Floaters
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Raphael E Rosenbaum, MD
Ophthalmologist & Uveitis Specialist located in Upper East Side, New York, NY; Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY; New Rochelle, NY; and Forest Hills, NY
Are you noticing tiny, web-like spots in your vision that dart away when you try to focus on them? These are likely floaters, and while not necessarily dangerous, they can signal something larger at play. Raphael E. Rosenbaum, MD, and his team of ophthalmologists understand when floaters are harmless and when they require a higher standard of care. To learn whether your floaters require treatment, call one of the four New York locations in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New Rochelle, and Forest Hills, or set up an appointment using the online booking tool.
Floaters Q & A
What are floaters?
Your eyes contain a jelly-like substance called the vitreous humor. As you age, fibers within this substance can begin to clump together, which is what causes floaters in your vision. These floaters often have the following characteristics:
- Dark specks in your vision that seem to hang unsuspended
- Tiny web-like strings that dance in your vision, but you’re unable to focus on them
- Small disturbances in your vision that eventually drift away
Floaters are aptly named as they appear to float in your vision, and they’re near impossible to focus on, darting away when you attempt to pin them down.
When are floaters problematic?
For the most part, floaters are harmless and a natural part of aging as your vitreous shrinks and liquefies, causing cells or gel to cluster. In fact, most people begin to develop floaters in their 20s and 30s, which become increasingly prevalent after the age of 50.
There are times, however, when floaters present a problem. For example, in a worst-case scenario, if your floaters appear suddenly and they’re accompanied by flashes in your vision, this may be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment, and you need to seek immediate help.
Floaters can also develop due to uveitis in the back of your eye or bleeding in your retina, which is associated with diabetes and bears monitoring.
Should floaters be treated?
The answer to this depends upon your unique situation. If your floaters appear gradually, and they’re not accompanied by flashes in your vision, the odds are that they’re just a normal part of the aging process.
If, however, the floaters appear quickly or your vision is moderately hampered by their presence, you’d do well to seek the counsel of one of the specialists at the practice of Raphael E. Rosenbaum, MD. Your treatment depends upon your diagnosis and may involve treating the underlying cause, such as a retinal tear or diabetic retinopathy, or you may need to undergo surgical removal of your vitreous and the involved floaters.
If you’re on the fence about your floaters, it’s best to err on the side of caution and make an appointment at the practice of Raphael E. Rosenbaum, MD, by calling or using the online booking tool.
