What’s That Spot in My Vision? Could Be Eye Floaters

You may wake up one morning and see an odd anomaly in your field of vision. Maybe the floating object looks like a spot, a string, or even a tiny bug. You can’t quite focus on it, and the object is not going away when you blink. You may have an eye floater. What is an eye floater, and should you be concerned? Let’s take a closer look at the problem and if you should seek a comprehensive eye exam in Riverdale, NJ.

What causes eye floaters?

Eye floaters are most often associated with changes to the vitreous substance in the eye. As this jelly-like material changes, tiny fibers can clump together. These small clumps generate shadows, which are what you will see as floaters. Eye floaters can also be caused by:

• Retinal tears
• Bleeding in the back of the eye
• Prior or recent eye surgery
• Eye inflammation

Will the eye floater go away?

Eye floaters don’t usually disappear on their own, but they can become far less noticeable with enough time. Some people grow so accustomed to a floater in their field of vision that they become almost blind to the shadow because their brain and eyes work together to adjust. Sometimes, the small clumped fibers in the vitreous fluid will settle to the bottom of your eye where they will be out of sight.

Can the eye doctor help?

Eye floaters can be especially hard to treat because they are caused by shadows cast on the retina from another part of the eye. A few invasive treatments may help, such as a vitrectomy to remove the vitreous and replace it with a medically approved solution. Some eye doctors also use laser treatment to break yo the fibrous clusters, but this form of treatment has not been well-established and may come along with other risks.

Contact Us About Visual Problems in Riverdale, NJ

Eye floaters are not often something that should cause major concern. Nevertheless, persistent problems or suddenly severe problems should spur you to reach out to an eye doctor in Riverdale, NJ right away. If you have floaters or vision disturbances causing you concern, feel free to reach out to us at Riverdale Vision Care to schedule an appointment.