What is Floaters Surgery?

Eye floaters are often nothing to worry about, especially in older people. However, they may need surgery to remove them if they are causing vision problems. In other cases, they may be a symptom of an even more serious condition, which needs medical attention urgently.

But what are eye floaters? Are they risky? Where do they come from? And what is eye floaters surgery?

In this article, we answer all these questions to help you understand what eye floaters and eye floaters surgery are, and what to do if you experience them.

What are Eye Floaters?

If you have experienced thread or cobweb-like strands that move around in your eyes, then those are eye floaters. They can be caused by a variety of factors, but sometimes, they can just appear from nowhere.

Usually, they may disappear on their own especially if they are only a few. However, if you notice an increase in their number to the point that they are causing vision problems then it is important to promptly seek help from your eye doctor.

Are Eye Floaters Risky?

Often, floaters are a common part of the ageing process, so they are not risky. What happens is, as we age, a clear gel-like substance inside the eye known as the vitreous gel starts to shrink, causing it to move away from the retina.

The collagen fibres within it can clump together because of this pulling away, casting shadows on the retina. This is what is seen as floaters.

For most people, floaters don’t interfere with sight. They are very bothersome but soon become less and less noticeable as time passes, as the brain learns to adapt and ignore them.

In some cases, floaters can be risky under certain conditions such as;

Sudden increase ‐ A sudden increase in the number of floaters, especially if they appear suddenly and are accompanied by flashes of light, can be a warning sign of retinal detachment or a retinal tear. It may be an indication that the retina is pulling away from the back of the eye, risking permanent vision loss if not treated promptly.

Retinal tear ‐ Sometimes, the vitreous pulling away from the retina not only causes floaters but can also tear the retina. The tear can lead to retinal detachment through fluid accumulation behind the retina.

Post-surgical complications ‐ After eye surgeries, particularly those involving the vitreous or retina, floaters can be a sign of complications such as infections or haemorrhages.

Inflammation ‐ Uveitis, inflammation of the eye’s middle layer, can produce floaters. This inflammation can seriously damage eye tissue if untreated.

Can Floaters Fix Itself?

For many people, floaters can become less bothersome without any treatment. This isn’t a quick fix as it can take several months or even longer.

What happens naturally is that over time, your brain may get used to the floaters and you might not notice them as much anymore. In some cases, they can settle down at the bottom of your eye, moving out of your line of sight.

Floaters Surgery

If floaters don’t go away or clear up by themselves, it is important that you talk to an eye doctor for treatment.

The doctor might recommend various surgeries for the floaters. One of the main floaters surgery you can undergo is a vitrectomy.

Vitrectomy Explained

A vitrectomy is usually done to remove the vitreous gel from the inside of your eye, and since the floaters are in this gel, they also get removed alongside the gel.

Local or general anesthesia can be administered to make the process comfortable and pain-free The surgeon then makes small incisions in the eye to insert instruments that suction out the vitreous gel and replace it with a saline solution or a silicone oil.

Recovery varies from patient to patient. However, generally, they can resume their normal activities within a few weeks after the treatment.

Some risks associated with this floaters surgery include the potential for retinal detachment, infections, and cataracts.