Remedy for Eye Floaters

Eye floaters are formed when the microscopic material in the vitreous fluid of the eye group together, typically with age, as a result of the normally jelly-like fluid becoming more liquid-like. Eye floaters are completely harmless, and though they can be a nuisance, most people learn to live with and ignore them. Treatment is usually not necessary.

Symptoms

• Eye floaters typically take on the appearance of dark specks or transparent string that interfere with one's vision. Taking up residence in the vitreous fluid of the eye, they move whenever the eye moves, though can often settle at the bottom of the eye and thus not interfere with the field of vision.

  Should eye floaters appear suddenly and in large groups, often accompanied with flashes of light or blurred vision, consult a doctor immediately. This could be indicative of a detached or torn retina, the result of the fibers found in the vitreous fluid of the eye pulling too hard on the retina. This can be very serious and lead to a permanent loss of vision.

Treatment

• Treatment for eye floaters not caused by a detached or torn retina is usually not necessary. They are typically minimal, and after an adjustment period can usually be ignored. Should they become too great in number and interfere with the vision to the point where every day tasks become difficult, surgical removal of the vitreous fluid would be necessary.

  This procedure, called a vitrectomy, involves using a hollow needle to suck out the vitreous fluid and replace it with a solution composed of saltwater. Though effective, it is entirely possible that some floaters may remain. Additionally, this procedure carries a risk of retinal detachment and the possibility of cataracts developing at a later date, and as such should be used only as a last resort.

Laser Surgery

• A controversial form of treatment typically used in treating patients with glaucoma and cataracts is a form of laser surgery used to eliminate the floaters. Made popular by John Karickhoff, an eye surgeon based out of Virginia, the procedure is suggested to have a success rate of 90 percent, utilizing a neodymium laser to break up and ultimately destroy the floater. Other doctors have expressed concern over this method of treatment, citing it as potentially dangerous given the laser's close proximity to the retina.

  In speaking with ConsumerAffairs.com, Dr. Robert Frank of Wayne State University described the laser as "destructive," with the potential of tearing a hole in the retina. Dr. Henry Fishman of ConsumerAffairs.com expressed skepticism about the procedure, stating that simply leaving the floaters alone is far safer than laser surgery. As such, only two doctors in the United States are willing to perform the procedure and possess the proper equipment to do so, Dr. Karickhoff and Dr. Scott Geller of the South Florida Eye Clinic.