What Are Eye Floaters? Plus Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

Surgery

Some ophthalmologists advocate for laser surgery for eye floaters. However, there is no conclusive evidence indicating this is safe and effective for floaters. During laser vitreolysis, a laser beam is projected through the pupil into the eye to large floaters, vaporizing the floaters to reduce their size or make them disappear. Laser surgery also involves significant risk such as damage to the retina.

Vitrectomy is surgery used to remove the vitreous where the eyes contain inflammatory debris or large amounts of non-clearing blood. Some floaters may persist, and there is still a chance of recurrence. This process poses significant risks including the formation of cataracts, serious infection, retinal detachment, and bleeding within the eye.

Routine Eye Exams

Routine eye examinations with an ophthalmologist are encouraged to detect and diagnose various eye conditions during their early stages, which can help prevent complications such as eye floaters from occurring in the first place. Of course, sometimes eye floaters are one of the first symptoms of many eye conditions, including uveitis. If this is the case, routine eye exams can still catch eye floaters and help the doctor diagnose the underlying problem before it causes last issues with the patient’s vision. In all instances, though, routine eye examinations are necessary for promoting eye health and handling eye floaters in all forms.