Sometimes you may see small
specks, swirls, cobwebs, or clouds moving around
in your vision. These are called floaters. Often
times, they are more noticed when looking at a
plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky.
The floaters are actually little clumps or condensations
of the vitreous, the clear jelly-like fluid which
fills the inside of your eye. They float around
the eye. The floaters you see are from the shadows
the clumps and condensations cast on the retina
in the back of the eye.
After age 50, the vitreous gel normal begins to
significantly condense. It starts to thicken,
shrink, and form clumps or strands. Eventually,
the vitreous gel shrinks to such an extent that
it pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing
a posterior vitreous detachment. This is a very
common cause of significant floaters during middle
age. Posterior vitreous detachment is especially
common for people who:
- are nearsighted;
- have undergone cataract operations;
- have had YAG laser surgery of the eye;
- have had inflammation inside the eye.
Sometimes when the vitreous pulls away from the
wall of the eye, a blood vessel or the retina
itself might tear due to the traction. This is
a serious problem. The warning signs that this
has happened are:
- New floaters
- Sudden flashes of light
- A black curtain coming over your field of
vision
Such cases are emergencies that your ophthalmologist
needs to be notified about right away.
If the retina is not torn, you will eventually
adapt to the floaters as they fade over time.
Whenever you have floater or develop new ones,
have an ophthalmologist dilate your eyes to determine
if the retina in the back of the eye has become
torn or detached. |
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