If you see spots or small threads floating around your eyes or darting away when you try to focus, you are experiencing eye floaters. This is the natural aging process of your eyes and a side effect of the vitreous gel shrinking, the substance that makes up most of your eye. While eye floaters or flashes are annoying, they are not usually a reason for concern. However, sudden increases in the frequency or amount may indicate a serious condition, including:
- Infection
- Eye Injury
- Retinal Tear
- Inflammation
- Hemorrhaging
- Retinal Detachment
If the floaters affect your vision, our Optometrists at Red Deer Eye Care can discuss treatment options, such as a vitrectomy. During the surgicy, we remove the floaters by extracting fluid from your eye, and replace the lost volume with a saline solution. This procedure is only performed in extreme cases where considerable adverse symptoms are apparent as a result of eye floaters.
