Do you notice strange images floating in your field of vision? These are known as floaters, and they are fairly common. The good news is that there are several ways to treat eye floaters. Christensen Eye Care is a top optometrist in the Dodge City, KS area. Here is a look at how we diagnose and treat eye floaters to help patients restore their fields of vision.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are rather common and are most often associated with aging. Floaters can also appear if you rub your eyes aggressively. Floaters appear when a jelly-like substance called vitreous becomes more liquid, appearing as tiny shadows floating across your field of vision.
Symptoms of Eye Floaters
The most common sign of eye floaters is the appearance of floating shadows. In extreme cases, these floaters are associated with flashes of light. If you notice more and more floaters, then this may be an emergency and you should contact our optometrist immediately.
Diagnosing Floaters
Our optometrist will perform an eye exam to help determine the cause of your floaters. During the exam, our optometrist will dilate your pupils for a better look at the back of your eye. In most cases, an eye exam to diagnose the cause of floaters will last less than an hour.
Floater Treatment
There are two main approaches used for the elimination of eye floaters. Here is a look at what each approach involves:
- Removal of the vitreous via surgery - During a surgical procedure, an ophthalmologist removes the vitreous through a small incision. The vitreous is replaced with a solution to help the eye maintain its proper shape. During the surgery, some bleeding may occur. However, the surgical procedure is considered extremely safe.
- Laser therapy - With laser therapy, an ophthalmologist uses a special laser to disrupt the floaters. This procedure is can result in you seeing fewer floaters. Laser therapy is performed less often than surgery.
Prepare for an Eye Exam
When you are scheduled for an eye exam, there are several steps that you should take to ensure that our optometrist receives all necessary information:
- Write down your symptoms - Writing down your symptoms will help our optometrist better understand the severity of your situation.
- List your current medications - Our optometrist will need to know what medications you are using before recommending any procedure.
- Write down any questions that you may have - Have a question about the eye exam or therapy options? Be sure to write them down, so you can ask our eye doctor.
Optometrist in Dodge City, KS
If you believe that you have symptoms related to eye floaters, contact Christensen Eye Care today. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at (620) 227-5433.