Will Floaters Disappear After Cataract Surgery?
Floaters and cataracts are some of the most common eye problems a lot of people experience around the world. While they are often a sign of ageing, they can also be caused by other factors, which means anybody can have them.
When they advance, these conditions can cause serious eye issues, affecting sight. An increase in floaters can also be an indication or symptom of another underlying condition. As such, it is important to seek medical treatment immediately, especially if these start affecting your vision.
What is Cataract Surgery?
As the name hints, cataract surgery is a procedure performed by a qualified eye professional to get rid of cataracts. Cataracts refers to the cloudiness in the lens of the eye, that decreases vision clarity. It almost feels like looking through fog.
During cataract surgery, the doctor removes the cloudy lens inside your eye and replaces it with a clear artificial lens designed to fit your eye and vision needs. This artificial lens is called an intraocular lens.
In removing the cloudy lens, the doctor uses a special device that emits ultrasound waves to break it up into small pieces, then gently suck it out.
Will Floaters Disappear After Cataract Surgery?
Floaters and cataracts are different. While cataracts refer to the cloudy lens in your eyes, floaters are the threads, or spiderweb-like strings that float in your eyes. This means they each need a different procedure to address them.
A cataract surgery cannot remove floaters. If anything, patients may start seeing an increased number of floaters after the surgery.
This is mostly because the floaters were already there even with the cataracts. It is only that the cloudy lens was affecting the clarity of vision and hence they were not noticeable.
Other reasons the floaters seem to have increased include;
Increased visibility ‐ As mentioned above, after cataract surgery, patients can see with more clarity, making existing floaters more noticeable, even though they were present before the surgery.
Nature of surgery ‐ Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens from the eye and replacing it with an artificial one. This process mainly affects the lens and the front part of the eye. It doesn’t directly interact with the vitreous gel where floaters are located.
What to Do About Floaters After Cataract Surgery
If you are dealing with floaters after cataract surgery, here are several strategies to help you stay calm and manage them effectively;
Give it time ‐ If you have a few floaters that won’t go away, give it time. Usually, the brain adapts to their presence, and over time, you won’t notice them anymore. Patience is key as your vision adjusts post-surgery. Unless they are affecting your vision or increasing then they are nothing to worry about.
Avoid bright lights ‐ Bright environments can make floaters more visible. Use sunglasses outdoors and avoid direct bright lights to minimise their appearance.
Eye exercises ‐ Some people find relief by performing specific eye exercises. For example, moving your eyes up and down or from side to side can sometimes shift the floaters out of your central field of vision.
Stay hydrated ‐ Staying well-hydrated helps maintain the health of the vitreous body. When the body is dehydrated, the vitreous can become more gel-like and increase the risk of floaters.
Monitor changes ‐ Keep an eye on the number, size, and frequency of the floaters. If you notice a sudden increase or you start noticing other accompanying symptoms like flashes of light, seek immediate medical attention. These could be signs of retinal detachment or other more serious eye conditions.
