What Causes Floaters and Flashes in Eyes?
What causes floaters and flashes in eyes? You might have experienced black spots or flashes that quickly disappear from your vision. Perhaps they have been persisting for a long time and are beginning to interfere with daily life. If you have been concerned about this, have no fear, Eye Center of Texas is here to help with eye floaters and flashes.
Do floaters and flashes go away?
Normally, eye floaters and flashes go away on their own. Microscopic fibers in your vitreous, or jelly-like material in your eye can cast shadows on your retina and lead you to see flashes, black spots, or other visual phenomena. As we age, however, it is normal and natural for this gel to start to thicken or shrink, which creates clumps or strands. Eventually, the vitreous gel starts to separate from the retina. This condition is known as Posterior Vitreous Detachment or PVD. As a result, we tend to see many more eye floaters and flashes as we get older. Because it’s a normal phenomenon, we can never truly get rid of them completely. However, they can be reduced in severity, if it impacts your day-to-day activities.
What happens when eye floaters won’t go away? If this happens, you might wish to seek treatment to greatly reduce the occurrence of eye floaters and flashes. Eye Center of Texas provides YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser vitreolysis that uses a powerful laser to eliminate floaters in a safe and painless procedure.
Floaters might be one of the side effects after cataract surgery. It’s not that they suddenly appeared, they are just easier to see with the clearer vision you now have after cataract surgery.
Are floaters and flashes serious?
Floaters and flashes are not usually serious. However, if they are severe enough, they can seriously affect your quality of life or even put you at risk. It might make watching television, reading a book, or working at your computer a difficult or frustrating experience. If you are driving on the road or working heavy machinery, they can potentially distract you, putting others’ lives at risk, not to mention your own.
There are more rare complications from posterior vitreous detachment that can lead to serious medical injury. When posterior vitreous detachment causes scar tissue to form on the surface of the retina, this can result in macular pucker, also known as a retinal pucker, which can distort your vision even further. If you suddenly have a sudden burst of eye floaters and flashes, this can indicate retinal tears or even retinal detachment. Posterior vitreous detachment can sometimes pull too strongly on the surface of the retina, causing holes or tears. If this happens, you should seek medical treatment immediately, as this can lead to a severe loss of vision.
Eye floaters and flashes can also be indicative of severe diabetic retinopathy, a diabetic eye disease that can lead to blindness. This condition is a result of an excess of glucose in the blood vessels of the retina. As it cannot be reversed, it is crucial that you identify it as soon as possible. If you have diabetes and are experiencing eye floaters and flashes, you should regularly seek consultation from one of our experts at Eye Center of Texas.
What can I do about eye floaters and flashes?
If eye floaters and flashes are plaguing you on a day-to-day basis, or you’ve experienced an alarming uptick in their frequency, you might wish to seek medical treatment. Luckily the Eye Center of Texas team is here to help. With a cutting-edge eye floaters treatment like YAG laser vitreolysis, our retina specialists carefully remove the clumps or strands in your vitreous in a safe, painless, and prompt procedure.
We here at Eye Center of Texas are experts on laser treatment for floaters.
Now that you have more information on what causes floaters and flashes in eyes, the retina specialists at Eye Center of Texas are here to help you with any questions and floater treatment options you may need. We have years of experience treating eye diseases and vision issues with only the safest, most advanced surgical techniques and technology.
Give us a call at 713-797-1010 or request an appointment online at any of our convenient locations today.
More Helpful Articles by Eye Center of Texas:
- What Causes Presbyopia?
- Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery
- Find an Ophthalmologist in Houston You Can Trust
- Cataract Surgery in One Eye: Everything You Need to Know
- What to Expect After LASIK
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Laser Treatment for Floaters: YAG Laser Vitreolysis
If you’ve been seeing more dark shapes or cobwebs in your vision, it might be time to consider laser treatment for floaters. Floaters are normal, but if you notice an increase in their occurrence, or if they are beginning to interfere with your daily life, you should contact a retina specialist immediately. You don’t have to put up with floaters forever –– laser vitreolysis doctors at Eye Center of Texas can help. See how this new treatment for eye floaters can provide relief.
What are floaters?
Floaters are caused by microscopic fibers in your vitreous, the jelly-like material that fills the space between the lens and the retina in your eye. Collagen, an important protein that makes up part of the vitreous gel, is usually the primary culprit of floaters. These cast shadows on your retina and lead you to see dark spots, specks, clouds or other visual anomalies.
Why am I seeing more floaters now?
As we get older, the sac in our eye that contains vitreous gel begins to separate from the rear eyewall causing clumps of collagen to break up or clump together to create more floaters. This condition, known as macular pucker, can lead to a serious impact on our quality of vision, making even normal tasks like reading or watching television difficult. While this can sound trivial, it also poses a risk while driving as floaters can lead to dangerous distractions on the road.
