Floaters
Bloomberg Eyecare
Optometrists located in Warren, OH, Austintown, OH, & Boardman, OH
The older you get, the more likely it is you see floaters in your line of vision. At Bloomberg Eyecare, with offices in Austintown, Warren, and Boardman, Ohio, the experienced optometrists offer comprehensive eye exams to ensure your floaters aren’t a warning sign of something more serious, like a retinal detachment. To schedule an exam, call the Bloomberg Eyecare office nearest you, or request an appointment online today.
Floaters Q&A
What are floaters?
Floaters appear as specks, squiggles, or strings that float around in your field of vision. They may appear to move with your eyes, and you might have difficulty looking at them directly.
Floaters develop when strands of the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills your eyes, cast shadows on your retina. This typically occurs due to the natural aging process.
Many people with floaters can easily ignore them and won’t experience any disruption in their vision. However, if you notice new floaters or have a large number of floaters, it may be a sign of something more serious.
When should I see an optometrist for floaters?
If you notice an increase in the number of floaters you see, if you experience sudden flashes of light, or have a loss of your peripheral vision, you may have a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
A retinal detachment is a serious medical emergency. This condition occurs when any part of your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye, lifts away from its normal position. Without treatment, you may be at risk for vision loss and permanent blindness within a few days.
If you have concerns about new floaters or see flashes of light, schedule a consultation at Bloomberg Eyecare as soon as possible. The optometrists offer dilated eye exams to evaluate the health of your retina and quickly identify abnormalities like a detachment or retinal tear.
You may also need additional imaging tests like a B-scan ultrasound, digital retinal imaging, or optical coherence tomography to determine which treatment is right for you.
How are floaters treated?
If you have floaters that aren’t disrupting your vision, you may not need any treatment. However, if you have numerous floaters that cause vision issues, your Bloomberg Eyecare optometrist may recommend vitrectomy, a surgery to remove vitreous gel and debris from your eye.
When floaters and light flashes are a side effect of a retinal detachment or retinal tear, you may need surgery to repair the damaged tissue.
Bloomberg Eyecare optometrists can refer you to a surgeon for further treatment and provide you with comprehensive after-care services to ensure a full recovery.
If you’re seeing new floaters or experiencing flashes of light, call the Bloomberg Eyecare office nearest you or request a consultation online today.
All Bloomberg Eyecare eye doctors offer telemedicine eye consultations utilizing cellular phones, Facetime, or other connectivity technologies.