Floaters can be quite an irritating experience. They appear in ones field of vision as tiny spots, wormlike threads, blots or webs, they float across your vision like a dead fly or blurry blot. When sufferers first notice this rather annoying phenomenon, the tendency is to move ones eye around in an infuriating attempt to locate the blot.
Floaters can vary from just a slight nuisance when flicking through your favorite mag to it affecting the concentration of almost every normal daily activity. They can be seen more clearly when looking at open areas of a light background or open sky. Of course the defect is actually within the eye itself, they are not optical illusions but are actually tiny deposits of various size and shape, within the eye's vitreous humour, ( the thick clear gel that fills the eye) Floaters are visible because of the shadows they cast on the retina when light is refracted through the eye.
People who suffer from migraines often see floaters, these can be followed by flashes of light, right before experiencing the migraine. For these people, floaters mean that the sufferer should take that one should take prescribed migraine medication promptly. Taking migraine medication at the earliest sign of a migraine will be far more effective at alleviating the excruciating headaches and numbness that may follow.
What Causes Floaters?
So what are the main causes of these floaters, and what can we do to prevent, cure or ease the sufferer of this phenomenon?
There are numerous causes of floaters. However most causes are generally incurred by any damage to the eye that causes material to enter the vitreous humour and thus result in floaters.
The most common cause of floaters is a result of shrinkage of the vitreous humour, this gel-like substance consists of 99% water and 1% solid consisting of a network of collagen and hyaluronic acid. The chemical breakdown of this network makes the hyaluronic acid release its trapped water, and thus create these floaters that pester the patient. Floaters caused in this way tend to be few in number, and are quite harmless and sufferers can go about their daily lives unhindered once the sufferer gets used to the floater.
Eye floaters may also be a symptom occurring after cataract, or if the eye is inflamed from an infection like conjunctivitis. Eye floaters may also be caused by injury to the eye or inflammation due to any dirt, injury, myopia or through an infection on the outside of the eye.
They could even indicate trouble with the veins, or possibly carotid artery disease in some cases. When these conditions are not looked at by an eye specialist, it could lead to eye damage or in the worse case scenario of vascular or carotid artery disease, eye floaters may be a serious early warning of a stroke or a heart attack.
There are numerous causes of floaters. However most causes are generally incurred by any damage to the eye that causes material to enter the vitreous humour and thus result in floaters.
The most common cause of floaters is a result of shrinkage of the vitreous humour, this gel-like substance consists of 99% water and 1% solid consisting of a network of collagen and hyaluronic acid. The chemical breakdown of this network makes the hyaluronic acid release its trapped water, and thus create these floaters that pester the patient. Floaters caused in this way tend to be few in number, and are quite harmless and sufferers can go about their daily lives unhindered once the sufferer gets used to the floater.
Eye floaters may also be a symptom occurring after cataract, or if the eye is inflamed from an infection like conjunctivitis. Eye floaters may also be caused by injury to the eye or inflammation due to any dirt, injury, myopia or through an infection on the outside of the eye.
They could even indicate trouble with the veins, or possibly carotid artery disease in some cases. When these conditions are not looked at by an eye specialist, it could lead to eye damage or in the worse case scenario of vascular or carotid artery disease, eye floaters may be a serious early warning of a stroke or a heart attack.
Floaters leading to retinal tears
As the eyes become older with general wear and tear of life and through the natural aging process, the clear gel which fills the back of the eye naturally starts to weaken and move. This type of movement makes eyes more susceptible to tearing of the retina. A retinal tear is a rip that occurs when the eyeball’s vitreous liquid or moves and then tugs the retina.
During this detachment, the shrinking vitreous can aggravate the retina causing the patient to see random flashes or "flashers’ across the field of vision. The ultimate release of the vitreous around the optic nerve head sometimes makes a large floater appear.
As a complication, part of the retina might be torn off by the departing vitreous body, in a process known as retinal detachment. This will often leak blood into the vitreous, in which the sufferer will see a sudden appearance of lots of small dots, moving across the whole field of vision. Retinal detachment is a serious complication and requires immediate medical attention, as it can easily cause blindness
During this detachment, the shrinking vitreous can aggravate the retina causing the patient to see random flashes or "flashers’ across the field of vision. The ultimate release of the vitreous around the optic nerve head sometimes makes a large floater appear.
As a complication, part of the retina might be torn off by the departing vitreous body, in a process known as retinal detachment. This will often leak blood into the vitreous, in which the sufferer will see a sudden appearance of lots of small dots, moving across the whole field of vision. Retinal detachment is a serious complication and requires immediate medical attention, as it can easily cause blindness
Laser Surgery For Floaters
This type of laser surgery is known as vitreolysis. It is far less risky than actual surgery and is a simple process involving no scary operation procedures.
