Eye Floaters Causes

There are many conditions that can cause eye floaters.

Vitreous Syneresis

As one gets older, the vitreous humor (see diagram) gradually changes. Some persons have a more liquid vitreous that is more likely to cause floaters, while others retain a firmer vitreous throughout their lives. Even with minimal vitreous movements, small pecks of the vitreous itself become detached; floating around the vitreous and casting a shadow into the retina. This shadow can vary in size and shape, and it's what we know as eye floaters.

Although Vitreous Syneresis is generally the result of normal age-related causes, certain eye conditions can lead to it as well. Any eye condition that can physically alter the shape of the eye, even if just the vitreous, can lead to floaters. A few examples are: eye infections, eye inflammation, facial alteration (plastic surgery, wounds) and vitreous detachment. This is why it's not uncommon for very young people to develop eye floaters.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

As a person ages, the gelatinous structure of the vitreous may start to shrink. As a result, many particles detached from the edges of the vitreous may move to the center of the eye, causing floaters.

Additionally, the vitreous is attached to the optic nerve. As the vitreous shrinks, this attachment starts to break; leading to enormous floaters that were the actual attachment between the vitreous and optic nerve. According to research, about 50% of people aged 65 and older will have Posterior Vitreous Detachment in one or both eyes. Developing PVD in one eye almost invariantly leads to PVD in the other within 18 months. PVD is especially common in persons who have undergone floaters surgical treatment, as up to 50% of them develop PVD within a year.

Medications

Many drugs in the market have several side effects. Some of the chemicals contained in such drugs are known for altering the chemical balance in the body often causing unknown side effects. Drugs to watch out for include skin treatment drugs, weight loss pills, mental recovery medicine and certain illegal drugs.

It's important that you try to keep your body as drug-free as possible. Many persons have reported the sudden appearance of eye floaters after ingesting certain medications.

Surgery

Not only eye surgery, but many other facial surgeries can lead to eye floaters. As the face swells, pressure is exerted on the eyes. This is often enough for small particles to detach from the vitreous or retina causing new eye floaters.

The riskier surgeries are those associated with the eyes, for example LASIK or cataracts surgery.

Age related changes

Floaters tend to become more prolific with age, because the vitreous humour degenerates with advancing years and pulls slightly away from the retina. This separation of vitreous humour from the retina can cause small shreds of jelly to break off and form more floaters. At first, this can be irritating. Over time, the brain can become accustomed to the floaters and may decide not to 'inform' you of their presence.

Head and Eye Trauma

Blows to the head or eyes can be devastating. Although the vitreous is firmly attached to the retina, a strong blow may cause particles to detach from the vitreous leading to new eye floaters. In certain professions such as boxing, the occurrence of retinal detachment is very high.

Eye scratching and touching may also create new eye floaters.

Other Causes

There are many other eye floater causes. In general, any substance floating in the vitreous that is not entirely transparent will lead to eye floaters. This can include: red blood cells, white blood cells, darker vitreous spots and even tiny remains of an eye surgery.

What's Next?

Now that you know the probable causes of eye floaters, you should keep informing yourself in order to make an accurate decision. If you haven't already, consult a doctor as you may have retinal detachment that is a very serious complication that can make you blind. To cure your eye floaters, we recommend the Eye Floaters Removal System which will help you naturally decrease your eye floaters.

