Floaters: What Are They & What Can Be Done to Fix Them?

Are you feeling frustrated because you have floaters blocking your vision? Have you been told that nothing can be done? Well, there actually is something that can be done! Total Eye Care Centers has a procedure called laser floater ablation. This is a procedure that can almost completely get rid of your floaters. First things first though—let’s address floaters.

What are Floaters?

Floaters are generally benign tiny spots that seem to weave in and out of your line of vision. They can look like strings, circles, “O” shapes, or even cobwebs and appear in one or both eyes. If they are in both eyes, one eye may have more floaters than the other and their movements may be different. Floaters can be annoying or distracting and can interfere with your vision especially if they appear in front of an expanse of light color like a white wall.

What Causes Floaters?

The most common cause of floaters is a change to the vitreous or vitreous humor, the clear gel between the lens and retina at the back of the eye. This gel becomes more liquid as we age and microscopic fibers may start to clump together to form strands. Eventually, the degeneration of the vitreous causes it to pull off the back of the eye causing an isolated, fairly large floater. This process is called a posterior vitreous detachment or PVD, and is a natural aging process of the eye. These clumps of vitreous cast shadows and those shadows are what you are seeing, not the clumps themselves. These shadows move as your eyes move because the clumps of vitreous are moving inside the fluid in your eye.

Treatments for Floaters

The most efficient and painless method is YAG laser ablation to obliterate the floaters. It is much safer and less expensive than vitrectomy.

• The Ellex Laser, the laser used by Dr. Lavrich, is the only FDA-approved laser specially designed for this purpose.
• Removes the floaters, not the vitreous.
• Effective in 92% of cases.
• Non-invasive.
• A pain-free procedure that can eliminate the visual disturbance caused by floaters.
• Typically takes 20-60 minutes per treatment session.
• On average, patients will require two treatment sessions to achieve a satisfactory result.

The laser used to vaporize the floater is the same laser used on patients after cataract surgery and for patients with narrow-angle glaucoma. Dr. Lavrich will be using the Ellex YAG laser.

After dilating the pupil, a numbing eye drop is put on the surface of the eye and a special contact is placed on the eye. The laser is carefully aimed, and the floater or floaters are either vaporized with the laser, or the floater’s attachments are vaporized so that the floater is repositioned to a different part of the eye. This disruption also helps the eye to absorb any remaining particles. After vaporizing the big floater or floaters, the doctor may have to leave tiny particles that are just too small to aim at. 

Watch the video above to see a complete visual explanation of floaters, the procedure, and how it could benefit you!

Call Total Eye Care Centers at 215-943-7800 to book your consultation.

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