While fairly common, eye floaters can be bothersome and frustrating. There is no explanation needed for why those who experience eye floaters would want to find a solution for them.
The degree of their persistence will dictate which course of action will be best suited for you.
Let’s take a look at three options for getting rid of eye floaters.
How To Get Rid of Eye Floaters
What are eye floaters?
Eye floaters are small spots, rings, or lines that appear in your field of vision. While they appear to be apart of what you’re looking at, you’ll quickly realize that they are actually in your eye as they proceed to move to wherever you’re looking. At times, they can appear grey or black, but generally, they are semi-transparent or cloudy.
Eye floaters are a result of clumps of protein gathering on the vitreous of your eye.
Should I be concerned about eye floaters?
Generally speaking, eye floaters are more irritating than harmful. However, they can be a symptom of an underlying condition, so it wouldn’t be a poor idea to speak with your optometrist about it.
Some conditions that may cause eye floaters include:
- Age
- Medication
- Eye bleeding
- Migraines or headaches
- Tumours
How can I get rid of eye floaters?
- Do Nothing
This may feel like an unhelpful option, as it doesn’t provide any actionable advice. However, eye floaters will often fade and go away on their own.
If they don’t fade, your brain will often learn to ignore them. Just as your brain teaches your eyes to ignore your nose, it can also adjust to the spots in your vision until you don’t notice them. This option allows for a non-invasive method for coping with eye floaters.
- Get a Vitrectomy
Vitrectomies are the surgical option, as they remove the eye floaters from your line of vision. This involves the surgeon making an incision in the vitreous of your eye, cutting out the eye floater, and then filling the hole with a solution to maintain the shape of your eye.
This option does not guarantee eye floaters will not return and is often only used in extreme cases.
- Get Laser Therapy
This is a slightly more experimental method, but the goal of laser therapy is to aim the laser at the eye floaters and cause them to break up, and thus eventually break down. This option does pose a risk to the health of your retina if not performed correctly.
If you begin to experience eye floaters, don’t hesitate to speak with your optometrist. They will be able to advise you on the best course of treatment and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
