Eye Floaters (cont.)
How do I get rid of eye floaters?
There are no safe and proven methods to get rid of the symptoms of eye floaters
caused by vitreous syneresis or posterior vitreous detachment. Most will fade
over time and become less annoying or noticeable. Learning relaxation techniques
may hasten the adaptation to persistent eye floaters.
Can eye floaters be removed with medication?
Although certain herbs, vitamins, and iodine-containing products have been
touted as effective in decreasing eye floaters, none of these have been proven
effective in clinical trials. In the unusual cases where the eye floaters are due to
white blood cells in the vitreous from inflammation or infection, appropriate
anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics will reduce the number of white blood
cells. There are no oral or eye drop medications of value for the reduction of
the common type of eye floaters.
Can eye floaters be removed with surgery?
Breaking up of eye floaters by the use of a YAG laser has been advocated by some,
but there is no evidence that this is effective. The use of a laser also poses
significant risks to the vision in what is otherwise a healthy eye. The vitreous
itself can also be surgically removed by a procedure called vitrectomy. This
involves multiple incisions into the eye and is reserved for situations in which
there is a large amount of non-clearing blood or inflammatory debris within the
eye. Surgery of either type should not be performed in patients with the common
type of eye floaters due to vitreous syneresis or posterior vitreous detachment.
Last Editorial Review: 1/11/2008
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