How to Prevent Yourself From Getting More Floaters

As a person ages, he may experience "floaters," little specks of black in the visual field that move as the eyes move. This happens when the gelatinous structure of the vitreous, a transparent mass between the lens of the eye and the retina, starts to shrink. Particles detach and move to the center of the eye. Although there's no way to prevent the vitreous from age-related weakening, there are preventive measures that can prevent floaters from forming.

Instructions

• 1

  Avoid taking medication whenever possible. Many people first experience floaters after ingesting certain medications. The list is long and includes common medications such as those to treat high-blood pressure and to prevent blood clotting, antibiotics, anti-depressants, steroids and even over-the-counter drugs such as NSAIDS.

• 2

  Take herbs and supplements documented to improve eye health. Popular ones include Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which filter light and act as free-radical scavengers; Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps the body form and maintain collagen (which is found in abundance in the cornea of the eye, and also protects against UV light); and bilberry, which promotes blood flow to the vessels in the eye and helps produce rhodopsin (essential for night vision). Use MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) eye drops, which contain a sulfur compound produced naturally by the adrenal glands; they'll help remove floaters by optimizing passage of nutrients though optical tissue.

• 3

  Try acupuncture and accupressure. Both demonstrate some benefits in treating eye floaters. You can consult a doctor of Chinese medicine or purchase a microcurrent stimulator, a machine used to stimulate specific acupuncture points (BL1, KI6, LV3, LV14, LI4 and Tai Yang).