Eye Vitreous Floater Treatment Specialty Medical Practice

We outline the current clinical studies we are conducting and participation requirements

We encourage all patients to participate in our studies. It is our hope that the results will make the procedure more commonly available and spur improvements in the technology.

There are just a few published studies on the use of the YAG laser for the treatment of benign eye floaters. The results were not particularly impressive with a poorly define
"satisfaction rate" of about 30%. They did agree in concluding that the procedure appeared to be safe with very low rate of complications.

We use different techniques, lenses, lasers, and energy settings than used in previous studies. Our results have been significantly better and we are conducting ongoing studies to quantify the treatment results as well as document the incidence of any complications with these modified techniques.

Since eye floaters are difficult to objectively quantify by photography or by ultrasound we have elected to use patient surveys to measure the success of treatment. These surveys focus on the degree of awareness of the floaters with various activities as well an any associated psychological effects of the floaters such as anxiety and depression.

STUDY #1: Case study of consecutive patients referred or self-referred for laser vitreolysis treatment. Consists of entering all patients who present for evaluation and possible treatment of their floaters who either 1.) go on to have the treatment, or 2.) are not eligible or cannot be treated. Not eligible for inclusion and evaluation of results are people eligible and goods candidates for treatment who elect not to precede with treatment. Eligibility:

Age over 18 years. No upper age limit
Patient is able to complete survey prior to treatment as well as 2-3 months after last treatment
Any type of floater or combination of floater types

STUDY #2: A case study of a particular subset type of vitreous floater originating from the optic nerve head. These "Weiss ring" floaters may be ring or "C" shaped. Commonly they are associated with syneresis and hazy thickening of the vitreous body. This study is for isolated Weiss-ring type floaters in isolation. Eligibility: same criteria as above.

Age over 18 years. No upper age limit
Patient is able to complete survey prior to treatment as well as 2-3 months after last treatment
Weiss Ring or variant in isolation. No other types of floaters present.

We want to mention another effort to promote further advances in the treatment of eye floaters. There is a UK-based, but international effort to raise funds for further research in vitreous degenerative disorders. Please visit OneClearVision.org