An increase in floaters might also point to a more serious eye problem. It might be a symptom of severe diabetic retinopathy, an excess of glucose in the blood vessels of the retina. Vitreous detachment can lead to retinal tearing or even retinal detachment. So if you are seeing a large amount of floaters in one or both eyes, seek medical treatment immediately.
Is there a treatment for eye floaters?
Thanks to rapid advances in medical laser technology in the recent decades, what once would have required invasive surgery can now be treated quickly and with only minimal discomfort and side effects. Laser treatment for floaters, or YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser vitreolysis is a procedure in which a laser targets floaters with pinpoint accuracy. These clumps are then broken up or dissolved by the laser. This new treatment for eye floaters now provides immediate relief from floaters without the risks associated with surgery.
What is the YAG laser vitreolysis procedure like?
Laser treatment for floaters is done in a short 10 to 15 minute procedure. Beforehand, our retina specialists may need to perform an OCT (ocular computerized tomography) to identify the location and size of the floaters in your eye using an infrared scan. Numbing eye drops or local anesthetic will ensure you feel minimal discomfort. A special device is used to ensure that your eye stays open and a magnification lens will focus and target on the floater or floaters. The YAG laser will focus on the floater(s) and vaporize them into a gas that is reabsorbed by the eye. In the event that the floater is particularly large or located near an important structure in the eye, you may need to schedule more than one visit.
After the procedure, you will need to come in for follow up checks to ensure the procedure was successful. You should experience relief from floaters within 30 minutes. There might be some discomfort initially, but it should go away quickly. You should avoid driving for a day or two after the procedure and be very careful around your eyes. If possible, you might want to take a couple days off work afterwards. Be sure to attend your follow-up consultations and take any medications or eye drops as prescribed.
Is laser treatment for floaters safe?
While YAG laser vitreolysis is very safe, like any medical procedure, it is not without risks. These include increased intraocular pressure resulting in glaucoma, inducement of cataract following surgery, retinal tear, retinal detachment, retinal hemorrhage, and increased quantity of floaters. But it is important to note that these are extremely rare. According to a comprehensive study of all YAG laser vitreolysis procedures between September 19, 2016 and March 16, 2017, only 15 patients reported any complications related to the procedure.
As with any medical procedure, speak with your doctor if you have any concerns concerning YAG laser vitreolysis.
Am I a good candidate for laser treatment?
If you are experiencing floaters that impact your daily tasks like reading or driving, or last for more than four months, you might want to consider laser treatment. However, it is important that you do not have more serious eye problems such as retinal tears or detachments, cataracts, or clouding of the cornea or lens. You can still have laser treatment for floaters if you have had cataract surgery.
Learn more about laser treatment for floaters from a specialist at Eye Center of Texas
Now that you have more information on laser treatment for floaters, the retina specialists at Eye Center of Texas are here to help you with any questions and floater treatment options you may need. We have years of experience treating eye diseases and vision issues with only the safest, most advanced surgical techniques and technology.
Give us a call at 713-797-1010 or request an appointment online at any of our convenient locations today.
More Helpful Articles by Eye Center of Texas:
- What Causes Presbyopia?
- Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery
- Find an Ophthalmologist in Houston You Can Trust
- Cataract Surgery in One Eye: Everything You Need to Know
- What to Expect After LASIK
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Retina Surgery Options
If you think you’re suffering from a detached retina, it’s important to seek out professional help so you can start the retina surgery recovery process as soon as possible. With retina tears, you may notice blurry vision, floaters, or flashes at first, and it may just seem like your vision is getting worse. But if a detachment is left untreated, you could end up with permanent vision loss.
Treatment options for a detached retina
Before we cover retina surgery recovery tips, let’s go over the different types of treatment options for a detached retina.
Cryopexy or laser surgery
With this particular retina detachment treatment option, a doctor uses a probe or laser to seal any retina tears. This option can be done in-office in 30 minutes or less. Your eye will be numbed prior to the procedure, and you should feel little-to-no discomfort throughout the entire process.
Pneumatic retinopexy
Pneumatic retinopexy involves laser or cryotherapy, a gas bubble, and the removal of fluid. The purpose of the gas bubble is to push the retina back; however, the bubble will remain in your eye post-surgery. Over the next few days, it is important that you refrain from exertion and that you keep your head in the recommended position. The bubble will gradually disappear.
Scleral buckle
This treatment option is for more severe cases and requires the use of general anesthesia. Keep in mind, however, recovery time is still within the 2-4 week timeline. With this procedure, a band will be placed around your sclera and remain there permanently. Cryotherapy or a laser will also be used to patch up any tears.
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is for more serious retinal detachments. With this treatment option, the removal of vitreous gel is required. After removal occurs, a combination of a gas bubble and cryotherapy or laser is used. You can be numbed prior to the procedure, or you can opt for general anesthesia.
