Floaters
What are floaters?
Floaters are clumps and strands in the vitreous, the gel-like material, inside the eye. You can see floaters as black spots or shadows which move around as you move your eyes. They are formed as a result of an ageing process of the vitreous.
Most of the floaters are not a problem but they can be a sign of a serious condition such as the retinal detachment. Therefore, if you experience a sudden increase in new floaters, flashing lights and/or a growing shadow (curtain), you should see an ophthalmologist urgently.
What is the treatment for floaters?
Most of the floaters tend to disperse and they become less noticeable over time.
Severe floaters can be removed surgically via vitrectomy. Vitrectomy is a surgery that removes the vitreous via small incisions. Risks of the surgery include loss of vision (very rare), haemorrhage, infection, retinal detachment and cataract. The surgery may not remove completely all the floaters and new floaters can appear after surgery.