Eye floaters can be an annoying experience that disrupts your day-to-day life if you do not manage them. Understanding eye floaters and their impact on your eyes is crucial for ensuring you get proper care that protects your vision. Harrington Vision Center in Florence, SC, is here to answer frequently asked questions about eye floaters and how we can help you manage them.
What are eye floaters?
Eye floaters are shadows or squiggles that appear to float in your vision field. The inside of your eye contains gel-like vitreous humor. Clumps can form inside the vitreous humor and cast tiny shadows on your retina, making your brain perceive these shadows as floating objects.
How does aging affect eye floaters?
The vitreous humor in your eye may contract and liquefy as you age, causing it to create clumps of collagen that you see as floating objects in your central or peripheral vision. Proper eye care can reduce the occurrence of eye floaters in older adults. Our optometrist offers multigenerational eye care to help prevent eye floaters and protect your vision.
Does dehydration cause eye floaters?
Dehydration can significantly impact your vision and cause eye floaters since the vitreous humor is around 98% water. The vitreous loses shape and dries out if you fail to stay hydrated. Dehydration can solidify concentrated proteins and form eye floaters. Contact your optometrist near you for tips on keeping your eyes hydrated and healthy.
Do eye floaters go away by themselves?
Eye floaters can go away in time, but you should plan to deal with them for at least a few weeks. Some people require months for eye floaters to disappear, and conditions like retinal detachment and diabetic retinopathy can extend this timeline further. Migraines, eye surgery, and other conditions may cause floaters to appear for extended periods.
Should I worry about eye floaters?
You typically do not need to worry about eye floaters. This condition is often a sign of aging, but it can occur in people of every age. Most people with floaters do not require professional treatment since the vitreous humor changes shape and forces floaters out of your field of vision. However, eye floaters can sometimes signify eye injury, infection, or a severe underlying condition like retinal detachment. You should visit your optometrist near you immediately if you notice a sudden increase in floaters.
Visit Your Optometrist Near You in Florence, SC, for Eye Floater Treatment Today
Eye floaters can sometimes signify significant eye or vision issues that require prompt eye care, so contact Harrington Vision Center in Florence, SC, to schedule an eye exam today. We can determine the severity of your eye floaters and decide if treatment is necessary to protect your vision. Call us and schedule an appointment at our West Florence office at (843) 669-2020 or our Downtown office at (843) 662-0691.
