Floaters can be a natural side effect of the aging process. There are certain risk factors that increase the chances of a patient developing floaters, and one of these is cataract surgery. However, cataracts do not cause floaters. In fact, cataracts and floaters affect two completely different areas of the eye.
A cortical cataract begins as whitish, wedge-shaped opacities or streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex. As it slowly progresses, the streaks extend to the center and interfere with light passing through the center of the lens. Cataracts that affect the back of the lens (posterior subcapsular cataracts).
Floaters are dark shapes in your vision, looking like spots, threads, squiggly lines, or cobwebs.
If you notice a sudden increase in eye floaters, contact an eye specialist immediately — especially if you also see light flashes or lose your vision. These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.
Floaters usually happen because of normal changes in your eyes. As you age, tiny strands of your vitreous (the gel-like fluid that fills your eye) stick together and cast shadows on your retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye). Those shadows appear as floaters.
The floaters often subside starting within a few days, and all but a few settle to the bottom of the eye and disappear within a 6-month period. Some residual floaters can be seen for life.
They aren't anything to worry about unless they become excessive and/or interfere with your vision. It might be reassuring to know that floaters are always there; you just usually don't notice them in your day-to-day life.
The symptom of a sudden onset single floater with or without flashing lights in one eye is a common presentation of posterior vitreous detachment. There is a small risk of retinal breaks associated with this condition.
Those black spots, squiggly lines and drifting cobweb shapes in your visual field are called floaters. Some patients are concerned about these moving specks, but they're usually harmless. Still, a big increase in the number of floaters could indicate a more serious problem.
Some floaters look like small dots, while others appear like threads or little hairy clumps. In most cases, floaters are normal and harmless. However, a sudden increase in their number may indicate damage to particular internal structures of the eye. This requires immediate professional attention.
No, cataract surgery will not get rid of floaters in the eye. Removal of the cataract may make floaters more noticeable. When do floaters go away after cataract surgery? In some cases, floaters disappear on their own over the course of weeks or months.
Floaters look like cobwebs, squiggly lines, or floating bugs.
In the early stages, you might begin to have blurred or cloudy vision or even double vision. Most people first notice vision problems at night. They have poor night vision and may see a glare or halo around lights and headlights while driving.
What is the average age for cataract surgery? While many people are diagnosed with cataracts in their 40s, the average age for cataract surgery is 65. That said, there is no one age that's better for cataract surgery than others. In fact, the average age for cataract surgery has been decreasing over the past few years.
People who need glasses to see distance (nearsighted) are more likely to get floaters. They're also more common in adults older than age 50, as well as in people who've experienced eye trauma or inflammation inside the eye. The presence of a few long-standing floaters usually isn't a cause for concern.
A “shower” of floaters can also occur when there is bleeding or inflammation at the back of the eye from trauma, infection, or a disease such as diabetes. “If you see a noticeable increase in floaters, the best thing you can do is get into the ophthalmologist's office right away,” Dr. Borkar advised.
If you notice a sudden increase in the number of specks or floaters in your line of sight, you need to see a provider to have your eyes checked. While posterior vitreous detachments can happen without causing lasting problems and may even go unnoticed, they can also happen suddenly and be very serious.
If floaters appear abruptly and in a great number, sometimes in a manner described as a spider web that blocks part of the visual field, and especially if they are combined with flashing lights, we should go to emergencies in order to rule out a retinal tear and the subsequent risk of suffering a retinal detachment.
If you already have eye floaters, then smoking can worsen them. If you don't already have them, then this habit is a likely cause. Similarly, excessive drinking of alcohol can cause premature aging to the vitreous humour, which can trigger the development of floaters.
Most floaters do go away without treatment, but some are persistent. When the vitreous — the gel-like substance that fills the space between the retina and lens of the eye — becomes more liquid, eye floaters can appear.
For many, floaters may begin showing up between 50 and 70 years old. "Vitreous degeneration is accelerated by nearsightedness (myopia), inflammation, trauma and rare inherited abnormalities," adds Dr. Worrall. "Highly nearsighted patients tend to have more floaters than average."
For most people, eye floaters start to show up between the ages of 50 and 70. However, you can see the occasional floater any time before then. If you're younger than 50 and you see persistent floaters, check with your eye care provider. This could be a sign of a more serious eye condition.
A sudden, very noticeable increase in eye floaters may also be a sign of other serious issues, such as retinal detachment, which could lead to blindness if a person does not receive prompt medical treatment. Anyone who notices a sudden increase in eye floaters should visit an eye doctor for a full diagnosis.