If you find some strange shapes that are floating on your vision now and then, those are called ‘eye floaters’ or ‘flying flies’ or ‘muscae volitantes’. Medically, it is known as ‘myodesopsia’ – is an ocular condition where there are noticeable and uncomfortable floating small particles that seemed to be in front of the eye. These particles can be in the form of white-colored dots, thread-like particles or similar to cobwebs, and or spots.
Causes of Myodesopia
Myodesopsia or eye floaters are small gelatinous particles that were formed in the vitreous humour. The vitreous humour is a clear and transparent liquid that fills the gap between the retina and the lens. The eye floaters can be seen floating upward, but because of the reversal of retinal images, it moves opposite to what your actual vision is.
But why do you get ‘eye floaters?’
The vitreous humour that contains water, collagen, and hyaluronic acid naturally collapses and starts to liquefy as you start to age. And when it happens, the residues starts to scatter throughout the vitreous, where most of them will start to clump together, and casting their shadow on the retina, whenever the light tries to pass through it.
However, there are also cases that eye floaters are common to people:
- Who have myopia
- Had undergone eye surgery for cataracts
- Suffered or suffering from inflammation of the eyes (vitreous humor or retina)
- Suffering from diabetic retinopathy
- Suffered from injuries that had caused vitreous detachments or hemorrhage.
The following are the types of residues that can cast shadow to the retina:
- Fragments from the retina
- Fine fragments from collagen fibrils
- Cellular matter
- Red blood cells or white blood cells
- Calcium material
- Other solid matter from the vitreous humour
Are there risks of having Myodesopsia?
In most cases, myodesopsia is harmless and considered benign by several optometrists. In fact, there are people who have this eye condition who were able to live with it; it is also found out that there are cases of myodesopsia would eventually disappear on its own.
However, if a person with myodesopsia is experiencing the following symptoms, it is recommended to undergo ‘tratamiento moscas volantes’ or ‘flying flies treatment’:
- The ‘eye floaters’ are starting to increase in numbers that it starts to affect the vision.
- The ‘eye floaters’ is accompanied by bright flashes.
- There is vision loss.
- The person with myodesopsia is starting to feel pain in the eye.
There are several treatment options but again, it is only provided when one’s vision is jeopardized. These treatments include laser vitreolysis and vitrectomy.
- Laser Vitreolysis uses YAG surgical laser in removing the residues.
- Vitrectomy is an eye surgical procedure of removing the vitreous humour and replacing it with saline solution.
Myodesopsia is puzzling for most people; but, if you are currently experiencing such eye condition, where there are uncomfortable eye floaters that are impairing you visually, you should visit an optometrist to avoid other visual problems.
Also, for additional details on this, try to visit Brill Pharma’s website.
Discussion
Leave a reply