What will happen if the floater condition becomes severe?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Floater, also called vitreous opacity, can affect vision if it is severe.

Vitreous opacity can be divided into physiological and pathological types. Physiological vitreous opacities, generally referred to as floaters, do not affect vision. They are more visible in bright light and less visible in dim light or at night. Treatment primarily involves rest, proper eye usage, and the appropriate use of Amiodine eye drops, with regular check-ups recommended. If vision is affected, further examination in an ophthalmology department is advised, including checks of intraocular pressure, an ocular B-scan ultrasound, and fundus photography, with treatment adjusted according to the condition and regular reviews.

(Please use medication under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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The difference between floaters and cataracts

Floater disease is a vitreous opacity, while cataract is a lens opacity; these two conditions are not the same issue. Vitreous opacities can be classified as physiological or pathological. Physiological vitreous opacities appear as moving objects in front of the eyes, which are less noticeable in the dark and more noticeable under bright light; cataracts gradually affect vision. Physiological vitreous opacities in floater disease generally do not affect vision, but pathological vitreous opacities do affect vision. An eye ultrasound shows severe vitreous opacities and retinal changes, whereas the cloudiness in the lens, namely cataracts, usually means the vitreous and retina are normal.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Can flying mosquito disease go untreated for over twenty years?

If it is physiological floaters, generally there is no special treatment, and they are relatively stable and do not affect vision. Patients mainly experience floating shapes that vary in appearance in front of their eyes. Typically, these floaters are more visible under bright light and less visible or invisible under dim light. If there are not many floaters, it is advised to rest and treat the symptoms accordingly. If the patient requests treatment, therapies like amino iodine eye drops or sodium hyaluronate eye drops can be used. Treatment can improve the patient's mood, but generally, the condition does not worsen.

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Written by Huo Ze Jun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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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
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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.

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Written by Zheng Xin
Ophthalmology
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Does floaters need surgery?

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.