What to know about eye floaters

If you notice these signs, see an eye doctor right away or go to the emergency room. Ideally you will want to see a retinal specialist, “they are the most prepared specialists to diagnose

and treat these problems and handle cases on an on-call basis,” Wang says. Just be sure you receive a dilated eye exam. “Going for a quick vision check is not enough,” Ianchulev says. The

doctor will place drops in each eye to widen the pupil (the opening in the center of the iris, the colored part of the eye), which allows more light to enter the eye. Then each eye is

examined with a magnifying lens that provides a clear view of the back of the eye, including the retina, macula and optic nerve. The doctor will be able to see whether there has been a tear

or a detachment. Neither one causes any pain because there are no pain receptors in the eye, so the exam is the only way to detect damage, Hau says. If you experience pain, that means

there’s generally something on the surface of the eye, not within the eye. While your eyes are dilated, your vision will be blurry and the effects may last for four to five hours. You should

plan to have someone drive you home. And bring sunglasses: Your eyes will be sensitive to light. TREATMENT FOR EYE FLOATERS If eye floaters are not due to a retinal tear or detachment and

are merely a minor annoyance in your vision, you do not need to get them treated. Symptoms often get better or floaters become easier to live with or ignore. However, there are two instances

where you would need treatment–and that’s in the event of a tear or detachment or if floaters are seriously debilitating to your sight. If you catch a retinal tear early enough, you can

have a laser procedure to have it repaired. This can be done in a doctor’s office, and you’ll go home the same day. With a retinal detachment, the retina separates from the back wall of the

eye, like wallpaper peeling off a wall, according to the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS). This is an emergency situation and, if not treated promptly, can cause permanent

vision loss. But if you act fast, you can save your sight. According to ASRS, retinal detachment repairs have a 90 percent success rate. If your eye floaters are not caused by a retinal

tear, detachment, or other serious eye condition but still impair your vision to the point that they affect your quality of life—such as making it difficult to drive safely or work

effectively—your eye care provider may discuss two possible treatment options with you: * VITRECTOMY: An outpatient surgery involves removing the vitreous gel and replacing it with another

fluid. Overtime, your body will make more vitreous to replace it. There are risks to this procedure, including retinal tears and detachment, so talk to your provider about the risks and

benefits to help you make the best decision for your eyes, says the NEI. * LASER VITREOLYSIS: Also known as laser floater treatment, this procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes. After you receive

numbing eye drops or local anesthetic, a device will hold your eye open as a laser focuses on the floaters and vaporizes them into a gas that is reabsorbed in the eye. Relief is expected

within about 30 minutes. Risks are extremely rare but may include increased intraocular pressure, which can lead to glaucoma, cataracts, retinal tears, retinal detachment, retinal

hemorrhage, and an increased number of floaters.