Patton also points out that many patients develop a cataract following this type of surgery. Risks of the operation include infection, inflammation, bleeding and bruising around the eye. "One should only consider undertaking that risk if you feel your quality of life is significantly affected." "Surgical vitrectomy, whilst very successful at removing or significantly alleviating floater symptoms, carries a risk," cautions Patton, though. Most patients are able to return to work within two weeks. A routine vitrectomy lasts approximately 30-60 minutes and can be performed under local or general anaesthetic. The vitrous humour is then removed and replaced with saline solution. But it's important to know that approximately 25% of patients experience either no improvement, or worse symptoms following the laser."Ī vitrectomy operation involves making small incisions in the white of the eye. "Whilst in my experience these patients are a small percentage of the overall 'severe floaters' population, YAG laser may improve symptoms in 50% of this group. "YAG laser (vitreolysis) can be particularly effective in patients when they have a PVD and have an evident 'Weiss ring' as the cause of their symptoms," says Patton. The condition causes a much larger, ring-shaped floater (the Weiss ring). Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) occurs when the eye's vitreous humour (the clear fluid in the eyeball) peels away from the retina entirely, often as a result of ageing. It entails lasering large floaters, therefore reducing them in size so they are less obstructive. Though initially alarming, when patients realise they are not sight-threatening, many are able to eventually forget their existence.Ī non-surgical approach to treating eye floaters, vitreolysis appeals to patients because it's less invasive than a vitrectomy, and can be carried out in a doctor's office. Optometrists often say you will get used to eye floaters, which in many cases is true. "When a patient comes to you specifically enquiring about treatment options for their floaters, in general they must already be sufficiently troubled by them," Patton reveals.īut if your floaters are new or have changed suddenly, it's important to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist to rule out rare but sight-threatening issues, including retinal detachment and retinal tears. I'm seriously considering changing career because of the floaters." Should you worry about your eye floaters? I work a lot in front of the computer and it's a nightmare since they are even more apparent. When after two weeks the floaters worsened, he saw his optometrist, who told him he would just have to learn to live with them. "At first I didn't look at the floaters too much - I thought this would just go away," says David. But, emphasises Patton: "In a small minority of patients, for reasons we don't fully understand, these floaters cause severe symptoms and can significantly affect patients' quality of life." "Eye floaters are caused by small particles of collagen within the vitreous gel at the back of the eye," explains consultant ophthalmologist and cataract and vitreoretinal surgeon Niall Patton." become visible to the patient as they cast a shadow over the retina, particularly as they move the eye."Įye floaters are often a normal part of ageing and are usually a nuisance rather than a chronic condition. David had developed severe vitreous opacities, otherwise known as eye floaters. Despite their appearance, these were not parasites. It was accompanied by strange shadows, which looked to him like fast-moving mosquitoes, dark smudges and lines. Last summer, David, 24, was cycling through his hometown when what looked like a giant, magnified tapeworm appeared in his central vision, against the blue sky.
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