How Do Floaters Affect Vision?

The National Eye Institute describes floaters as "specks that float about in your field of vision. They are small, dark, shadowy shapes that can look like spots, thread-like strands, or squiggly lines." Individuals with floaters usually adjust to the condition but sometimes serious vision problems develop. A healthcare specialist can determine whether floaters are harmless or require treatment.

Age as a Factor

• The inside of the eye is filled with vitreous humor.

  Floaters result from abnormalities of the vitreous humor of the eye. Vitreous humor is the gelatin-like substance that fills the eye and gives it shape. The substance is clear at birth and in early childhood. But as people age the vitreous loses clarity and collagen fibers within the vitreous thicken. People over the age of 50 experience these changes of vitreous humor and the result is floaters.

Torn Retina

• Serious eye injuries require medical treatment.

  Light enters the the eye through a clear structure called the lens. Light and images are focused on the back surface of the eye (the retina) and translated into nerve impulses which travel to the brain through the optic nerve. These nerve impulses send signals to the brain for vision. Vitreous humor fills the space between the retina and the lens of the eye. If the vitreous humor deteriorates, the retina may be torn away from the back of the eye. Some retinal tears heal themselves but others require surgery. A sudden appearance of floaters can indicate this condition.

Other Causes of Floaters

• Surgery may be necessary to correct some vision problems.

  Floaters that result from normal aging do not require medical treatment. Diabetics and the near-sighted are also more likely to develop the condition. Although the presence of floaters can be bothersome, sufferers gradually adjust to changes in vision. But sufferers should be aware that some instances of floaters require medical treatment. Damaged blood vessels leaking blood into the eye, detached retinas and floaters so severe that they obscure vision are among conditions that warrant medical treatment.

Treatments

• An ophthalmologist can examine the eye and determine the best option.

  Individuals who experience a sudden vision change or large increase in the number of floaters should consult an ophthalmologist. The eye care specialist will determine how to treat the condition. In instances where floaters are so dense they obscure vision, the vitreous may be removed by a process called vitrectomy. Because a vitrectomy carries risk of infection and complication, eye care specialists generally do not recommend the procedure except for severe cases of floaters.