Causes and risk factors
Increasing age which causes changes in the vitreous is the most common cause of eye floaters. Any injury to the eye, infection or inflammation of eyes (cataract, myopia) can also cause eye floaters. Metabolic diseases like diabetic retinopathy also contribute to the causation. Hemorrhages in the vitreous, retinal detachment or tear in the retina are some of the other causes.
Clinical presentation:
Either one or both the eyes can be affected. The patient comes up complaining that the vision is disturbed. The patient cannot see properly, the vision is blurred. The patient sees dark black or grey spots or line or irregular shapes in the field of vision. Nothing brings them relief even wearing specs does not ameliorate the complain. These spots move as the patient moves the eyes. It becomes more prominent on looking at bright lights.
Investigations:
Diagnosis is done of the basis of the symptoms narrated by the patient. Examination carried out by the ophthalmologist using various ophthalmic instruments help in confirming the diagnosis.
Treatment:
As mostly eye floating occurs due to advancement in age, it does not require any treatment. Surgical repair consist of laser treatment or vitrectomy can be done. In this procedure the damaged vitreous is replaced by a sterile salt solution.
