Can Exercise Help Eye Floaters?

Eye floaters are tiny specks, flecks or threads that sometimes appear in an individual's visual field. These visual disturbances are the result of various changes in the consistency of the vitreous, a jelly-like substance that fills most of the eyes' interior. There are no exercises to alter the presence of eye floaters, but other treatments are available.

Understanding Eye Floaters

• According to the National Eye Institute, floaters develop when segments of your vitreous shrink away from the light-sensitive retinas at the back of your eyes, creating stray material that casts shadows on your retinal field. In most cases, they are a natural part of growing older, and are typically medically insignificant. You may also be prone to floaters if you have diabetes, are unusually nearsighted or have undergone cataract surgery. If your floaters bother you, there is a good chance that over time they will naturally sink toward the bottom of your eyes and cause less visual disturbance.

Treatment

• Typically, doctors do not treat medically harmless eye floaters, or recommend eye exercises to reduce them. However, if your floaters are particularly dense or interfere substantially with your vision, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy. During a vitrectomy, a surgeon will remove the floaters and the rest of the vitreous from your affected eye and fill the resulting void with a saline solution that mimics the functions of the vitreous. Be aware that the potential complications of vitrectomy are quite serious, and your surgeon will likely avoid performing the procedure unless your visual impairment is quite significant.

Medically Serious Causes of Eye Floaters

• Although eye floaters are typically harmless, in some instances their development can signal dangerous changes within your eyes. Potential causes in this category include infection, direct physical injury, eye hemorrhage and the inflammatory condition called uveitis. Relieving these underlying conditions may diminish the floaters in your visual field.

  Another serious source of eye floaters is a process called retinal detachment, in which all or part of your retinas pull away, or detach, from their normal anchored position. If left untreated, retinal detachment may result in permanent loss of vision or total blindness in the affected eye. If you experience a rapid buildup of eye floaters, a retinal detachment may be in progress.

  Be aware that a sudden increase in floaters may also indicate a harmless condition called vitreous detachment, which occurs when a large segment of your vitreous shrinks at one time. In some cases, a true retinal detachment will be distinguished from a vitreous detachment by additional symptoms, including loss of your peripheral vision or flashes of light in your visual field. To fully safeguard your vision, seek medical attention immediately if any sudden buildup of floaters occurs.