The Healthy Geezer is a new column. It
is devoted to the health questions of “geezers,” all of us lovable
and quirky seniors who are wondering what’s going on with these bodies of
ours. It is written by me, Fred Cicetti, a
first-class geezer over 60 who’s been writing about health issues for
more years than I want to talk about. The column is in a question-and-answer
format. If you want to ask a question, just write me at fredcicetti@gmail.com
Okay, here’s the first question:
Q. I’ve been noticing this thing in my eye. At first I
thought it was an eyelash. Then I realized the thing was actually
“IN” my eye. One of my friends told me it’s a
“floater,” and not to worry. What exactly is a
“floater” and should I see a doctor?
A. To allay any fears you may have, I should tell you that
floaters are usually nothing to worry about. I have them myself. More than
seven in 10 people experience floaters, now for some biology.
The lens in the front of your eye
focuses light on the retina in the back of your eye. The eye lens is similar to
one found in a camera, and the retina is like film. The space between the lens
and retina is filled with the vitreous, a clear gel that helps to maintain the
shape of the eye.
Floaters occur when the vitreous slowly
shrinks over time. As the vitreous changes, it becomes stringy, and the strands
can cast shadows on the retina. These strands are the floaters. They can look
like specks, filaments, rings, dots, cobwebs or other shapes. Floaters are the
most vivid when you are looking at the sky or a white surface such as a
ceiling. They move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look
at them directly.
In most cases, floaters are just
annoying. When you discover them, they are very distracting. But, in time, they
usually settle below the line of sight. Most people who have visible floaters
gradually develop the ability to make them disappear by ignoring them.
When people reach middle age, the
vitreous gel may pull away from the retina, causing what’s called
posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of floaters, and it is more
likely in people who are diabetics, nearsighted, had eye surgery or suffered
inflammation inside the eye.
These vitreous detachments are often
accompanied by light flashes. The flashes can be a warning sign of a detached
retina. Flashes are also caused by head trauma that makes you “see
stars.” Sometimes light flashes appear to be little lightning bolts or
waves. This type of flash is usually caused by a blood-vessel spasm in the
brain, which is called a migraine. These flashes can happen without a headache
and they are called an ophthalmic migraine.
If your floaters are just bothersome, eye doctors will tell you to ignore them.
In rare cases, a bunch of floaters can hamper sight. Then a vitrectomy may be necessary. A vitrectomy
is a surgical procedure that removes the vitreous gel with its floaters. A salt
solution replaces the vitreous. The vitreous is mostly water, so patients who
undergo the procedure don’t notice a difference. However, this is a risky
procedure, so most eye surgeons won’t recommend it unless the floaters
are a major impediment.
Many new floaters can sometimes appear suddenly. When this happens, it usually
is not sight-threatening and requires no treatment. However, a sudden increase
in floaters could mean that a part of the retina has pulled away from its normal
position at the back wall of the eye. A detached retina is a serious condition
and demands emergency treatment to prevent permanent impairment or even
blindness.
What should you do when you notice your
first floater? It’s a good time to get that eye examination you’ve
been putting off.
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Rights Reserved © 2007 by Fred Cicetti