There are many types and causes of floaters. 90% are benign however 1 in 10 floaters may be due to a worrying retinal tear, bleed or infection. It is most important to ascertain what the cause of your floaters are and treat the underlying problem.
The way I examine all floaters is to perform a thorough check of the retina and vitreous jelly to exclude any worrying cause. If floaters are benign, I will assess how severely the floaters are affecting your life ( I like to treat the patient as a whole person and not just the problem ). Then based on the number, size, position of the floaters and whether the vitreous is detached or attached, I will make a recommendation on whether it is suitable for the following:
1. Laser vitreolysis - which uses laser energy to disperse the floater
2. Surgical removal of floaters - which involves making small 0.5mm incisions to 'suck' out the floaters
To be honest, majority of floaters do not require any invasive treatment because our eyes usually adapt to them. However, it is always nice to know that there are treatment options available to those who have insufferable floaters which affect their quality of life severely. As with any treatment, there may be small risks involved and hence they should be performed under the right hands, preferably a retinal specialist with experience in such.
Hope that helps!
Dr Claudine Pang
