Floaters After Cataract Surgery: A Look at Causes And Treatments
Every year, more than a million eye surgeries are performed in the US alone.
There are a lot of reasons why you may be seeing floaters after cataract surgery.
This may be because of the clarity in vision after the cataract surgery, which may cause floaters to look clearer.
Your doctor may suggest a vitrectomy to remove the floaters, or surgery may be recommended if it is a retinal tear.
The Vitrectomy should be performed a minimum of three months after the cataract surgery.
Read on to learn more about floaters after cataract surgery.
What are floaters
Eye floaters are dark figures that float or move across the field of vision.
They may be described as specks, bubbles, hairs or spots.
They move with their eyes, so looking at them is difficult.
However, when the eyes stop moving, the floaters continue to drift across the field of vision.
Most of the time, they happen due to natural age-related eye changes.
To define what exactly they are, we must define vitreous.
Vitreous is a gel-like substance in our eyes. It helps maintain the shape of the eyes.
They also contain fibers that connect the retina’s surface to the back of the eye, the part that senses light.
The vitreous shrinks or pulls away from the retinal part when you age.
They might also clump or stick together. When this happens, shadows of the vitreous fibers are cast onto the retina.
These shadows may appear as floaters.
Why does cataract surgery cause floaters
People with cataract surgery are at a greater risk of developing floaters.
There are a few reasons why this may be the case. Some of these reasons are given below:
Preexisting floaters
It is possible that you had floaters before the surgery as well.
However, because cataract clears your vision, you may see the earlier floaters more clearly after the surgery.
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)
In PVD, the vitreous shrinks and pulls away from the retina. This is a natural process and can lead to floaters.
In cataract surgery, the eye is modified to insert a new lens. The surgery may cause the vitreous to shift, which may cause PVD.
Some other factors that may contribute to its development include:
- Complications during the surgery
- Surgical technique
- Pre Existing eye conditions, including severe nearsightedness
Retinal detachment or tear
PVD can tear the retina in some rare cases.
If vitreous fibers continue to stretch the retina during or after the surgery, the PVD can detach the retina.
This happens in rare cases.
The force on the retina can lead to a tear.
Both these conditions can lead to vision loss in the affected eye. Floaters can be a symptom of retinal detachment.
Other causes of floaters after cataract surgery
Apart from the causes mentioned above, some other causes of eye floaters include:
- Eye injury
- Eye infections
- Uveitis, or an inflammation of the uvea
- Bleeding inside the eye
Signs of severe post-surgical side effects
Floaters indicate a potentially severe condition after cataract surgery, such as a retinal detachment or tear.
Other symptoms of this condition include:
- A gray curtain blocking a part of the field of vision
- Shadow in the peripheral or side vision
- Seeing sudden flashes of light
Other signs of severe surgical side effects after cataract surgery include:
- Any vision loss
- Very red eyes
- Eye pain that may not go away even after taking medication
Treatment of floaters after cataract surgery
The treatment of the floaters caused after cataract surgery depends on its cause.
The doctor might use a dilated eye exam to find out what may be causing the floaters.
If the floaters, however, severely impact the ability to see, the doctor may suggest a vitrectomy. In these procedures, the vitreous from the eye is replaced with saline.
Small retinal detachments can be repaired using a freezing probe or laser.
For large tears, however, surgery needs to be done.
Also Read: Natural remedies along with treatment help to reduce floaters faster. To learn about them, read our article, “Reducing Eye Floaters Naturally: Tips and Tricks“.
The final outlook for people with floaters
It may take weeks or months for floaters to go away. In other cases, the person learns to adapt to them and doesn’t notice it as much.
People with severe floaters whose vision is impacted due to floaters may pursue vitrectomy.
However, this procedure has its risks and side effects. So it would be best if you discussed it with a doctor first.
Retinal detachments or tears may lead to permanent vision loss.
However, treatment with surgery or procedure works well, given that the condition is detected and addressed early on.
Takeaway
There is no need to worry if you have eye floaters.
You need to consult your doctor if you see floaters after cataract surgery.
Depending on the cause of floaters, the doctor might suggest different treatments.
Whatever the treatment is, you need not worry and follow the process laid out by the doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes floaters after cataract surgery?
Posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD, is when the vitreous layer pulls away from the retina. It is a natural process and can lead to the formation of floaters.
How long do eye floaters last after cataract surgery?
Typical floaters may take anywhere from a few months to a few years to clear. After cataract surgery, patients may also complain of floaters that become visible a day after the surgery and last a few months.
Should I worry about floaters after cataract surgery?
Although floaters may be expected after cataract surgery, you should recognize floaters and approach your doctor if you begin seeing too many floaters.
How do you get rid of floaters after cataract surgery?
If floaters affect too much of your daily life, the doctor may suggest a Vitrectomy procedure. It is a surgical procedure that helps clear up the floaters from your eyes.
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