Floaters Specialist
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Cirino Eye Center
Anthony J Cirino, D.O.
Ophthalmology & Cataract Surgeon & Board-Certified Comprehensive Ophthalmologist located in Brunswick, OH
Floaters are the dark shapes you see floating across your eye from time-to-time. Though not always a serious concern, floaters that appear suddenly and don’t go away may be a sign of a serious eye condition. At Cirino Eye Center in Brunswick, Ohio, Anthony Cirino, DO, performs comprehensive eye exams to determine the underlying cause of your floaters and provides treatments to improve eye health and prevent vision changes. Call the office or book online today.
Floaters Q & A
What are floaters?
Floaters are small, dark dots or squiggly shapes you see floating across your vision from time to time. The microscopic fibers in the vitreous (fluid) may clump together and create shadows that appear as dark spots or squiggly lines.
Floaters are more common as you get older. People with diabetes are also at greater risk of developing floaters from a serious eye condition.
What causes floaters?
Floaters are common and usually develop from various changes that occur in your eyes as you get older. However, floaters may also develop from various eye conditions, such as:
- Eye infection
- Eye injury
- Eye inflammation (uveitis)
- Retinal tear
- Vitreous detachment (vitreous pulls away from the retina)
- Retinal detachment
Certain eye medications may also cause floaters, as well as eye surgeries.
When should I be concerned about floaters?
Though floaters are common, you should schedule an appointment at Cirino Eye Center if you see a lot more floaters than usual and they don’t go away over time. You should also get help for your floaters if they appear with flashes of light.
An increase in floaters along with flashes of light may be signs of vitreous detachment or a retinal tear; both of these require emergency eye care.
What happens during an exam for floaters?
When you visit Cirino Eye Center with concerns about floaters, Dr. Cirino conducts a comprehensive eye exam to determine the underlying cause.
During your exam, he reviews your symptoms, medical history, and vision changes. He then performs a number of tests to evaluate vision and eye health.
To confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis, he performs a dilated pupil exam to evaluate your iris, cornea, lens, retina, and optic nerve.
How are floaters treated?
Dr. Cirino creates individualized treatment plans to manage your floaters. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. In many cases, no special treatment is necessary. However, Dr. Cirino may schedule routine eye exams to monitor eye health and vision.
However, if your floaters interfere with your vision or quality of life, Dr. Cirino may consider surgery to remove the vitreous fluid and replace it with a special solution. He may also perform a laser procedure that disrupts the floaters, making them less visible.
Floaters are a normal occurrence, but they may be signs of a serious eye condition and can benefit from a comprehensive eye exam. Call Cirino Eye Center or book an appointment online today to schedule your evaluation.
