How Do I Get Rid of Floaters in My Vision?

Do you ever notice specks, dots, or stringy shapes drifting across your visual field? If so, you were not imagining things. Those visual disturbances are called floaters. They occur due to tiny clumps or strands inside the vitreous humor. This is the gel-like fluid filling the inside of your eyeball.
 

While floaters seem alarming initially, most pose no serious threat to eyesight. However, certain floaters may signal a severe condition requiring prompt attention. This article examines floaters, their causes, and ways to minimize or eliminate them.
 

What Causes Floaters?

The vitreous humor contains millions of fine fibers intertwined in a mesh-like structure. These protein fibers give the fluid its gel-like consistency. As you age, the fibers slowly break down and clump together. This casts shadows on the retina. These clumps appear as floaters in your vision. Other causes include:

• Eye trauma or injury.
• Diabetic retinopathy.
• Infection or inflammation inside the eye.
• Detached retina or torn retina.
• Bleeding inside the vitreous humor.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

Most floaters remain harmless. Consult an ophthalmologist immediately if you experience a sudden onset of new floaters, flashes of light, or loss of side vision. These symptoms could indicate a detached retina or other severe eye condition. Prompt treatment is crucial to prevent permanent vision loss.
 

How to Get Rid of Floaters

Unfortunately, no guaranteed cure exists for typical age-related floaters. The vitreous humor lacks a blood supply. This makes it challenging for the body to dissolve or remove floaters naturally. However, some techniques may provide relief.
 

Wait for Floaters to Settle

Give new floaters time to sink below your normal line of vision. As they settle over weeks or months, you may eventually stop noticing them.
 

Vitrectomy Surgery

For large, dense, or persistent floaters severely impacting vision, a vitrectomy offers the best solution. This surgical procedure removes the vitreous humor and replaces it with a saltwater solution. The success rate is high, but invasive surgery carries risks like infection, retinal tears, or cataracts.
 

Laser Vitreolysis

This non-invasive approach targets and breaks up floaters using focused laser pulses. Results vary — some patients see improvement, others limited success. Potential side effects like retinal or lens damage exist, though the risk is low when done properly. So, weigh the benefits and risks carefully.
 

Eye Exercises and Movements

Some claim specific eye movements help shift floaters out of the line of vision temporarily. Try gently rolling your eyes up and down, side to side, or in a circular motion. While not a cure, exercises provide short-term relief.
 

Prevention Tips

Though floaters are often unavoidable, these tips may help minimize their appearance:

• Protect eyes from trauma, injury, or objects poking the eye area.
• Wear sunglasses to block ultraviolet rays that may cause vitreous liquefaction.
• Maintain healthy blood sugar levels if diabetic.
• Stay hydrated and consume nutrient-rich foods to promote eye health.

When to Leave Floaters Alone

In many cases, floaters pose no threat and require no treatment. Ignoring them is best if vision remains normal or floaters remain stable without significantly increasing. You can also ignore them if no other symptoms like flashes, vision loss, or eye pain occur.

While annoying, most eye floaters prove harmless and result from natural aging processes. Unless floaters severely obstruct vision or accompany other serious symptoms, the simplest solution is learning to adapt and live with them.
 

Shining a light or looking at a plain, bright background can sometimes make floaters less noticeable. Ultimately, having routine comprehensive eye exams allows early detection and prompt treatment for any underlying sight-threatening conditions causing floaters.
 

For more on eye floaters, visit GOTRAN Optometry at our Huntington Beach, California, office. Call (714) 898-3464 to schedule an appointment today.
 

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-eye-floaters