Does floaters need surgery?

Written by Zheng Xin

Ophthalmology

Updated on September 23, 2024

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The commonly mentioned "floaters" in ophthalmology refer to the turbidity in the vitreous body of the eyes. In most cases, this phenomenon is normal; it is a normal physiological degenerative change of the vitreal body and generally does not have much impact on vision. In such cases, surgery is not needed. However, if there is a pathological change in the eye, such as bleeding at the base of the eye, and blood flows into the vitreous body, causing turbidity, surgery can be considered if this severely affects vision.

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Written by Huo Ze Jun

Traditional Chinese Medicine

1min 14sec

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Where to apply moxibustion for floaters?

After developing floaters, it is essential to first visit a hospital for an examination to determine the underlying cause. If there's a serious issue, such as retinal or ciliary body pathological changes, it must be addressed promptly. Some cases of floaters are due to the degeneration of the eyes, which occurs with aging, leading to problems with the vitreous. In such cases, treatments like acupuncture and moxibustion can be beneficial. Moxibustion usually targets acupoints around the eyes. Be careful not to burn the skin. Useful acupoints include the temples, which are located on the outer side of the eyes, and others like Cuanzhu point and Sibai point. More distal points, such as Fengchi at the back of the head, and Hegu on the hand, also benefit the eyes. There's also a beneficial acupoint on the outer side of the lower leg, five cun above the lateral malleolus, called the Guangming point, which is very beneficial for the eyes and can be treated with moxibustion. Additionally, frequent moxibustion at the Jiaji point, located about 0.5 cun (approximately 0.5 to nearly 1 cm) next to the midline of the cervical spine, can also benefit those with floaters.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

41sec

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Will you go blind from floaters as you get older?

Floaters generally do not cause blindness or loss of vision. Floaters can be divided into physiological floaters and pathological floaters. Physiological floaters generally do not cause changes in vision; their symptoms primarily appear under bright light, where one can see fixed floating objects in front of the eyes, appearing in various shapes, which become unclear in darker environments. In such cases, it is important to rest and use some aminoacyl iodine eye drops for improvement. Pathological floaters should prompt a visit to the ophthalmology department for serious and thorough examinations, proactive treatment, and can completely recover vision with regular follow-ups.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

48sec

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Is there a connection between floaters and kidney deficiency?

In Western medicine, floaters are not significantly related to kidney deficiency, and the concept of kidney deficiency in Chinese medicine is different from that in Western medicine. Therefore, the treatment for floaters primarily involves resting sufficiently, reducing close-up work to alleviate eye strain, using eyes correctly, and appropriately using some peptide iodine eye drops, which generally yield good results. If the floaters are pathological, it is necessary to visit an ophthalmology department for further examination, including an eye ultrasound, fundus photography, intraocular pressure, uncorrected visual acuity, and corrected visual acuity, to actively treat and monitor the development of the vision, aiming to restore normal vision.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

55sec

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How to treat blurry vision and floaters?

Blurry vision and floaters should prompt an examination by an ophthalmologist. Physiological vitreous opacities generally do not affect vision, but if they do, active treatment is required. Vitreous cloudiness can also be seen in patients with refractive errors, which include myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. In these cases, correct pupil dilation and optical correction should be done. After alleviating the issues with glasses, it is important to use the eyes properly, and orthokeratology can also be used. Once the prescription stabilizes, surgical treatment can be considered. However, surgical treatment generally only relieves the refractive condition and does not solve the nature of eye surrounding issues. Hence, it is crucial to use the eyes correctly and be cautious of further increase in the prescription.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong

Ophthalmology

51sec

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Can flying mosquito syndrome be detected by B-ultrasound?

Floaters, also known as vitreous opacities, can be categorized into physiological and pathological vitreous opacities. Physiological vitreous opacities generally do not affect vision, whereas pathological vitreous opacities can severely impact vision. In cases of physiological vitreous opacities, patients typically see unfixed, floating objects in their vision, which vary in shape and become more noticeable in bright light, but less clear in the dark. Examinations mainly include ocular B-ultrasound, fundus photography, and fibroscope examination, which can fully assess the extent of vitreous opacity. Once vitreous opacities occur, it is important to rest, seek active treatment, and have regular follow-up examinations.