Floaters and Their Treatment by Vitrectomy
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are small, shadowy shapes that drift across your field of vision. They may look like dark spots, strings, or cobwebs. Floaters are caused by tiny clumps or strands forming in the vitreous — the clear gel that fills the inside of the eye.
When light passes through the eye, these clumps cast shadows on the retina, creating the perception of moving spots.
Floaters are very common, especially after the age of 50. They are often harmless, but in some people they become dense enough to disturb daily life — making reading, driving, or computer work uncomfortable.
When Do Floaters Require Treatment?
Most floaters do not need treatment and tend to become less noticeable with time. However, vitrectomy (surgical removal of the vitreous gel) can be considered in the following cases:
- Floaters significantly reduce vision quality or contrast sensitivity
- They cause continuous eye strain or discomfort
- Patients feel persistent “curtains” or dark spots that interfere with daily activities
- Floaters result from previous bleeding, inflammation, or eye surgery
Before deciding on surgery, a complete retinal examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are necessary to exclude retinal tears, detachment, or macular diseases.
Vitrectomy for Floaters
Vitrectomy is a microsurgical procedure performed under local or general anesthesia. Using very fine instruments, the surgeon removes the vitreous gel containing floaters and replaces it with a clear saline solution. Modern sutureless (25- or 27-gauge) vitrectomy techniques allow this to be done through very small incisions.
Advantages of Modern Vitrectomy
- Quick recovery, often within a few days
- Minimal postoperative discomfort
- Precise removal of opacities that cause floaters
- High success rate and improvement in visual clarity
In most patients, floaters disappear completely and vision becomes clearer shortly after surgery.
Possible Risks and Complications
Although vitrectomy is generally safe in experienced hands, as with any surgical procedure, it carries some risks, including:
- Cataract progression (especially in patients over 50)
- Retinal tears or detachment
- Infection or bleeding inside the eye (rare)
- Temporary increase in intraocular pressure
Your ophthalmologist will discuss these risks and decide if the potential benefits outweigh them in your specific case.
Alternative and Non-Surgical Options
In mild cases, observation may be sufficient. Some centers offer YAG laser vitreolysis, which aims to break large floaters into smaller pieces. However, its effectiveness and safety vary, and vitrectomy remains the gold standard for patients severely affected by floaters.
Life After Vitrectomy
Most patients notice clearer vision within days. Regular follow-up examinations are important to monitor healing and retinal health. Eye drops are prescribed for a few weeks, and normal activities usually resume quickly.
Summary
Vitrectomy provides a safe and effective solution for patients whose floaters seriously impair quality of vision. Thanks to modern, minimally invasive surgical techniques, the procedure can restore visual comfort with high patient satisfaction.
At Kaşkaloğlu Eye Hospital
At Kaşkaloğlu Eye Hospital, our vitreoretinal surgeons perform modern, micro-incision vitrectomy for floater removal with advanced equipment and high safety standards.
Each patient is evaluated individually to determine whether surgery is the right choice.
Keywords: floaters, eye floaters, vitreous opacities, vitrectomy for floaters, floater removal, micro-vitrectomy, Kaşkaloğlu Eye Hospital, Izmir ophthalmologist
Meta title: Vitrectomy for Eye Floaters – Effective Treatment in Izmir | Kaşkaloğlu Eye Hospital
Meta description: Learn about the causes of eye floaters and their treatment by vitrectomy. At Kaşkaloğlu Eye Hospital in Izmir, modern micro-incision vitrectomy offers safe and effective relief from disturbing floaters.
Would you like me to now create a Turkish version of this article for kaskaloglu.com (and a slightly modified English one for eyetravelturkey.com)?
