Almost everyone will experience a small moving dark spot in their vision. These are commonly named floaters and are especially common when looking directly at a light background or into bright lights. The perception of floaters is medically known as myodesopsia.
What are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are condensed proteins floating through the vitreous fluid in the eyeball. Sometimes people may momentarily confuse them with dust or tiny insects floating across in their line of sight. However, they are within the eyeball and are not eliminated by rubbing the front of the eye. They follow the rapid movements of the eye while drifting slowly from one place to another.
Are Eye Floaters serious?
Floaters can be the first symptom of a possible sight threatening problem in the eye, including retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage. Any patient with a new onset of floaters or a sudden increase in floaters should have a dilated eye exam immediately.
Is There a Cure for Eye Floaters?
In extreme cases vitrectomy surgery can be done to correct floaters, but in most patients the symptoms resolve with time and without medical or surgical intervention.