With this procedure an ophthalmic laser is used, it is pointed towards the floater using very precise technology onto and with a few zaps, the laser vaporizes and cuts the collagen strands of the floater. Laser treatment can be quite expensive, but is becoming regarded as a very successful route to treating floaters. The only draw back to this kind of surgery is actually locating an actual specialist that deals with this kind of procedure. Although it is becoming more and more practiced by eye specialists it not is only really performed by very few specialists at the moment. I
With this procedure an ophthalmic laser is used, it is pointed towards the floater using very precise technology onto and with a few zaps, the laser vaporizes and cuts the collagen strands of the floater. Laser treatment can be quite expensive, but is becoming regarded as a very successful route to treating floaters. The only draw back to this kind of surgery is actually locating an actual specialist that deals with this kind of procedure. Although it is becoming more and more practiced by eye specialists it not is only really performed by very few specialists at the moment. I
Floaters surgery
The medical term for this type of surgery is known as a Vitrectomy. It can and has been successful for treating more severe cases. However, the potential risk of this procedure can lead to more complications like cataracts retinal tears or a really severe infection and therefore is not really warranted if the symptoms do not cause the sufferer too much inconvenience.
This operation usually involves making three openings in the eye. Then to insert small gauge instruments, one to resupply a saline solution and maintain the pressure of the eye, the second is a fiber optic light source, and the third is a vitrector. The vitrector has a cutting tip attached to a suction device. This design reduces traction on the retina via the vitreous material.
This operation usually involves making three openings in the eye. Then to insert small gauge instruments, one to resupply a saline solution and maintain the pressure of the eye, the second is a fiber optic light source, and the third is a vitrector. The vitrector has a cutting tip attached to a suction device. This design reduces traction on the retina via the vitreous material.
Floaters cures
There is no silver bullet cure for floaters, some can be left untreated and are generally harmless, though somewhat annoying for the sufferer. However all cases of floaters should be examined by an eye specialist on a case by case basis.
Warning 15% of cases are considered as (Posterior vitreous detachments and retinal detachments) and if left untreated can lead to blindness. If your floaters are the result of retinal tears and patients should seriously consider the route of laser eye surgery.
Warning 15% of cases are considered as (Posterior vitreous detachments and retinal detachments) and if left untreated can lead to blindness. If your floaters are the result of retinal tears and patients should seriously consider the route of laser eye surgery.
Homeopathy To Treat Floaters
One treatment which is almost always overlooked is Homeopathy. These treatments are sometimes disregarded due to lack of tests, but make no mistake the actual grounding and history of using these products outdates many modern medicines.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, floaters are an indication of congestion in the liver, kidney and colon. There are some herbs and nutrients recommend for their abilities to eliminate congestion in these organs in order to keep the vitreous of the eye clear from these annoying specks, as well as to help strengthen the retinal tissue and integrity of the blood vessels. Try ReVision Formula or floater homeopathic pellets.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, floaters are an indication of congestion in the liver, kidney and colon. There are some herbs and nutrients recommend for their abilities to eliminate congestion in these organs in order to keep the vitreous of the eye clear from these annoying specks, as well as to help strengthen the retinal tissue and integrity of the blood vessels. Try ReVision Formula or floater homeopathic pellets.
What can I do about my floaters?
Generally, if the sufferer is only seeing one or two of these floaters, especially if they have been there for some time and are not causing too much inconvenience, people should really not be concerned. There is the possibility of homeopathic remedies, taking vitamins to improve the eyes natural strength, and steps to avoid prevention. These may reduce the symptoms and build up the bodies natural defense which protects the eyes.
There are also in different types of surgery one can look into, eye surgery being for the more serious cases and even laser eye surgery which basically as is suggested, it is used to isolate the problem and remove it with a laser
However, if the patient experiences a sudden increase in the number of floaters, especially if you also see white flashing lights, this could be much a much more alarming condition it could possibly be posterior vitreous detachment. If you see this you should see an eye doctor immediately.
There are also in different types of surgery one can look into, eye surgery being for the more serious cases and even laser eye surgery which basically as is suggested, it is used to isolate the problem and remove it with a laser
However, if the patient experiences a sudden increase in the number of floaters, especially if you also see white flashing lights, this could be much a much more alarming condition it could possibly be posterior vitreous detachment. If you see this you should see an eye doctor immediately.
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