Overview
Eye floaters are small spots, threads, or cobweb-like shapes that drift across a person’s field of vision. They are usually caused by changes in the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance inside the eye. While most floaters are harmless, a sudden increase or appearance of flashes of light may indicate a serious condition such as retinal detachment. South Korea provides advanced ophthalmology services to evaluate and manage floaters effectively.
What are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are tiny clumps of cells or gel inside the vitreous that cast shadows on the retina. They appear as small specks, squiggly lines, or dark shapes that move when the eyes move. Floaters are often more noticeable when looking at a bright, plain background like the sky or a white wall.
Floaters can be:
- Age-related: Common in people over 50 due to natural vitreous degeneration.
- Trauma-related: Following eye injury or surgery.
- Associated with eye disease: Such as retinal tears, retinal detachment, or inflammation.
Symptoms
- Small shapes or dots drifting across vision
- Cobweb-like or thread-like patterns
- Flashes of light in the peripheral vision
- Sudden increase in floaters may indicate retinal tear or detachment
- Mild blurred vision in some cases
Causes
- Vitreous degeneration: Age-related changes causing gel to liquefy and clump
- Retinal tears or detachment: Can release debris into the vitreous
- Eye trauma or surgery: Introducing debris or causing vitreous changes
- Inflammation (uveitis): Immune response causing vitreous opacities
- Bleeding inside the eye (vitreous hemorrhage): Often from diabetic retinopathy
Risk Factors
- Age over 50
- Nearsightedness (myopia)
- Previous eye surgery or trauma
- Diabetes or other systemic illnesses affecting the eyes
- Eye inflammation or infections
Complications
- Retinal tear or detachment if sudden floaters appear with flashes of light
- Permanent vision loss if untreated retinal detachment occurs
- Anxiety or discomfort from persistent floaters
Prevention
- Regular eye examinations, especially after age 50
- Manage chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension
- Protect eyes from trauma during sports or work
- Prompt evaluation for sudden onset of floaters or flashes
Treatment Options in Korea
South Korea offers advanced ophthalmology care for diagnosing and managing eye floaters:
- Diagnosis
- Comprehensive eye exam using slit-lamp and dilated fundus examination
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess retina and vitreous
- Ultrasound imaging if vitreous is cloudy
- Observation
- Most floaters are benign and do not require treatment
- Regular monitoring to detect changes or new symptoms
- Medication
- Not usually required for simple floaters
- Anti-inflammatory drops if floaters are due to uveitis
- Surgical Intervention
- Vitrectomy: Removal of vitreous gel to eliminate severe or vision-impairing floaters
- Laser vitreolysis: Minimally invasive laser treatment to break up floaters
- Supportive Care
- Patient education on monitoring changes in floaters
- Visual aids or lifestyle adjustments to reduce impact on daily activities
