Why do floaters appear

If eye floaters begin to impair your vision, there are treatments available to make them less noticeable or remove them.

Sometimes the best treatment is nothing at all. In many cases, eye floaters will fade or disappear on their own. As a result, your vision will begin to adapt. Coping with eye floaters is the least invasive option to protect your eyes. If the floaters become a nuisance or begin to impair your vision, discuss your options with your eye doctor. A vitrectomy is an invasive surgery that can remove eye floaters from your line of vision.

Within this procedure, your eye doctor will remove the vitreous through a small incision. The vitreous is a clear, gel-like substance that keeps the shape of your eye round. Your doctor will replace the vitreous with a solution to maintain the shape of your eye. Your body will then produce more vitreous that will eventually replace this new solution. Though effective, a vitrectomy may not always remove eye floaters. This surgery is used for severe symptoms of floaters.

Laser therapy involves aiming lasers at the eye floaters. This can cause them to break up and may reduce their presence. If the lasers are aimed incorrectly, you could risk damage to your retina. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of this surgery. Search the site. Print this Page. On this page:. At a glance: Floaters Symptoms:. Small dark spots or squiggly lines that float across your vision.

What are floaters? What are the symptoms of floaters? You may notice floaters more when you look at something bright, like white paper or a blue sky. National Eye Institute. Accessed Dec. Charles S. New York, N. Longo DL, et al. Disorders of the eye. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. Tintinalli JE, et al. Eye emergencies. Associated Procedures Eye exam. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Any sudden onset of many new floaters or flashes of light should be evaluated promptly by your eye doctor.

Floaters may sometimes interfere with clear vision, often when reading, and can be quite annoying. If a floater appears directly in your line of vision, the best thing to do is move your eye around, which will cause the inside fluid to swirl and allow the floater to move out of the way. We are most accustomed to moving our eyes back and forth, but looking up and down will cause different currents within the eye and may be more effective in getting the floaters out of the way.

Often, floaters will break up or shift to the side with time, making them less noticeable or bothersome.