Eye Floaters
Are you concerned that the dark shadows you're seeing, called floaters, are a symptom of a more significant problem?
While eye floaters on their own aren't indicative of a severe condition, their sudden appearance may signal a concern.
The board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists at Monterey County Eye Associates in Monterey, CA, can identify if your floaters are harmless or not.
Experiencing Sudden Changes in Your Vision?
If you're experiencing an increase of floaters in your vision along with other symptoms, like flashes of light, darkness in your peripheral vision, blurry vision, or eye pain, contact our office immediately. These symptoms may indicate a severe condition, and time is of the essence.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are specks of collagen that may appear gray or black and look like blobs, lines, or cobwebs that obscure part of your vision. For the most part, floaters alone do not indicate a severe condition and pose no threat to your health unless accompanied by other symptoms.
Eye floaters often appear when you stare at bright backdrops, such as a white wall or the sky. While annoying, your mind quickly gets used to the presence of floaters; eventually, most patients won't even notice them.
However, if your floaters become worse, it's a good idea to come into our eye care center so we can perform an eye exam and determine if a more significant condition is causing their presence.
Squiggles and black specks often interrupt the vision of people with eye floaters. Thankfully, they are not typically a cause for concern.
Risk Factors for Eye Floaters
Certain factors can increase your risk of developing eye floaters. These risk factors may be natural or a result of an outside influence, such as an injury or surgery. If you notice floaters in your vision, it may be due to one or more of the following:
- Over the age of 50
- Eye trauma
- Eye inflammation
- Surgery complications
- Extreme nearsighted vision
- Diabetic retinopathy
I See Floaters: Is My Eye Health at Risk? Request a Consultation With Our Eye Doctors
Changes in your vision can be off-putting as they first appear. While eye floaters often are harmless, coming into one of our Monterey, CA, eye care offices for a comprehensive eye exam can help ease any fears you have.
Our ophthalmologists and optometrists have the training and skills to treat nearly every eye condition using the latest technology available.
If you're noticing eye floaters, put your fears to rest and check on your health by contacting one of our four locations throughout Monterey, CA, for a consultation with our eye care professionals:
(831) 424-1150
Patients Across Monterey, CA, Value Our Doctors
Linda Deutsch
2024
I have been a patient of Dr. Rosenblum for many years. He is the absolute best physician, professional, caring and extremely skilled. He has not only managed my twice yearly eye care, but has performed laser surgery two times, all to excellent outcomes. Also, Patrick, the highly skilled technician must be mentioned for his expertise and kindness. I would highly recommend Monterey Bay Eye Center without hesitation.
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Gianni Grassi
2024
I have had both primary and secondary cataracts treated at the Monterey Bay Eye Center. There is no more professional nor competent (nor friendly) clinic anywhere that I have encountered in my 76 years. All the docs and the staff are top notch. They engage the whole person. Patients aren't just platforms with problems to them. There is no sense of being rushed through nor any sense of having been forgotten. Just old fashioned attention, care, and kindness. Bravo!
View on GoogleWhat Causes Eye Floaters?
Several factors can cause the presence of eye floaters, many of which will resolve themselves without medical intervention.
Natural Eye Changes
As you age, floaters can appear in your vision as the vitreous gel in the back of your eye begins to deteriorate. This process is a natural part of aging that typically occurs after age 50. As the vitreous deteriorates and clumps together, stray strands can cast shadows on your retina that appear as floaters.
Internal Bleeding
If you've suffered an eye injury recently, you may have internal bleeding in the eye that can come across as eye floaters. Eye bleeding may also be caused by blood vessel blockage, diabetes, or hypertension. If the injury and floaters do not resolve themselves, come to our offices for an exam.
Surgery or Medication
Some antibiotics are injected directly into the eye, resulting in air bubbles that appear as floaters. Air bubbles can cast a shadow on your retina, similar to vitreous gel breaking down. Also, complications in surgery, such as cataract surgery, may cause floaters to enter your vision.
Retinal Tear or Detachment
Prompt emergency intervention is typically not necessary due to the presence of eye floaters. However, if your floaters are accompanied by other changes in your vision, such as darkened periphery or flashes, you may have a retinal tear or detachment that requires prompt intervention.
