A floater is characterized by noticing "floating" particles within your line of vision. The floaters may resemble patterns that move with the eye, but in reality, they are small bits of vitreous gel that have clumped together. Although it is not directly a sign of a serious visual condition, floaters can cause unwelcome symptoms. Over time, many people will get used to their floaters and notice them less. However, if your floaters are constant and creating vision concerns for you, you should be examined by a credentialed eye surgeon to determine the cause and best treatment method going forward. Board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Alison R. Tendler regularly examines the eyes of patients with stable floaters who are experiencing undesirable symptoms and are in hopes of finding an effective solution to improve their vision. At ART Vision you will personally meet with Dr. Tendler to see if you are a candidate for floater treatment. For more information, read on, then contact our team to schedule your visit.

Patients describe their floaters in many different ways. Some compare them to dirt on the car windshield, or as insects that dart across their line of vision. Regardless of what they resemble, they are generally more noticeable in brightly lit environments or when looking at electronic screens. Stable floaters seem to move with the eye in a consistent fashion. No matter your profession or personal hobbies, floaters can profoundly impact your quality of life.

Floaters are very common and many people have them. Most are small and manageable, but others are larger and more visually disturbing. It is believed that floaters are caused by the natural aging process. Over time, the vitreous fluid in our eyes begins to shrink and thicken, causing small clumps. The clumps cast shadows over the retina, which causes the floaters we are seeing in our line of vision. As the vitreous continues to shrink, it can pull away from the retina, which could potentially lead to a common floater type, a posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD. Although most floaters occur because of aging, some can occur earlier or more noticeably in patients with myopia and those with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, history of some vision-related surgeries, traumas, or head injuries can increase an individual's risk of experiencing floaters.