Eye Floater After Vitreous Detachment

Dr. Kisling Uncategorized 3 Comments

Vitreous Eye Floater

 


Follow The Small Dark Floater As It Moves Inside The Eye

Most people will have a vitreous detachment by age 65. The vitreous fluid inside the eye loses its firm jell type structure with age and becomes more like water. The vitreous is covered by a membrane like structure on the outer edges. This is attached to the retina around the optic nerve. As the fluid liquefies it pulls away from this attached area. The detached membrane often leaves a circular ring like floater commonly referred to as a Weiss Ring. Like most floaters, this one moves as the eye moves then begins a slower drift back towards its original position. That creates the illusion of something in your peripheral vision that always moves one step away as you turn your eyes to try and see what is there.

Vitreous Floaters Can Be Related To Retinal Detachments

Floaters and spots in your vision can be related to retinal detachments. Call your optometrist immediately  if you have an onset of floaters. Your eye doctor can help decide if this is an eye emergency that needs urgent care. Fortunately most of the time vitreous detachments and a Weiss Ring do not result in a retina detaching. As a plus, the floaters also tend to settle down to the bottom of the fluid and become much less noticeable over several months time.



Comments 3

  1. Eric

    It is a pure canard that floaters “become much less noticeable over several months time.”

    Before my car accident, I had the occasional floater that I’d notice vaguely as I looked up at a clear blue sky.

    After my car accident, in which the air bag deployed and jammed into my face, I now endure about 20 large, dark floaters in my eye that I can even see while driving, looking at a computer or TV, or just talking to someone.

    It’s been six years and the floaters are just as dark and large now as they were at the beginning. Doctors who say they’re “benign” haven’t lived with major floaters for close to a decade. It’s a frustrating, depressing experience.

  2. Post
    Author
    admin

    Hi Eric,

    Sorry about your situation. Actually I have had an incident of severe floaters that did become almost imperceptible over time. That is what most people experience. Trauma may follow a somewhat difference course but there is very little documentation in general. A study this year found a significant degradation of quality of life people experiencing floaters. Benign usually implies that it will not worsen and in the case of vision that it will not lead to blindness. Replacing the fluid inside the eye in a procedure known as a vitrectomy is very successful in reducing symptoms of floaters. It does expose the eye to a significant risk by the very nature of the procedure. That normally means it is reserved for only extreme cases of floaters. It may be something you want to look into if the end result is a serious impact on your quality of life.

    Best Wishes

  3. Michelle

    Hi Doctor. You said your eye floaters got better? Mine are still there after 6 months post on set! No PVD though.

    Thanks!

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