Floaters

What are floaters?

Floaters are small dots, specks, spots or flecks that float around one’s field of vision. You may observe that these small black spots in your eyes drift around as you move your eye. Usually, they tend to be more visible when one is looking at a white background or when one is under bright sunlight. This videois an interesting, easy-to-understand and educational explanation of this eye condition.

Left: Normal Vision. Right: Affected Vision (Simulated)

Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cellular debris that are inside the vitreous that fills the inner back portion of the eye. When we are younger, the vitreous has a gel-like consistency. As we age, the vitreous begins to degenerate, resulting in floaters.

Should floaters be treated?

Although annoying, floaters are generally not a cause for concern. They arise as a part of the natural aging process and usually diminish over time.

However, sometimes they may be an indication of a more serious eye condition. A sudden onset of floaters or bleeding in the eye may be indicative of:
– Retinal tear
– Retinal detachment

If not treated promptly, this may lead to partial or complete loss of vision. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of floaters in your eye, which may or may not be accompanied by flashes of light and/or bleeding, you should consult an eye doctor immediately.

What can I do to prevent them?

There is no way to prevent floaters that are caused by aging. If a black dot persistently appears in your line of vision, try looking up and down, or moving your eye around. This may help get it out of the way. However, it is important to get your eyes checked regularly in order to maintain good eye health

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General pricing for first visits:
Consultation: $100-$120
Eye tests required depend on eye condition