Occasional eye floaters is usually not a cause for concern. However, more frequent floaters that are accompanied by other symptoms could be an indication that you have an eye condition. If you are experiencing eye floaters, here is what you need to know.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
Floaters can appear as specks or even threads that seem to float in the air. Floaters are the result of flecks of protein becoming wedged in the gel that supports your eyeball. Light passes through the gel and when the protein is present, you will see shadows from it. The shadows, or floaters, are more noticeable when you move your eye.
Floaters are more common as you age because the gel tends to thin out and become stringy. If you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, or an eye injury, you are more likely to experience floaters.
In most instances, floaters are harmless. They will typically go away after a few minutes. If that is the case for you, it is doubtful that medical intervention is needed.
When Should You Be Concerned?
Even though floaters are usually not harmful, there are some instances in which the floaters are an indication that a more serious eye problem is on the horizon. When floaters are accompanied by other symptoms, such as flashes of light, there is usually an eye condition to blame.
For instance, eye floaters are an early warning sign of retinal detachment. The floaters will be accompanied by gradual vision changes, such as your vision seeming to dim on one side. When this occurs, you need to seek medical intervention immediately. Retinal detachment can be treated if detected early.
Prescription drugs can sometimes be the cause of floaters. If you currently are taking prescription medication, it is imperative that you check the potential side effects to determine if it might be to blame.
It is believed that stress might also be a culprit. Stress can sometimes lead to an elevated blood pressure, which can have an impact on the health of your eyes.
What Can You Do?
The most important step you can take is to get an eye exam from your doctor. He or she can determine the cause of the floaters and create a treatment plan to detect any eye condition that is detected.
If the floaters are the result of stress, you need to focus on alleviating the stress. There are several methods, such as yoga and meditation, that can provide relief. Talk to an eye doctor like those at A New Vision for more information about floaters.
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