Scenic Rim Optometrists
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Book An Appointment
  • Contact Us
  • What is Involved in a Consultation?
  • Other Tests & Services
  • Blog
  • Common Eye Disorders
  • Frames & Sunglasses
  • Spectacle Lens Options
  • Contact Lenses
  • About Us

Floaters and Spots in Your Vision

1/9/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
Floaters are spots, flecks, fragments or cobwebs of varying shapes, sizes and transparencies that can be seen in your vision.  The eye is filled with fluid, called the vitreous, and particles of protein or other natural materials floating in the vitreous can be seen when they are in the right position to cast a shadow on the retina.  Usually this is normal, and floaters will come and go throughout life without causing any problems, but sometimes they can be caused by an eye injury or by disease or deterioration of the vitreous or the retina.

Floaters can occur at any age, but they become more common as we get older due to imperfections that develop in the vitreous.  Floaters occur within the eyeball, so when you try to move your eye to look at them they will move away because you are moving the eyeball, which contains the floaters.  They can be detected during an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist looking inside the eyeball, or sometimes the patient will physically see on the floaters themselves.

Most floaters are normal and will rarely cause problems with vision or blindness.  However, because floaters can rarely be caused by more serious problems, patients having floaters should see their eye health care professional to determine the cause.  Particularly, if you notice a large change in your floaters, or if you get them with flashes of light, this could indicate more serious retinal problems and you should get this checked immediately.

When floaters are associated with a retinal problem an ophthalmologist will treat the retinal problem, and sometimes also remove the vitreous (and therefore the floaters) from the eye.  However, if the floaters are not associated with another problem your optometrist or ophthalmologist will probably encourage you to try to put up with them as they will usually disappear with time.  As the particles causing floaters are contained within the eye and are usually a normal part of the eye they cannot be prevented.
2 Comments
Flying with Anne link
1/24/2021 03:51:23 pm

Great poost thanks

Reply
Hailey Miller link
2/4/2022 03:40:33 am

It got me when you said that spots that can be seen in our vision are called floaters. My husband has spots and shadows in his vision that are affecting his everyday life. We are hoping to find an eye center on Friday that can diagnose him and provide an effective treatment.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    February 2022
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    February 2016
    October 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.