How can floaters be cured

They may also appear as a dark or lighter area of vision. Sometimes, the area where the floater is will look slightly blurry compared with the rest of the field of vision.

Floaters are tiny but can significantly affect the vision, as they are very close to the input of the eye. One characteristic of eye floaters is that they seem to dart back and forth across the field of vision. Trying to look directly at a floater will cause it to move away in the direction the person looks. Although it may not be possible to prevent eye floaters, it is still helpful to follow some basic practices to keep the eyes healthy.

These include:. Although floaters may be irritating when a person notices them, they do not pose any direct threat to the sight. In most cases, floaters settle down to the bottom of the eye, beneath the field of vision.

In these cases, a doctor may recommend a procedure called a vitrectomy. During a vitrectomy, a healthcare professional will surgically remove the vitreous gel causing the floater. They will then replace this vitreous gel with a saline solution, or a bubble filled with gas or oil. Most people notice no difference between the vitreous and the saline solution after surgery.

Doctors generally reserve this procedure for serious circumstances, as it comes with its own set of potentially serious complications. These include cataracts and retinal detachment. A laser treatment method called laser vitreolysis may break apart or dissolve larger floaters, making them less noticeable. However, laser therapy is not for everyone. An ophthalmologist will need to do a complete diagnosis in each case to see if the person could benefit from laser therapy.

Many people will experience eye floaters at one point or another. They can be annoying but are often harmless. Eventually, they may settle outside the field of vision, and most do not require treatment.

In very rare circumstances, eye floaters may disrupt vision and require surgical treatment. A sudden, very noticeable increase in eye floaters may also be a sign of other serious issues, such as retinal detachment, which could lead to blindness if a person does not receive prompt medical treatment.

While floaters are certainly distracting, they often will settle toward the bottom of the eye, thereby alleviating any visual impairment. While a floater here and there is typically no cause for concern, should you experience a sudden influx of them moving across one or both of your eyes, any pain, flashes of light that last for several minutes, or sudden peripheral vision loss, it is important that you visit your VSP eye doctor immediately.

Other causes may include injury to the eye or an infection, both of which demand immediate attention. So, the bottom line… do floaters really ever go away? That depends, but usually no. If everything else about your eyes appears normal and you experience floaters, try lying down, sitting up or down, or moving your head from side to side to see if gravity will do the trick and move them out of your line of sight.

There are no eye drops, medications, vitamins or diets that will reduce or eliminate floaters once they have formed. If floaters continue to bother you, visit your VSP network doctor for advice. This is a guest blog post by Judy Nguyen, O. Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis or treatment.

Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Members Members. It has also been used as over-the-counter dry eye treatment. Consult an eye doctor before using hyaluronic acid eye drops to address floaters on your own. Though they may not target floaters specifically, some vitamins and supplements can support overall eye health.

Some recommended supplements include:. Proper hydration and a healthful diet can also provide the necessary nutrients to support eye health.

Be sure to get an appropriate amount of sleep each night in order to prevent exhaustion. If floaters cause general irritation, a cool or warm compress may be placed over the eyes to soothe them.