Comments for Vitreous Floater Solutions - Real Treatment for Eye Floaters

Comment on Age 30 and Younger by Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:39:26 +0000

Hi,

I am a 28 year old female. I have had some floaters since I can remember but during my first pregnancy 4 years ago they became much much worse and have been bad ever since. They are crystal and dark. I also see what seems like millions of white dots swimming really fast in many directions. Are those White blood cells? Will the floaters I see now become more treatable when I am older? or is it only the floaters I develop when I am older that will be treatable?

Thank you.

Jennifer, I can not say whether your floaters are treatable by the laser now or in the future. The “millions of white dots” swimming about may actually be white cells moving through the retinal blood vessels. These can sometimes be seen by most people by looking into an intense blue light or a towards a bright light with the eyelids closed. – Dr. Johnson

Comment on Age 30 and Younger by Anders Holt

Anders Holt — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:15:43 +0000

Hi. Thank you very much for writing this article, it really helped me understand my floater problem. I’m a 21 year old male, and started seeing floaters at the age of 12. Over the years they have gotten slightly worse, with a couple of new floaters each year or so. The majority of the floaters I see are these very defined lines and dots in the center of the vision, like you describe in the article. However, in the last couple of years I have developed two new floaters that are not completely like the other ones. They are not in the center of the vision, instead one of them is at the very bottom while the other one is at the very top. Even though I don’t see these as often as the center-ones, they are actually the most frustrating, because I really can’t see what it is. All I know is that I have some diffuse dark spots floating in areas of my vision that I cannot focus on. Sometimes I think a bird flies over my head, when it’s in fact just my floater getting visible at the top of my vision (when I look up it has of course drifted away again).

My question to you is: Do you think these floaters might be the different kind of floaters that are not too close to the retina? I’m not considering an operation right now, but it would be nice to know if there is just a slight chance in the future..

Thanks in advance!

There is no description of floaters symptoms or set of screening questions I can ask that will tell me how many millimeters these floaters sit from the retina. It is a very visual diagnosis that can only truly be done in person. Frustrating for both of us. -Dr. Johnson

Comment on Floaters after Vitrectomy by Heath Mcdaniel

Heath Mcdaniel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:05:29 +0000

I have had floaters since I was about 18 I think and I’m now 32 and I have read your answers on the website on others my age who have them and those that are younger and I’ll admit I’m a bit discouraged by what I read. However I thought I’d ask and see what you thought about mine and if you could tell just from my description if they are treatable. I have a lot of floaters but I notice that they will move with my eye movements and will drift from the top to the bottom and only a few seem to be somewhat stationary all the time. What do you think is the likelihood of them being treatable as they move away from my center field of vision, which I suppose would be moving away from the optic nerve? I would love to get rid of them as they seem to multiply as the years go by and at some point I’m afraid I may not be able to see properly or have “semi-blindness” because of them. Thank you for whatever advice you can give.

Heath, I know my advice to younger patients is discouraging. It is intentional and part of my effort to temper expectations for the younger floater sufferers. Your description of of movement of the floaters with eye movements and drift is not really helpful. These are also features of well-positioned and treatable floaters. The optic nerve does not correspond to your center field of vision, you are more likely referring to the fovea and macula of the retina. The optic nerve is actually a physiologic blind spot. I can not predict whether your floaters will shift, or whether they are currently treatable or more treatable over time. The good news is that I have never seen floaters in young people visually disable them. they always been primarily an annoyance and distraction. – Dr. Johnson

Comment on Treatment Options by Verneitta

Verneitta — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:58:55 +0000

I just found out that I have those floaters, in my left eye. They move pretty quickly. When I am not on my day job, I’m a photographer, I can still see how to shot a tack sharp photo. They don’t bother me that much. Of course I wish that I did not have the annoying things, and I wish that I could get rid of them. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about them.

I just wish that there was a place a bit closer to me, where I could go and have them checked out.
My doctor told me that he has had them since he was 8 years old.

Of course, I’m glad that there is a treatment out there. This is a heck of a lot better than being told that there is nothing that can be done, because they are on the inside of the eyeball, and it is sealed.

Thanks for contributing. The odds of your floaters being treatable depends a lot on your age. Please read about that elsewhere under the “age factors” menu section. It would be impossible to tell if your floaters are treatable by your description of them, unfortunately. I hope you found the web site informative. – Dr. Johnson

Comment on Age 30 and Younger by Zach

Zach — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:38:38 +0000

Hi there. I first noticed my floaters about 2.5 years ago (around age 14). I’m 16 now and a junior in high school. I can’t really gauge how bad my floaters are because I don’t really have any basis of comparison. There are a good amount, and i have them in both eyes. I can’t really tell if they are the “Crystal Worms” that you were talking about in the above article, but in comparison with the picture in the sample response you posted, the “floaters” that I experience are more defined, and are much darker in some areas. They are also not only lines, but dots and little clouds as well, so I don’t think that they are the same. I was just wondering if treatment could possibly be available to me in a few years or so? If not it really wouldn’t be that big of a deal because I’ve sort of learned to live with them, and they don’t terribly interfere with everyday life, but it would still be great to get rid of them! Thanks for the help! [I have had multiple eye exams since floaters appeared, and my eyes/retinas have been healthy]

