Eye Floaters Research Paper
Eye Floaters
Eye floaters are specks of material that float around inside your eye. A jelly-like fluid (vitreous) fills the inside of your eye. The vitreous is normally clear. It allows light to pass through to tissues at the back of the eye (retina). The retina contains the nerves needed for vision.
Your vitreous can start to shrink and become stringy as you age. Then, strands of material may start to float around inside the eye. They come from clumps of cells, blood, or other materials. These objects cast shadows on the retina and show up as floaters. Floaters may be more obvious when you look up at the sky or at a bright, blank background. They do not go away completely. But, in time, they may settle below your line of sight. Floaters can …show more content…
You may need to see an eye care specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist). The specialist will do an exam to determine whether your floaters are a normal part of aging or a warning sign of a more serious eye problem. The specialist may put drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide (dilate) and then use a special scope (slit lamp) to look inside your eye.
TREATMENT
No treatment is needed for floaters that occur normally with age. Sometimes floaters become severe enough to affect your vision. In rare cases, surgery to remove the vitreous and replace it with a saltwater solution (vitrectomy) may be considered.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
• You have a sudden increase in floaters.
• You have floaters along with flashes.
• You have floaters along with any new eye symptoms.
SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:
• You have sudden increase in floaters or flashes that interfere with your vision.
• Your vision suddenly changes.
ExitCare® Patient Information ©2012 ExitCare,
Eye floaters are specks of material that float around inside your eye. A jelly-like fluid (vitreous) fills the inside of your eye. The vitreous is normally clear. It allows light to pass through to tissues at the back of the eye (retina). The retina contains the nerves needed for vision.
Your vitreous can start to shrink and become stringy as you age. Then, strands of material may start to float around inside the eye. They come from clumps of cells, blood, or other materials. These objects cast shadows on the retina and show up as floaters. Floaters may be more obvious when you look up at the sky or at a bright, blank background. They do not go away completely. But, in time, they may settle below your line of sight. Floaters can …show more content…
You may need to see an eye care specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist). The specialist will do an exam to determine whether your floaters are a normal part of aging or a warning sign of a more serious eye problem. The specialist may put drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide (dilate) and then use a special scope (slit lamp) to look inside your eye.
TREATMENT
No treatment is needed for floaters that occur normally with age. Sometimes floaters become severe enough to affect your vision. In rare cases, surgery to remove the vitreous and replace it with a saltwater solution (vitrectomy) may be considered.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.
SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:
• You have a sudden increase in floaters.
• You have floaters along with flashes.
• You have floaters along with any new eye symptoms.
SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:
• You have sudden increase in floaters or flashes that interfere with your vision.
• Your vision suddenly changes.
ExitCare® Patient Information ©2012 ExitCare,