Understanding Eye Floaters: Causes, When to Worry, and What to Do

Floaters are a common condition that affect most people as they age. Perhaps you have seen small gray or black specks floating in your field of vision. Although they may be alarming at first, floaters are a common part of aging as the vitreous jelly of your eye becomes more liquid. While a few floaters are normal, a sudden increase of them is not normal and you should contact your ophthalmologist immediately.

Instructions

• 1

  See your doctor immediately if you have a sudden increase in floaters, especially if your symptoms also include loss of peripheral vision and flashes of light. These could be signals of a retinal detachment or tear and could result in blindness if not treated immediately.

• 2

  Wait. Most floaters will go away on their own and require no medical intervention.

• 3

  Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and yoga to help you adapt and cope with floaters that persist.

• 4

  Undergo a surgical procedure called vitrectomy if the floaters are too many and too bothersome. Your doctor will use a needle to extract the vitreous humor and replace it with a saltwater solution.