

What are the risk factors?

Factors that can increase your risk of floaters include:

Being over the age of 50
Having eye trauma
Diabetic retinopathy
Nearsightedness
Complications that arose from cataract surgery
Eye inflammation

When should you see your Ophthalmologist?

If you notice any of the following, contact Dr. Neu-Ner immediately:

Light flashes in the eyes or eye that has the floaters
More floaters than you usually experience
New floaters
Vision loss or darkness on the sides of your vision

If you notice an increase in eye floaters, this could be a sign of a serious eye condition that could lead to vision loss or blindness. Seek prompt medical treatment from Dr. Neu-Ner if your floaters increase.

Ophthalmologist in Sandton

Dr. Dory Neu Ner is a medical and surgical specialist trained to diagnose and treat eye floaters. He takes time to explain the procedures he performs and strives to achieve the best possible outcomes for all his patients.

He is a committed, professional ophthalmologist that will help you make the best possible decisions regarding your eye health. He upholds the highest clinical standards and provides his patients with the insight to make informed decisions about their vision. You are welcome to contact him should you experience any symptoms of eye floaters.

Vitreous floaters