What are Eye Floaters
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 114, Word Count: 567,
Eye floaters are medically defined as the deposits or condensation situated in the vitreous jelly of the eye. All of us use the term eye floaters so as to tell that the presence of floating spots within vision when we look around. Eye floaters can be present in one eye or both eyes.
What are Eye Floaters?
- Eye Floaters are the deposits that come and go with our eye movements
- They lag behind and float for a few seconds after the eyes stop moving
- These images of eye floaters normally appear when we are looking at a bright, uniform field of vision.
- The structures in front of the eye focus rays of light onto the retina. Light alert onto the retina allows us to see. The light going to the retina passes through a jellylike vitreous humor, which occupies the back 2/3 of the eye.
- At birth and childhood years, this vitreous gel is totally clear. But in latter life, sometimes deposits, strands, or liquid pockets grow within the vitreous jelly.
- Each of these strands or deposits makes a small shadow onto the surface of our retina, and these we say are eye floaters.
- As our eye moves from side to side, these strands or deposits, also shift their position within the eye, this leads to the movement of the shadows, which also move and appear to float
- We can describe eye floaters as straight, spots, and curved lines, and strings
- Some see a single floater while others may see hundreds. Eye floaters may be noticeable under specific lighting conditions and be more evident when we are looking at a bright sky.
- Like fingerprints, everyone has specific patterns of eye floaters
- Eye floaters appear darker than the background
Causes of Eye Floater
· There are many causes for the form of floaters. Most common causes are as below:
Vitreous Syneresis
· This is a very common cause of floaters
· It is basically shrinkage of the vitreous humour which consists of 1% solid elements and 99% solid element.
· Depolymerization of this solid element makes the Hyaluronic acid free its trapped water, to liquefy the gel. The collagen of solid element breaks down into fibrils, which are the floaters.
· Floaters caused in this way are vey few in number and linear
Posterior Vitreous Detachments and Retinal Detachments
· In this case, the liquefied vitreous body loses the support and its framework contracts.
· This leads to the detachment of posterior vitreous. During this detachment, the shrinking vitreous stimulates the retina, causing the patient to see random flashes.
· Consequently, both the appearance of flashes and small floaters should be rapidly investigated by your eye care provider.
Along with this, regression of hyaloid artery and tear film debris also cause eye floaters.
Treatment of Eye Floaters
· Vitrectomy is known to be the successful way of treating severe eye floaters
· Sometimes, laser vitreolysis can also be used to treat eye floater
Now as you know what eye floater is, no need to worry if it happens to you.
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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