![]() Floaters are most visible when looking at bright objects, such as white paper or blue skies. When you try to look at them, they generally float away. Specks and threadlike strands that drift across a person’s field of vision are the floaters. More rare causes of floaters include infection, inflammation, hemorrhage, retinal tears, or eye injury. While most people see a few spots on occasion, they can occur more frequently and become more noticeable with age when a posterior vitreous detachment occurs. Since almost all of the retinal detachments that result from tears occurring from a PVD develop within 6 weeks of the onset of floaters, it follows that if one has had symptoms of a PVD for more than 6-8 weeks, one has been through the period of major worry of retinal detachment.Ī PVD can also cause microtrauma to the surface of the retina causing a scar to form called an epiretinal membrane (see Macular Pucker/Epiretinal Membrane Section) which can distort vision. The likelihood of finding a retinal tear in the presence of these “dots” is about 85%, increased from 3% to 15% chance when they are not present. These dots are either red blood cells or freed retinal cells implying that either a blood vessel on the retina has been tweaked or the retina itself has been torn. (See Detached and Torn Retina section) Suddenly seeing a large number of tiny dots in one’s vision, especially along with other floaters and flashes, increases the concern. If this is going to occur, it usually occurs during the first 6 weeks from the onset of floaters. About 50 percent of the eyes that have a retinal tear will, if not treated, go on to develop a retinal detachment. Eventually, they subside.Īpart from the nuisance of experiencing new floaters, the problem with a PVD is that about 10% of the time the retina (the “Saran Wrap” thin membrane suctioned up against the inside back part of the eyeball –if your eye was a camera, it would be the film) is torn in the process. Sometimes they last on an occasional basis for months afterward. Occasionally these flashes precede the actual posterior vitreous separation by several days or even weeks. Sometimes a PVD is accompanied by flashes of light off to the side in the vision of the affected eye. These floaters are usually described as a cobweb, a comma or circle, and usually appear in the vision slightly to the side from where one looks. ![]() The sudden appearance of new floaters in one eye is the primary symptom of a PVD. ![]() About 50% of eyes by age 60 have gone through this process. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) produces another kind of floater, which is moderately worrisome. Vision with Floaters Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) ![]()
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