Zach, thanks for your contribution and background information. Of the younger than 30 years age grouping, it is a relatively small percentage that can be treated. At your young and tender age, I presume it is even less. When you can see fine detail within the floater itself, it almost has to be sliding along and adjacent to the retina. – Dr. Johnson

Comment on Fees for Treatment by Troy Cowan

Troy Cowan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:25:11 +0000

Do you know of anyone in the Nashville, TN area that is adept at this floater laser vaporization removal procedure? Would you please forward to me any contact information that you may have? Thank-you so very much, as I have had 'floaters' ever since I was a small child, and it is very annoying and becoming more and more difficult to read now that I am 51 years of age. TYVM! Troy Cowan

There are just a few of us that have any extensive experience with the YAG laser treating floaters. I think there are a few others here and there that may "dabble" with it, but I think treating floaters is a very special skill set that is only improved upon by performing the procedure frequently. I wouldn't have cataract surgery or any other complex procedure) by someone that only does one case a month! I have listed the doctors that I'm aware of HERE. To summarize, I am in Southern, California and the other two doctors (in the US) are in Virginia and Florida. Regards, Dr. Johnson

Comment on Age 30 and Younger by Kellie Moore

Kellie Moore — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:49:42 +0000

I have a 12yr old that has been telling us about the thing floating in his eye. He describes it as clear and with joints that float around. Who should we see about this if you’re saying that a regular doctor won’t be able to see. His last full eye exam was in August 2010. Thank you!

As I have tried to describe, the floaters in younger patients are very difficult to see even when highly motivated. I don’t have magic skills, I just usually spend a lot more time trying to find them. I try because I am supposed to be the expert?! Furthermore, even if I had determined that the patient is not a candidate for laser treatment, they deserve my best effort to at least determine what their real problem is. Quite often they feel like their own local Doctor has not really given them the time or a real understanding of what the problem is. Does you son see floaters that look something like this?:

These are what we call “crystal worm”-like floaters. They are transparent or translucent and there is detail within their structure. These are likely within 1mm or so of the retina and would not be a candidate for treatment for safety reasons. In addition, just based your son’s age, I would not want to treat. All this opinion and recommendation should be in light of the fact that I have not examined his eye, but I feel compelled to set realistic expectations for all patients, but especially the younger patients, where over time, I have become more pessimistic as to the potential for successful and safe treatment with the laser. – Dr. Johnson

Comment on Risks of Treatment by Preston Keith

Preston Keith — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:11:23 +0000

A large floater appeared suddenly in my left eye about a year ago. In June I consulted with John Karickhoff in Falls Church, Virginia. We proceeded with treatment and John ( call him by his first name as we are fellow professionals) was able to remove most of the offending floater except for a part that he believed to be too close to the retina to safely treat. Unfortunately, that floater remnant is almost in my direct line of vision. We were hoping that it would migrate to a safer location so it could be lased and removed. It has not happened. I am not keen to have a vitrectomy
as it may make cataract treatment more difficult later on. My question, based on your experience, can a floater located close to the retina be lased? I know it is not fair to ask you for your opinion as you have not examined my situation. Nevertheless, I thank you in advance for your advice and help.

Drs. Karickhoff, Geller and myself have variations of the YAG laser, but we all have to respect certain limitations: We can’t focus too close to the the lens or the retina. We do differ in our techniques, styles, and degrees of aggressiveness or conservative-ism. I have noticed that there sometimes appears to be a thin but thickened layer of vitreous near the retina, and sometimes fractured debris will be sent back and embed itself in that thicker, viscous layer. They just won’t move away from that zone. It doesn’t happen very often, fortunately. That said, I have treated patients who had been previously treated (or partially treated) by one of the other doctors. I am treating one this week. He had an overwhelming amount of diffuse clouding that tended to settle inferiorly. After treatment, I would push away from the laser and shrug my shoulders and say “I think it is better?!”He was told by the other doctor that he was not a candidate for the laser treatment and was told that the vitrectomy was his only opton. Here is a text I just received from him on my phone:

Comment on Why So Few Doctors? by Paula Worstell

Paula Worstell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:16:21 +0000

In a nutshell, the ophthalmologist’s comments and attitude were: Floaters are not a medical problem. Surgery is the only means to remove them but I will not do the surgery as you otherwise have good vision, your insurance company will not pay for the surgery and as you have retinal tears there is some risk of a retinal detachment. Surgery could lead to blindness and I do not want to risk a law suit. Your mental state is not my business. Get used to the floaters. Get a life.

That’s a pretty hard line stance on the part of your doctor, but I’m sure it is not uncommon. This anecdote underscores much of what I have said before. Thanks for your contribution. Dr. Johnson

Comment on Expectations of Laser Treatment by Paula Worstell

Paula Worstell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:45:41 +0000

Do pre-existing retinal tears make the laser treatment of floaters more risky?

As long as the previous retinal tear has been stabilized (either spontaneous healing or more likely “spot welding” with and argon laser) and have been stable for a few months, then I can treat. The laser and its immediate or delayed effects do not increase traction on the retina and laser for floaters does not increase the risk of retinal detachment. Most of the time in mature adults, the bad floaters (and likely in your case, retinal tears and holes) are usually caused by a posterior vitreous detachment whereby the vitreous has separated from the retina. That is a one-time event. After a posterior vitreous detachment, the risk of retinal tears IS MUCH LOWER than before. – Dr. Johnson