Will people with Floaters (eye disease) go blind one day?

Hi

I have been diagnosed with floaters, an eye condition that causes the sufferer to see floaters. Someone with very severe cases of floaters will need to be operated immediately to prevent blindness. Fortunately, the doctor told me that mine is normal floaters and is not that severe.

However, as people with normal floaters grow older, won't their floaters get worse (since floaters is an eye disease commonly associated with older people) ?

So, my question is, are people with floaters very likely to go blind in the future? I've asked this question to my doctor, but he just told me mine is normal floaters, but he said if I begin to notice certain symptoms, i should see a doctor asap.

I'd appreciate any input from experts or anyone with experience on this disease.

Thanks

Alternate names: Light Flashes, Spots in front of eyes, Vitreous Opacities, ,Posterior Vitreous Detachments (PVD).or Floaters.

Normal floaters are not dangerous and are caused by tiny specks of tissue inside the vitreous. When light hits these pieces of tissue, it creates shadows on the retina that appear to float across your field of vision.


The vitreous space is located posteriorly between the lens of the eye and the retina. It is filled with a material called vitreous which is similar to clear Jell-O. As we age, the normal jelly-like consistency of the vitreous begins to liquefy. The vitreous may contract and pull away from its natural attachments on the inside surface of the eye. When it pulls free, it is often accompanied by light flashes and the appearance of a new black spot or floater. This is not dangerous,


Patients whose floaters are due to bleeding from the abnormal growth of blood vessels can suffer one or more hemorrhages inside the eye that may severely affect vision. Furthermore, abnormal blood vessel growth often leads to scar tissue that tends to shrink. This shrinkage can cause wrinkling, dragging, distortion, detachment and/or tearing of the retina. Minor surgical procedures usually can prevent these problems if diagnosed early. If these problems become advanced, major eye surgery may be needed to prevent blindness. However, as with retinal tears, surgery often is unable to completely reverse the damage caused by scar tissue.


There are no medications available that are effective in treating most floaters. Patients with floaters due to inflammatory eye diseases may be helped by medicines to treat the inflammation; however, the floaters may remain after the treatment. Although floaters can be bothersome, most people learn to ignore them.





Treatment is not needed or helpful if the retina is free of bleeding, tears and weak spots. Treatment is needed if a tear is found in the retina. This is most commonly repaired with a special argon laser by an eye doctor. In some cases, surgery may be needed to reattach the retina.


For regular floaters and flashes of light, no treatment is given and symptoms gradually lessen with time. Years later, people may still notice their floaters when tired or reading for long periods of time. After laser treatment or surgery, at least one or two follow up eye exams are done. After that, no further treatment may be needed.


Symptoms that may indicate a more serious problem

Sudden decrease of vision along with flashes and floaters

Veil or curtain that obstructs part or all of the vision

Sudden increase in the number of floaters; esp if you have had small floaters for years.


This new group of floaters would suddenly appear in only one eye. . This would clearly indicate retinal tears; vitreous hemorrhage and /or retinal detachment.The eye exam will be done with the pupils dilated. Immediate surgery is needed to prevent blindness


So to answer your question: No, floaters will not cause total blindness if they don't develop into dangerous problems that would threaten your cental vision. You should only consider surgery if those floaters aside from being a nuisance; do obscure your vision or your vision is diminished because of retinal tear or bleeding or retinal detachment. Just remember that this surgery might also cause scar tissue.

Your doctor has already answered your question as well as anyone can. Nobody can truly predict whether a certain symptom will get worse, but yours is not expected to become worse. If you notice anything different at any time, you'd have to go back and get it re-evaluated. At this time it's not considered to be a problem.

I've had floaters all my life, but I never thought they were harmful. It is normal to have a certain amount of marine life on your eyeball. Mother nature's got to put all her creatures somewhere.

Floaters are a normal part of aging. I've had them since I was 17, and I am now in my late fifties. They do tend to increase as we age. Just continue to moitor them and if there are drastic changes, see your doctor.

Floaters are drusens. I have drusens of the optic nerve and I am legally blind. Normal floaters can not turn into my condition. Just think you are lucky. You get to see things that nobody else does.