Eye Floaters Treatment Options: A Complete Guide
Eye floaters are transparent, stringy masses in the eyes.
They can disrupt your vision and, in some cases, may signify something serious.
Although they may or may not be a sign of something serious, it is vital to get them treated if they increase.
15% of people aged 20-29 years will have eye floaters, according to the Journal of Personalized Medicine.
In this article, let us explore some options for eye floaters treatment to reduce them.
Natural remedies for eye floaters
There are many natural remedies for eye floaters that you can try.
Some of them are as given below:
Hydration
Keeping yourself hydrated will help prevent eye floaters in two ways.
As the Vitreous humor in your eyes is 98% water, constantly dehydrating can result in the liquid losing its shape and jelly-like texture.
As it loses shape, it may also shrink. And proteins in this liquid, which mostly remain dissolved, may solidify and result in you seeing eye floaters.
Another reason it may help reduce eye floaters is because water flushes out toxins from the body and helps detoxify it. It eliminates toxins that may lead to eye floaters.
Eye rest
Eye fatigue is a leading cause of eye floaters.
Therefore, you should make sure to give your eyes enough rest. Sleep at least 6 hours every night to avoid wearing out your eyes.
It also gives your eyes enough time to rest and heal.
Eye exercises
You can also practice eye exercises, which are as given below. These eye exercises will help lessen the strain on your eyes and give them the rest they need.
Focus change
This exercise challenges your eye focus. Make sure to be seated before starting. Follow these steps to do this exercise:
- Start by holding your pointer finger a few inches away from your eyes.
- Focus on your finger.
- For a moment, look away and focus on something else at a distance.
- Now, focussing on the outstretched finger, bring it slowly back towards yourself.
- Look away, and focus on something else again at a distance.
- Repeat these steps three times.
Figure eight
This is an exercise that requires you to be seated as well.
- Focus on a point 10 feet away from you on the ground.
- Trace an imaginary figure in the shape of eight with your eyes, starting from that point.
- Keep tracing this figure for around 30 seconds, then change the direction.
Near and far focus
It is another focus exercise that needs to be done from a seating position.
- You should hold your thumb around 10 inches away from your eyes and focus on it for 10 seconds.
- On an object about 10 to 20 feet away, focus on it for 15 seconds.
- Return your focus to your thumb.
- Repeat this five times.
Nutrition
There are no vitamins or nutrients that help with eye floater reduction especially.
However, a compound called Bromelain in pineapple may help in eye floaters reduction, as per a study in Taiwan. But, more studies are still needed to prove its efficacy.
Even if there are no nutrients as such that help with floaters, some foods help improve eye health.
Some of these nutrients and vitamins are given below:
Pineapple
According to researchers, pineapples have a compound called Bromelain that helps eye floater reduction.
Researchers explored the link between eye floaters and pineapple consumption in a study.
The study researchers divided the participants with eye floaters into two groups. The first group, having 190 participants, had two pieces of pineapple after lunch daily for three months.
One hundred ninety-eight participants with floaters were randomly assigned to three groups in the second group. While Group 1 ate one pineapple piece daily, Group 2 had two pieces, and group 3 had three parts of pineapple.
After the three months were over, everyone in the study got their eyes examined. A substantial number of participants had decreased eye floaters at the end of the study.
Thus, pineapple may help some people with eye floaters.
Although the above-given study proves the use of pineapples to reduce eye floaters, note that more research needs to be done on this topic.
Omega 3 fatty acids
Eye floaters might be a result of dry eyes.
Omega 3 fatty acids are helpful for people with dry eyes.
Omega 3 fatty acids also help with diabetic retinopathy, as demonstrated in a study.
Nuts, flax seeds, vegetable oils, and green leafy vegetables are all sources with high amounts of Omega 3 acids.
Vitamins
Though there are no vitamins specific to the treatment of eye floaters, consuming them can help your eyesight and eye health.
Here is a list of a few essential vitamins below:
- Vitamin C
Not only does it decrease the risk of you developing a cataract, but it also helps in retaining sight when taken along with other essential nutrients.
Increasing your intake of tomatoes, oranges, green bell peppers, and grapefruit would be best to avoid Vitamin C deficiency.
- Vitamin E
According to the American Optometric Association, Vitamin E protects the eye from free radicals. These free radicals are dangerous, as they break down healthy tissues.
You must include vegetable oils, wheat germ, and sweet potatoes in the diet to ensure your eyes remain healthy.
- Vitamin A
The deficiency of this nutrient may result in dryness of the eye, which may cause eye floaters.
You can obtain Vitamin A from dairy products and egg yolks.
You can also get it from antioxidant plant compounds called provitamin A carotenoids.
The most efficient is beta-carotene, which is high in spinach, carrots, and kale.
Zinc
It is a significant component of the eye. It also forms many antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase.
It also forms visual pigments in the eye, so its deficiency can lead to night blindness.
The Zinc level in your body can be increased by consuming more sources of Zinc, such as pumpkin seeds, peanuts, meat, and oysters.
Surgery
Vitrectomy may help treat eye floaters.
The eye surgeon, specializing in vitreous and retina surgery, will remove the vitreous through a small incision in this process.
They will then replace it with a solution that will help the eye maintain its shape.
Note that this surgery does not necessarily ensure that all the eye floaters are removed. New floaters may also develop after the surgery.
The risk of infection, retinal tears, and bleeding is high.
Laser treatment for eye floaters
Laser treatment should be considered one of the last options for eye floaters treatment.
It works by breaking up the vitreous clumps.
Vitreous is the liquid present behind the eye that gives the eye its shape.
When the vitreous present behind the eye solidifies and forms clumps, it leads to shadows on the retina that are seen as eye floaters.
Takeaway
You can pursue many treatment courses to keep your eyes free of floaters.
There are both natural methods and methods involving Ophthalmologists to aid you.
You should start eye floaters treatment with natural methods, and then if it does not help, approach an eye doctor.
Some of these natural methods you can use include- keeping yourself hydrated, taking enough nutrients crucial for eye functioning, and giving your eyes enough rest.
If these methods don’t work, you always have the option to get laser treatment or surgery.
Frequently asked questions
How to get rid of eye floaters?
You can use natural methods and methods involving approaching Ophthalmologists to help with eye floater reduction. Some of these methods include drinking enough water, getting enough rest, and not straining your eyes.
Can eye floaters be treated?
Yes, eye floaters can be treated. You can choose between laser therapy and Vitrectomy if it is severe or wait for it to go away on its own if it’s less.
How long do eye floaters last?
If the floaters in your eyes have suddenly increased, they will usually decrease in between one to six months. Your eyes will also learn to adapt to the floaters naturally.
What causes black eye floaters?
The black eye floaters are the shadows of the clumped collagen fibers in the vitreous. They are usually harmless.
Is it safe to have eye floaters removed from your eyes?
It is a risky process to have your eye floaters removed by Vitrectomy. Doctors recommend first trying the natural methods before you move on to Vitrectomy. An experienced eye surgeon should perform it.
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