Eye Floaters Removal with Laser Vitreolysis in Fredericksburg
What are Eye Floaters?
Floaters are cobweb or cloudy-like shadows drifting in and out of the visual field. Everyone experiences floaters on occasion but for some people, they are a frequent and unwelcome occurrence. It is not clear why some people are more affected than others. But it is clear that the effect floaters have on a person’s quality of life can be significant.
Frequent or prominent floaters can interfere with someone’s vision and ability to function; floaters may make it hard to look at a computer screen for long hours or engage in leisure activities. When floaters become debilitating, treatment is warranted.
For many years, doctors were limited in the ways they could treat floaters. Surgery helped but carried some serious risks. Recently, practices like Access Eye have embraced laser vitreolysis as a minimally invasive solution that diminishes concerns about the risks of treatment. Laser vitreolysis uses laser (light) energy to vaporize floaters. This eliminates the need for more invasive treatment and improves quality of life.
What Happens During Laser Vitreolysis?
Floaters are caused by changes in the vitreous humor, the clear, gel-like substance filling the center of the eye. With age, the gel gradually liquifies and the center of the vitreous becomes watery. Tiny particles of vitreous can clump together, casting shadows on the retina. The shadows appear as though they are floating in and out of the field of vision.
Laser vitreolysis uses short bursts of light to evaporate the vitreous strands into small gas bubbles, which dissolve after treatment. A special magnifying lens is used to visualize and target the floaters.
Laser vitreolysis is performed on an outpatient basis at one of our office locations. Topical anesthesia is used for complete patient comfort. The procedure takes between 10 and 30 minutes and there is no recovery downtime or need for special medication or eye drops. Several treatments may be needed to achieve the desired results.
Is Laser Vitreolysis Right for You?
If frequent or prominent floaters are compromising your visual clarity or holding you back from functioning normally, Access Eye can help. Our team can evaluate your floaters and determine whether laser vitreolysis is appropriate for your case. We can also determine whether something more serious, like retinal detachment, may be to blame for your floaters; if so, we can advise you as to the most suitable course of action.