Retina surgery recovery tips
Again, retina surgery recovery tips vary depending on the severity of your retina detachment, as well as the treatment option you and your doctor decide to undergo. Your surgical counselor will review your recovery tips with you and let you know what suggestions should work best for your time post-op. Here are some general tips to guide you during your recovery process.
- Avoid intense or vigorous activities. Give your eyeball the chance to heal before you start jostling it around again. And remember, these activities can expand to include light exercising and even lifting heavy items.
- Take some time off work. How long does it take to recover from retina surgery? Typically two to four weeks. For that reason, we recommend asking between two to four weeks off of work.
- Avoid driving. Again, this time will vary, and it could only be a day or two. But, this really depends on how your vision is improving and whether or not your doctor recommends it.
- Take any medications and eye drops as prescribed. It is likely that you will be required to take eye drops for at least a month after your procedure. If you have any lingering pain or discomfort, make sure you speak with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter pain meds.
- Take precautions when showering or washing your face. Avoid getting any liquids near your eye and avoid swimming.
- Wear eye protection when you’re outside to protect your eyes from the sun.
- Pay careful attention to how you sleep and hold your head. This is especially true if there was a gas bubble placed in your eye, Your doctor will help you understand how to sleep after retinal detachment surgery. Because of the gas bubble, you’ll also want to avoid airplanes.
- Schedule and attend all follow-up appointments with your doctor. Make sure you maintain open communication and let them know if you’re experiencing anything uncomfortable during your recovery process.
When to contact a doctor during the retina surgery recovery process
While most retina surgery recovery processes go smoothly, there are some situations that could indicate a potential problem. Contact your doctor if you experience any of the following issues during your retina surgery recovery process:
- Eye pain that is getting worse
- Decrease in vision
- Swelling
- Discharge
- Redness
- Fever
- Any sudden changes in your overall health
Eye Center of Texas is here for you before, during, and after your retina surgery recovery
At Eye Center of Texas, we have experience helping the people of Houston successfully treat and recover from a wide variety of eye health issues and diseases, including retinal tears and detachment.
From LASIK surgery to retina detachment, we are one of Houston’s leading ophthalmological practices. We are here to answer any questions you may have about vision recovery after retinal detachment surgery, what to expect after retinal tear surgery in general, and more.
Give us a call today at 713-797-1010 or fill out our online form to request an appointment with our team.
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Floaters in Your Eyes: What They Are & How to Treat Them
For those who don’t know what they are, having floaters in your eyes can be a little disconcerting. The good news, though, is that most floaters are completely harmless. On top of that, floaters that don’t go away on their own can be treated.
Still uneasy? This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the floaters in your eyes, as well as your options for dealing with them.
What causes floaters in your eyes?
The jelly-like substance that makes up your eyeball is called vitreous gel. As you age, your vitreous gel becomes more fluid. During this process, extremely small fibers in the gel may begin to clump together. Floaters are the shadows of these clumps.
Floaters come in the form of anything from dots to squiggles to web-like formations. You can see them most easily by looking at a surface that is blank and/or all one color.
What makes you more likely to get floaters?
Most floaters arise as part of the aging process; however, there are some additional factors that might make you more susceptible to floaters. These can include:
- Eye inflammation
- Eye surgeries (particularly after cataract surgery — read more about cataract surgery in Houston on our site)
- Retinal problems, including retina problems from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy)
- Being nearsighted (for reference, here’s a quick look at the difference between nearsighted and farsighted)
- Eye trauma
Are floaters in your eyes dangerous?
Typically, they are not. However, if you experience a sudden onset of new floaters, more floaters in your eyes than usual, darkness in your peripheral vision, or flashes of light, it’s recommended that you call your doctor and/or eye specialist ASAP. These symptoms could be an indicator of a retinal tear which, if left untreated, can cause severe vision problems or blindness.
Do eye floaters go away on their own?
Yes! Many people can ignore an eye floater or two, and sometimes, floaters can even go away on their own. In the end, that’s good news for most patients dealing with floaters: since floaters are not considered a major medical issue, almost all individuals must pay out of pocket if they’re seeking eye floaters treatment.
How do you treat eye floaters?
What if the floaters in your eyes won’t go away? Or, what happens if the floaters start to cause vision impairment? Luckily, there is a form of eye floaters treatment: laser floater removal. During this treatment, your eyeball is numbed. Your surgeon would then use a laser that emits small bursts of energy at your floater. In doing so, the collagen and molecules found in floaters are converted into gas.
Laser floater removal is minimally invasive and can typically be performed in-office.
Do you have floaters in your eyes?
The experienced eye surgeons at Eye Center of Texas may be known for performing some of the best LASIK in Houston, but they are highly skilled at laser floater removal and an array of other surgical specialties, as well. Over 300 doctors in Houston refer their patients to Eye Center of Texas for laser floater removal, cataract surgery, LASIK, and so much more.
If you’re ready to get rid of pesky floaters, call Eye Center of Texas at 713-797-1010 or request an appointment online today.
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