| The vitreous humor is a clear gel-like substance | | | | gel in the vitreous body is not. Therefore, if debris |
| that is composed mostly of water and gives the | | | | from these tiny breaks in the retina get into the |
| eye its shape and form. | | | | vitreous humor, these floaters will remain there. |
| It fills the space between the lens and the retina | | | | This debris or tiny specks of tissue are called |
| (80% of the volume of the eyeball) which lines | | | | vitreous floaters. They may look like dots, dust, |
| the back of the eye and helps to keep the retina | | | | cob webs or strings in your vision. You are |
| in place by pressing it against the choroid, a layer | | | | actually seeing the shadow of this debris as light is |
| of the retina made up of blood vessels. | | | | cast onto your retina. |
| There are millions of fine fibers in the vitreous. | | | | They can be annoying and interfere with your |
| These fibers attach to the surface of the retina. | | | | reading. However, most ophthalmologists consider |
| What Causes Floaters? | | | | them harmless and a normal sign of aging. |
| As we age, the vitreous shrinks and it becomes | | | | Over 50% of people over the age of 70 |
| more liquid. | | | | experience floaters. |
| As it shrinks, these fibers that are attached to | | | | Treatment for Floaters |
| the retina pull away from the retinal surface and | | | | Most ophthalmologists consider vitreous floaters |
| separate from the retina. This can cause vitreous | | | | harmless and there is no conventional treatment |
| floaters. | | | | provided for them. In severe cases a vitrectomy |
| The aqueous humor, the fluid in the front part of | | | | is indicated. |
| the eye, is continuously replenished. However, the | | | | |