Comments Jack - 2010-05-24 When I was young I used a drug for treating acne and developed eye floaters shortly afterwards, do you think it's just a coincidence or did the drug actually did that to me? Now 7 years later, my eye floaters remain the same, will they get worse? Better? Should I have a Vitrectomy? Anna - 2010-05-24 I have had eye floaters for the past three months. I'll be turning 50 next month. Why do you think I have eye floaters? I have literally not changed anything in my life/diet and all of a sudden I can see them. Admin - 2010-05-24 To Anna: Natural aging is also a cause of eye floaters. As we get older, our vitreous humor liquifies - allowing more cells to float freely in it. echops - 2010-05-26 Mine are very recent and awful - about a dozen dots / squiggles / long lines in each eye. Mine started during pregnancy. Jack - 2010-05-26 @Echops: during pregnancy? That's too bad. Maybe the hormones somehow caused them. A dozen dots is not too bad - like we always say - getting used to them is the best answer. Surgery is really not an option for most of us especially vitrectomy. botha - 2010-05-28 i'm really dispointed with my eye floaters (i think those are eye floaters). I'm still 22 and i'm seeing them my left eye. I was disapointed means i think there is no use of living with this bullsht eye floaters, i feel its better to die rather than having this. I have given up all my future ALL I NEED TO KNOW IS is there any way to get rid of this ?????. Please help me.. Thanks a lot Joaquin - 2010-05-28 To Botha: Calm down. I have had them since I was 15 and I'm 21 now. Mine are probably worse than yours as they are pretty much everywhere and in both eyes. Life is worth living every single second, floaters are just annoying, that's all. Get used to them. kristin2010 - 2010-05-28 Is it normal for a teenager to have this?? Joaquin - 2010-05-28 To Kristin: Yes it's normal, though what you're experiencing is NOT normal eye floaters. They are smaller and closer to your retina - they are also clearer. That's why the look so big. Make sure to visit a doctor, only he can make a correct diagnosis. Don't worry, though besides annoying they're not really a threat to your overall health and yes, many teens have them. Melissa - 2010-05-28 If you do have eye floaters that are constant and don't go away, make sure you do go to an eye doctor right away. When I was in 8th grade i started seeing floaters in my right eye and thought nothing of it, but the a couple months later I completely lost my vision in that eye. Turned out I had a detached retina and I almost lost my sight in that eye and had to have surgery to fix it. This usually doesn't happen, but be safe and check it out sooner than later if you haven't already. Margaret - 2010-06-01 I fell over and banged my head. After the fall I noticed floaters and a film across my left eye. I have been examined by the optomotrists but they say nothing can be done about my condition. I am sixty two now, healthy apart from Arthitus and I do not want to accept this condition. I am looking for guidance on getting rid of this stuff floating in my eye. HELP FOR MAGGIE PLEASE I AM WRITING FROM COCHRANE ALBERTA CANADA. Tanya - 2010-06-04 I have just found out i might have glaucoma..!!! putting drops in both eyes x2 /day...now i am seeing more floaters...thought it was just Mascara....Seeing specialist soon...but sort of scared about the whole thing..weird..worn glasses since i was 6 yrs old now 56 yrs and going through menopause..would this make the situation worse..?? I used to get bad Migraines about 8-10 yrs ago... lisa - 2010-07-11 I have had eye floaters for as long as i can remember, i am 39 years old now & i have probably had them since i was 8.They have never caused me any bother & i thought everyone had them !! I have realised this is not the case, & i have started to notice them more, the more i think about them.I have more in my right eye than my left, just a little one in that eye. Catherine - 2010-06-09 I'm a junior doctor, and my friend (aged 26) has recently had a sudden increase in eye floaters, but her optician have done every test and her eyes are both perfectly healthy. She asked me about it, and after I suggested migraine, she remembered that she'd had a similar episode some years before and the doctors had told her then that it was migraine. Migraine does not always come with head pain, but can come with some of literally hundreds of other strange symptoms, including eye floaters. Also though they begin as episodes of a few hours, they can morph into "chronic migraine" with long-term painkiller and caffeine use. Consider if it could be migraine, and ask your GP. Maria - 2010-07-25 Hi. I am 21. And since past three months I see these spots in my vision. They appear too very often. At times I have a dull headache along with this. Also, at times I see sudden burst of many spots all around me, wherever I look. How am I to interpret this? Is it serious? Maria - 2010-07-25 Hi. I am 21. And since past three months I see these spots in my vision. They appear too very often. At times I have a dull headache along with this. Also, at times I see sudden burst of many spots all around me, wherever I look. How am I to interpret this? Is it serious? Justin - 2010-07-28 I have had floaters since I was young. Now 20 years later I still have them, and almost the same types of outlines.

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