Floaters

FLOATERS, are deposits of various size, shape and consistency. They may appear as spots before the eye and move independently. They can be particularly noticeable on bright days or when looking at something bright.

How do they develop?

Occurring within the eye's vitreous humour – the thick but transparent gel which fills the eye – the floaters develop as a result of degenerative changes. Sometimes they are a manifestation of inflammation of the eye, known as uveitis. A common reason for presentation to hospital eye departments, they are visible because of the shadows they caste on the retina as they drift through the field of vision.

What is the treatment?

If annoying, floaters can be surgically removed via a 3 port suture-less pars plana vitrectomy technique which is performed under local anaesthetic through very small incisions. The vitreous humour is removed under the microscope, and replaced with saline solution. As the vitreous humour is mostly comprised of water you are unlikely to notice any difference apart from the disappearance of floaters.