Vitreous floaters

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Vitreous floaters

February 2, 2006.

Hindu - Chennai,India.

Why do we sometimes see spherical or cylindrical structures moving in

front

of our eyes during normal vision?

P.A. Balakumaran

Chennai

Most of us can see squiggly floating images in our visual field.

These floaters are called vitreous floaters and are largely innocuous.

The

inside of the eye is filled with a jelly like material called vitreous.

This

jelly like substance tends to undergo liquifaction with age. This

process of

liquifaction can occur in the early teens or in the late fifties and

sixties.

When liquifaction of the vitreous occurs a few unliquified particles

remain

and move around with movement of the eye.

Though these particles are usually microscopic in size they are clearly

visible to the individual as they are very close to the retina.

These vitreous floats are more clearly visible against a clear

background,

for example, against the sky, a white wall or white paper.

Vitreous floaters may increase or decrease slightly with time. These

physiological floaters are not a sign of disease.

However, sudden appearance off multiple floaters associated with flashes

of

light or appearance of a very large number of floaters, may be a sign of

retinal disorder and should be investigated.

Dr. Arulmozhi Varman, Uma Eye Clinic, Chennai.

Source URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/seta/2006/02/02/stories/2006020200451700.htm