Inflammation of the Eye
Inflammation in the back of the eye can result in debris and cells moving around the middle layer of the eye and towards the vitreous at the back of the eye. When this happens, the debris casts shadows on the retina that can appear as eye floaters.
Serious Vision Conditions Indicated by Additional Symptoms
Floaters may be a sign of a severe condition if other symptoms accompany them. The following are a few severe conditions that your floaters could indicate:
Vitreous deterioration is completely natural and a part of the aging process. However, sometimes complications occur as the vitreous pulls away from the retina, resulting in a retinal tear or detachment.
Retinal tears can often evolve into retinal detachment, eventually leading to permanent blindness if intervention is not taken. If you've noticed a sudden increase in floaters, you may have a retinal tear or detachment that needs to be treated immediately.
Another serious condition that floaters can be a symptom of is a vitreous hemorrhage. This hemorrhage causes bleeding in the eye from a blood vessel within the retina breaking. This internal bleeding may appear as floaters that are worse in the morning hours.
This condition can lead to blindness, so getting a diagnosis and receiving treatment immediately is essential. B-scan ultrasonography technology can take a look at the back of your eye so our doctors can point out if a vitreous hemorrhage is present.
Treatment Starts With a Diagnosis Request a Consultation
If you're experiencing the sudden appearance of floaters or changes in your vision, it's time to join us at one of our Monterey, CA, eye care centers to diagnose the condition. Our staff is trained to treat various eye health conditions, but treatment starts with a diagnosis.
Our offices make information accessible to a large variety of patients by having staff members at each of our four Monterey, CA, offices that are fluent in Spanish. This way, you can get precise information about your condition even if English isn't your native language.
Contact us and learn more about our diagnosis and treatment process:
(831) 424-1150
5-Star Reviews From Patients of Monterey, CA
Jackie Fitzpatrick
2024
Dr.Husted has been my retinal eye doctor for many years and he is the best , as far as I'm concerned. His staff is fantastic also.
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Michael Shaw
2024
I've been coming here for over 20 years and have always found Dr. Rosenblum to be caring, thorough and willing to explain fully any issues. He also seems very happy in his work and that puts me at ease.
View On GoogleHow We Diagnose Your Condition
We use state-of-the-art technology to analyze the back of your eye and pinpoint what condition is causing the presence of floaters. We use the following diagnosis process to detect retinal detachment, tears, vitreous hemorrhages, and other conditions:
We use the latest in eye care technology to diagnose your condition accurately.
Our Retina and Vitreous Specialists Treat Your Concerns
We have a sizable staff that's prepared to meet all of your concerns and tackle issues you are having. Each of our doctors specializes in different fields, with some specialties overlapping. If you're experiencing floaters, you may have a retinal or vitreous condition that one of the following eye doctors will diagnose and treat:
Treating Various Eye Conditions That Relate to Floaters
If our doctors do find a concern, there's no need to worry. We have staff trained to help correct nearly all eye conditions. A few eye conditions that floaters may be present for and our eye doctors can treat include:
Retinal Detachment
There are several methods our doctors use to treat retinal detachment or tears. We offer minimally invasive surgeries, such as a vitrectomy or scleral buckle surgery, as well as non-invasive surgeries performed with lasers.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy at the beginning stages can often be treated with diabetes management. However, advanced cases require surgery that's often performed through laser treatment.
Cataracts
If your floaters are a symptom of cataracts, our doctors can perform laser cataract surgery, which involves gently removing the clouded eye lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens.
Does Insurance
Cover Treatment?
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Procedures to get rid of floaters (like vitrectomy) are often covered by insurance because they are medically necessary. Our offices accept various insurance providers, and our staff can help you receive the coverage you need with flexible financing plans that work for you.
Praise From Our Monterey, CA, Patients
Xinhua Zha
2024
Dr. Shi is both professional and personable. The same can be said for the assistant and office staff. My visit was a very positive experience.
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Stanley Mellin
2024
I have been a patient for more than 10 years. Always receive excellent care from both doctors and staff.
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