How to Reduce Floaters

Eye floaters are dark specks or lines that appear in one's vision and drift about with eye movements. They are caused by deposits of protein in the jelly-like substance of the vitreous humor, which encompasses the back portion of the eye. While rarely a cause for concern, they can be annoying enough for some to want to learn how to reduce floaters. Although there is no single cure used to get rid of eye floaters, there are some treatment options that may effectively reduce the number and intensity of the spots.

Doctor-Recommended Actions

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See your doctor to determine the cause of your eye floaters before trying any treatment to minimize them. This is both to make sure that your condition is manageable and to seek the advice of a professional. Although most eye floaters can be chalked up to a normal part of the aging process and treatment for eye floaters is not always needed, some rare cases require targeted medical intervention.If floaters are accompanied by flashes of light or a loss of side vision, see a doctor immediately. If not treated immediately, the underlying condition could cause a loss of vision.

·         In rare cases, the sudden onset of numerous floaters at one time could indicate a tear in the retina, which does require prompt medical attention. Accompanying symptoms like blurry or clouded vision could be a sign of a detached retina, which also needs the assistance of a doctor.

·         If you're experiencing any abnormal symptoms with your floaters, check up with a doctor. Serious conditions associated with floaters include:

·         Vitreous hemorrhage (bleeding between the lens and the retina)

·         Vitreous and retinal inflammation (caused by infections or auto-immune inflammation)

·         Eye tumors

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Talk to your doctor about your surgical possibilities if the eye floaters are causing serious vision disturbances. The only tried and true doctor-recommended activities include two surgeries:A procedure known as vitrectomy removes the actual vitreous from the eye, eliminating the eye floaters in the process. However, there is an increased risk of retinal detachment or cataract, so surgery should only be used as a treatment for eye floaters in extreme cases. Some laser procedures are also used to get rid of floaters, but they also contain risks and do not always promise good results. Only a patient and doctor can determine if surgery is appropriate.Do nothing at all. Although floaters may be annoying, they usually don't interfere with your vision so much that you can't perform daily tasks. (When they do, a course of action obviously needs to be taken.) But surgery to remove the incidence of floaters comes with serious risks. Surgery comes with the possibility of unintended damage to your retina, as some surgery is still experimental.Determine whether your eye floaters are caused by white blood cells from an infection or inflammation. In these situations, you can learn how to reduce floaters by taking an anti-inflammatory medication or antibiotic prescribed by your doctor. No other medications or eye drops have been proven effective in the treatment of eye floaters at this time.