the good doctor on: The Thing Floating in my Eye

Blog #14, Hey, I’ve got floating things in my eye.

Last week, I began to notice something like a fly moving across the vision in my right eye. It started on a Wednesday afternoon and continued for two days with the odd flash of light, again going across my vision. I was having a posterior vitreous detachment.

The vitreous is a clear gel that fills the inside of the eye. As we get older the gel starts to liquefy, and in the process, it shrinks and does not fill the entire space inside the eye. The vitreous also consists of fine fibres that attach to the retina. The shrinkage eventually causes the vitreous to pull away from the retina, resulting in floating strands or objects that move across your vision, which we call “floaters”. Sometimes this pulling will actually cause the sensation of light, showing up as short-lived flashes of light. This was happening to my right eye. I was examined by my colleague across the hall the next day and was diagnosed with a vitreous detachment.

Ideally, a person should be seen in the first 24 hours if these symptoms occur. It is possible that this pulling on the retina can cause the retina to tear or create a hole or even pull the macula off. This is a lot more serious, with a resulting retinal detachment or macular hole which, if not promptly treated, can result in permanent vision loss. Prompt attention with a dilated exam is essential because it is the only way to ensure that the retina has not been affected. If the retina is affected, you will be sent to a specialist for immediate treatment. Fortunately, I did not have these more serious conditions.

So, any new floaters, any flashes of light accompanying them, call right away, and get seen right away. Even when nothing is happening, have regular dilated exams to check for retinal problems. I am waiting for the same thing to occur in my left eye and in the meantime, my peripheral retina is healthy and doing just fine.

Thankfully, most people do not have retinal problems from vitreous detachment. Remember, you see floaters in your eye, get seen right away.

Til next week,

The Good Doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Eyecare.