Types of Eye Floaters
Eye floaters are small pieces of debris that float in the eye's vitreous humor. This debris casts shadows onto the retina. If you have eye floaters, it is these shadows that you see "floating" across your field of vision.
- Fibrous Strand Floater
- Most common in young people, this thin, dense floater can appear as multiple dots and/or string-like cobwebs and is a result of clumping of collagen fibers of the vitreous. Depending on size, and where it is located, it may be treatable with vitreolysis.
- Diffuse Floater
- This cloud-like floater is cause by the natural aging process. Whilst this type of floater can sometimes be treated with vitreolysis, it often requires more overall treatment in order to obtain satisfactory results.
- Weiss Ring Floater
- The ring-shaped Weiss Ring floater is a large, fibrous floater that is usually located safely away from the crystalline lens and the retina. Because of this, it can be treated safely and effectively with vitreolysis.
What is Vitreolysis?Also known as floater laser treatment, vitreolysis is a non-invasive, pain-free procedure that can eliminate the visual disturbance caused by floaters. The goal of vitreolysis is to achieve a "functional improvement". That is, to allow you to return to "normal" day-to-day activities without the endurance of floaters.
How Does Vitreolysis Work?
Vitreolysis involves the application of nanosecond pulses of laser light to evaporate the vitreous opacities and to sever the vitreous strands. During this process, the floater's collagen and hyaluronic molecules are converted into a gas. The end result is that the floater is removed and/or reduced to a size that no longer impedes vision.
Vitreolysis Treatment
Vitreolysis is performed as an outpatient procedure; you do not have to stay overnight in a hospital. Immediately prior to treatment, your ophthalmologist will administer eye drops to provide mild anesthesia. A contact lens will then be placed on your eye, with the laser light delivered through a specially designed microscope.
During treatment, you will likely observe small, dark specks/shadows - signaling that the floaters are being evaporated into small gas bubbles. These gas bubbles quickly dissolve and reabsorb into the vitreous. The treatment session usually takes 20-60 minutes to perform and most patients will need to undergo two treatment sessions, sometimes three, in order to achieve a satisfactory result.
What is Degenerative Vitreous Syndrome?
The vitreous humor is the clear, jelly-like substance in the main chamber of the eye, located between the lens and the retina.
At a young age, the vitreous is perfectly transparent. Over time as the eye ages, this vitreous humor can degenerate, losing its form and liquefying. Without the stable vitreous humor, the collagen fibers collapse and bind together to form clumps and knots. It is these fibers, which cast shadows on the retina and appear as spots, strings, or cobwebs that are commonly referred to as "eye floaters."
In many cases as the eye ages further, the vitreous humor can peel away from the retina entirely. This is known as Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). PVD is often associated with a sudden increase in the number of floaters.
It is necessary to undergo an ophthalmic examination to determine your eligibility for vitreolysis treatment. Clinical studies have shown that vitreolysis to be a safe, effective treatment in the majority of patients. If floaters persist, however, your ophthalmologist may recommend surgery.