Most of us have seen strange shapes floating in our vision from time to time-eye floaters. They’re not optical illusions. They’re really there, drifting about inside your eyes. In fact, it’s a fairly common phenomenon. Most people either learn to live with the condition or the floaters eventually disappear, but for others, sudden and intense onset of floaters can lead to more serious distress or impairment, or it can be a herald for future problems.
A little eye anatomy here…..
Between the lens and the retina lies an ocean of liquid referred to as vitreous.
It is the clear gel within the eye that gives the eyeball its round shape.
As we age, some of the jelly-like substance naturally collapses and becomes runnier. And when that happens, the few solids that are scattered throughout the vitreous can clump together. They, too, can project small shadows onto your retina, which likewise become perceived as floaters.
Will I Need Treatment?
For mild floaters, you probably won’t need treatment. If floaters are severe and interfere with vision and don’t go away after several months, you might need surgery to remove and replace the vitreous, though this is not common.
In conclusion, call a doctor if you have:
• Floaters that don’t go away
• A sudden increase in floaters
• You see flashes of light.
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