Floaters are shadows in the form of dots or lines that appear to float or hover in vision. Floaters are common and generally harmless. However, certain diseases or conditions can cause floaters to develop.
Floaters are harmless if they are few in number, occur only occasionally, do not get worse, and do not interfere with vision. Floaters can vary in size from tiny black spots to larger shadows like the shape of a long string.
Floaters usually appear when a person sees a bright light such as the sun. It could also be when staring at a basic color, such as white, for too long. However, if the condition is caused by disease, floaters can be seen at any time.
Causes of Floaters
Between the front and the back of the eye is the vitreous, which is a fluid in the form of spongy mucus. The vitreous contains water, collagen, and hyaluronan which functions to maintain the shape of the eyeball and channel light to the retina.
In a normal eye, light passes through the lens, cornea, and vitreous, towards the retina, which is located at the back of the eye. Disruption of the vitreous can cause shadows that appear as floaters.
Disorders of the vitreous can be caused by various conditions, including:
Age
With age, the thickness of the vitreous will decrease. As a result, the vitreous will constrict, and some parts of the eyeball will be attracted. This condition is also known as posterior vitreous detachment.
As the vitreous constricts and becomes denser, the collagen in it will also clump together and block the passage of light. As a result, the image received by the retina will have small shadows or floaters.
Bleeding in the eye
Blood cannot be penetrated by light. Therefore, bleeding in the vitreous can block the passage of light. Some conditions that can cause bleeding in the vitreous include direct trauma to the eye or disruption of the blood vessels inside the eye, as occurs in the case of diabetic retinopathy.
Inflammation of the back of the eye
This condition is also known as posterior uveitis. In this condition, the uvea (the lining of the eye located behind the eye) becomes inflamed, for example due to infection. This condition can cause inflammatory cells to sink into the vitreous and appear as floaters.
Retina tear
A retinal tear can occur when the vitreous contracts and pulls on the retinal layer. If not treated immediately, this tear will cause the detachment of the retinal layer (retinal detachment). When the retina is detached, automatically light cannot be received properly, resulting in an image in the form of floaters.
eye tumor
Not all tumors can cause floaters, unless they are located close to the vitreous or have spread to the vitreous. Eye tumors can be malignant or benign tumors.
Operations and procedures on the eye
Injection of certain drugs into the vitreous can produce bubbles that can cause floaters. Some surgical methods on the vitreous can also cause bubbles to appear which can be seen as floaters.
Although it can happen to anyone, there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing floaters, namely:
- Over 50 years old
- Experiencing nearsightedness
- Suffering from diabetes
- Have you ever had cataract surgery?
- Have a family member with a history of retinal detachment
Symptoms of Floaters
Floaters are characterized by the appearance of transparent shadows on vision. In general, floaters do not cause pain or impair vision. However, if there are a lot of them, these shadows can be uncomfortable.
The shape of floaters can vary from person to person. These shadows can appear in various forms, including:
- Black or gray spots
- Thread
- Curved or straight lines
- Spider web
- Circle resembling a ring
Floaters can look thick or thin and can number from one to hundreds. The floaters that a person sees can also change over time.
Because the cause of floaters comes from inside the eye, the image that is seen will also move when the eye moves. Floaters will also move away or disappear when the sufferer tries to look directly at them.
In addition, shadows will usually be seen more clearly when the sufferer is looking at a bright background, such as a clear sky or a white wall.
When to go to the doctor
Although generally not a dangerous condition, an examination to an ophthalmologist needs to be done immediately if more serious symptoms arise, such as:
- Floaters happen more often
- Floaters appear suddenly
- Floaters are more in number and are seen more clearly
- Flashes of light seen in eyes with floaters
- Part of the view is dark
- Pain in the eye
- Blurred, blurry or missing vision
- Floaters occur after undergoing eye surgery or having an eye injury
These symptoms can signal a more serious condition, even dangerous.
Diagnosis of Floaters
The diagnosis of floaters begins with conducting questions and answers regarding the symptoms experienced, especially regarding the characteristics of the floaters seen. The doctor will also ask about the patient's medical history, especially regarding conditions that can cause floaters.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will also perform several eye exams, such as:
- Visual acuity test
- Eye movement test
- Visual field test
- Slit lamp examination to see the condition of the front of the eye (cornea and conjunctiva)
- Examination of the condition of the retina with an ophthalmoscope
Floaters Pengobatan Treatment
In most cases, floaters don't need any special treatment because they go away on their own. The patient just needs to adjust to be able to see without being bothered by the floaters.
However, in floaters caused by another disease or condition, treatment will be tailored to the cause. For example, surgery may be performed to treat floaters due to retinal detachment. Meanwhile, antimicrobial drugs are used to treat floaters caused by inflammation of the uvea.
For floating floaters, treatment can be done independently by rotating the eyeball left and right, and up and down. The image will also move according to the movement of the fluid in the eye and can slowly disappear.
If floaters are not caused by a particular disease but are very bothersome, there are several treatment options that your doctor can suggest, such as:
- Laser therapy
The doctor will direct a special laser beam at the vitreous to destroy the clot that causes the floaters into smaller particles. The goal is that the image formed does not interfere with vision.
- Vitrectomy
If laser therapy doesn't help much, vitrectomy may be an option. This operation is performed by removing the entire vitreous and replacing it with sterile saline solution to maintain the shape of the eye.
Please note that the two therapies above carry the same risk of damage to the retina. In addition, floaters may not completely disappear and there is still a possibility that new floaters will form again. Therefore, the benefits and risks of doing this therapy need to be discussed with your doctor first.
Floaters Complications
Floaters generally do not cause complications. However, this condition can cause anxiety, stress, and interfere with concentration. This has the potential to harm sufferers in certain situations, for example when driving.
In addition, patients are also at risk for complications if they undergo vitrectomy surgery, such as:
- Retinal tears and bleeding
- Retinal detachment or detachment from the eye
- Cataract
Although rare, these complications can cause permanent damage to the eye.
Floaters Prevention
Floaters are generally a naturally occurring condition and cannot be prevented. The best prevention that can be done is to prevent and treat conditions that can cause floaters, including:
- Use eye protection when working with heavy equipment or doing certain sports to prevent injury to the eyes
- Controlling blood sugar to prevent vitreous bleeding due to diabetic retinopathy