Floating specks and threads: vitreous floaters
Dr. Swati Goyal · 20 June 2024 · 6 min
Between the lens and the retina the eye is filled with a clear gel, about as thick as honey — the vitreous. Because it is transparent, it does not interfere with vision.
The vitreous is made of collagen protein fibres. In certain conditions those proteins break down into small particles, and it is those particles that cast a shadow across your vision. Those are floaters.
What they look like
When you are absorbed in something you do not notice them at all. But look at a plain background — a white wall, or the sky — and they show up clearly. They appear as a fine hair, or a small cluster, or as though a wisp of cloud had drifted across.
Why they happen
In most cases it is simply age. Over the years the vitreous gel begins to liquefy and the protein fibres break into fine particles, which cast the shadows.
Otherwise, floaters are reported after an injury to the eye, with dehydration, when diabetes has begun to affect the eye, or with inflammation inside the eye such as uveitis.
The warning that matters most: if the floaters come with flashes of light — like the streak of a shooting star — treat it as an emergency. Contact your eye specialist without losing time.
What the examination involves
With floaters, a full retinal examination is needed. The specialist will view the entire retina by indirect ophthalmoscopy — to check that behind the floaters there is no weak spot, degeneration or hole that could damage vision later.
Treatment
As things stand there is no safe, guaranteed cure for floaters. Surgical and laser options exist, but their risks outweigh their benefits, so they are generally avoided.
One recent line of research concerns the enzyme bromelain, found in pineapple, and whether it might help dissolve these fine particles. Some studies have suggested a modest reduction over three months. But this remains research in progress with no proven results — it should not be treated as a remedy.
What precautions to take
- —
Keep yourself well hydrated.
- —
Avoid heavy, jarring activity — particularly weight lifting at the gym, and sports such as sky diving or scuba diving.