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 indicate a concern.
The board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists at Monterey County Eye Associates 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, as 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 other symptoms accompany them.
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 to the point that you won't notice them eventually.
However, if your floaters become worse, it's a good idea to come into our eye care center so we can determine if a more significant condition is causing their presence.
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
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 centers 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, to request a consultation with our eye care professionals:
(831) 424-1150
Patients Across Monterey, CA, Value Our Doctors
Vel “Velmont”
2021
Dr Dautremont and her staff were amazing. I get really nervous in general and even more so in public places but she was very understanding.
View on GoogleHeather Lang
2020
The ER referred me to follow up with Monterey County Eye Associates. When I called, they were able to get me in right away. Dr. Dautremont was assigned to my case and she and the whole staff were amazing with helping me.
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 office 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 moving to 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:
Your 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 to request a consultation and learn more about our diagnosis and treatment process:
(831) 424-1150
5-Star Reviews From Patients of Monterey, CA
Ian Watkins
2020
Very professional staff and a clean facility. Dr. Del Piero gave me honest answers to the questions I had
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Meghan Davis Mercer
2020
Dr. Del Piero was professional and kind. He found two holes in my retina and fixed them with a barrage laser two days later. His staff were thoughtful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
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.
Treating Various Eye Conditions
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 doctors can treat include:
Retinal Detachment
There are several methods our doctors use to treat retinal detachment or tears. We have minimally-invasive surgeries, such as a vitrectomy or scleral buckle surgery, and non-invasive surgeries performed with lasers to help correct this condition.
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 cataract surgery, which involves gently removing the clouded eye lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens.
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 doctors will diagnose and treat:
Does Insurance
Cover Treatment?
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Since the procedure to get rid of floaters is a medically necessary surgery and often must be performed immediately, they are covered by insurance. Our office accepts 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
Shell Fisher
2022
Though I am a relatively new patient of Monterey Bay Eye Center and my surgery is scheduled for this September, I have every confidence that the health of my eyes is in the hands of the finest Ophthalmologist.
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Jeanie
2021
Monterey Bay Eye Center has saved my sight with awesome lenses that have kept me from buying glasses for many years. I am confident in their advice and their great work. Thank you
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