Make My Floaters Disappear

Newly-acquired floaters are pretty worrisome. All of a sudden there's this blob floating past your field of vision, changing directions with your own gaze. Other floaters can look like dark meteors.

Anyone familiar with our WebMD Vision & Eye Disorder member board appreciates what folks endure when they have floaters. Floater behavior can be very unpredictable: clear as a bell in the morning, sitting behind a boulder in the afternoon.

Naturally, those fighting floaters want a cure. Does such a thing exist?

Other than time the answer is a polite "No!"

There are plenty of websites touting laser evaporation of floaters, even intraocular surgery (vitrectomy) to physically remove the troublemakers. Scrutinize those websites carefully and you will discover there are no guarantees of:

• EFFICACY: The floater will completely, permanently disappear... it won't
• EFFICIENCY: The treatment will not create new floaters... it might
• SAFETY: The treatment is free of potential complications... it ain't!

The litmus test: Insurers do not reimburse for such treatments. You'll need to bring your checkbook.

What about eyedrops to dissolve the floaters? Same story, different verse.

I'm gearing-up for some enthusiastic responses to this post. I'm not intimidated. Floaters are a natural (physiologic) consequence of aging. Most folks tolerate them and eventually ignore their presence. No, I'm not against innovative therapies, nor am I against common sense!

Related Topics: First Aid for Eye Injuries, What's Wrong with Your Eyes?

Technorati tags: floaters, eyedrops