In the eye there is a gel-like structure called the vitreous, and over time, the vitreous
can liquefy, causing clumps to appear in the vitreous. So, these clumps cast a shadow
on the retina and this is what we perceive as floaters. Floaters are very common. A lot
of us have it and our brain tends to adapt to them over time and learn to ignore it.
Occasionally the floaters that develop suddenly or associated with loss of vision can be due
to a more worrying cause like a retinal tear or retinal detachment. So if you can get a
sudden change in your floaters, do get it checked out by a vitreo retinal surgeon.
The commonest cause for eye floaters is development of clumps in a normal gel. It's called the
vitreous. So, over time, the gel liquefies and clumps form and these manifest themselves
as floaters. So, that's the commonest cause and it's the least worrying cause. There are
other reasons floaters can develop. For example, that there is a tear in the retina, there's
retinal detachment that can be associated with the curtain coming across once in vision.
There can be blood in the eye. For example, in patients that have diabetes there can be
some bleeding, they can develop-- an inflammation in the eye can also cause floaters. So, liquefaction
of the gel is the commonest cause and there are some other less common cause that needs to be
assessed by a vitreo retinal surgeon, because treatment may be required.
It really depends on the reason you've developed eye floaters. The commonest cause
of eye floaters is the liquefaction of the normal vitreous gel. So, that scenario, it
is not dangerous. However, there some other causes that can lead to potential loss
of sight, and sometimes that can happen very rapidly. So when there's a sudden onset of
many floaters with associated loss of central or peripheral vision, then you really need
to get your eyes checked all to ensure that there isn't a retinal detachment that could
lead to blindness without treatment. Sometimes in some conditions such as diabetes, bleeding
can also develop. It can be a sign of progressive retinal disease of the eye that again needs
more attention. So, it depends on the cause, usually is not dangerous but sometimes treatments
required to prevent loss of vision.
The treatment of floaters depends on the cause of floaters. The commonest cause is clumps
developing in the normal gel of the eye or vitreous causing floaters. So, in terms of
treatment most of these can be managed conservatively, they don't cause any problems in terms of
threats to sight, the brain learns to adapt to it and a lot of us have floaters. However,
in some individuals, floaters can end up being very troublesome. They can affect one's daily
quality of life and some people-- and there is a treatment to remove floaters. There's
an operation called vitrectomy, where we would remove the gel from inside the eye and clear
the floaters. Interestingly, the vitreous, it doesn't actually have any function after
we're born. It is only there to help the eye when we are in our mother's womb. So the vitreous
can be safely removed. The risk of complication is low and the space that is occupied by the
vitreous is replaced by fluid that the eye normally produces anyway, it maintains the
normal eye pressure. So, vitrectomy surgery can be done to remove floaters. When there
are other causes for floaters such as a retinal detachment or bleeding in the eye, vitrectomy
surgery can be done to treat the underlying retinal problem and the secondary effects
is that the floaters would also be removed.
Floaters can occasionally cause blindness depending on the reason for floaters. So if
there is a sudden onset of new floaters, particularly if associated with curtains coming across
one’s peripheral vision, then that could be a sign of a retinal detachment or retinal
tear that without treatment can certainly to blindness. The chairs of a retinal detachment
developing in the general population is about one in 10,000. So, it's uncommon, but statistically
some patients, some people will get it. The more common cause for eye floaters which is
the clumping of the normal vitreous or gel in the eye due to ageing changes, those do
not cause blindness.