Floaters
Many of us experience floaters every day. But if you have a sudden onset of them, it could indicate a serious issue.
If you are experiencing increased floaters, we can diagnose the issue and provide the care you need to protect and maintain your vision.
Our doctors at Hines Sight in Denver, CO, treat floaters and underlying issues with the highest level of care.
Having a sudden onset of floaters, flashes, eye pain, or dark areas in your field of vision?
If so, this could be indicative of a medical emergency such as retinal detachment. Call us now and we will arrange to provide treatment as soon as possible.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are flecks of collagen that appear as black or gray spots in your vision. They might look like drifting specks, lines, cobwebs, or blobs. In some cases, large floaters can block part of your sight.
They most often appear when you stare at stark bright objects like the sky, walls, or sheets of paper. Typically, eye floaters are an annoyance that causes no pain and requires no treatment. However, it is recommended that those experiencing more floaters than usual seek an evaluation from an ophthalmologist because it can indicate very serious vision problems.
Symptoms indicating you are in need of a vision specialist also include flashes of light along with your eye floaters, darkness in your peripheral vision, blurred or darkened vision, and/or eye pain.
What Causes Floaters?
Inflammation of the Back of the Eye
Inflammation in the back of the eye releases debris into the vitreous that causes floaters. Some of the primary causes of inflammation are infection or disease.
Bleeding in the Eye
Bleeding in the vitreous can lead to blood cells in your vision that appear as floaters. Eye bleeding is caused by blood vessel blockage, diabetes, hypertension, and injury.
Natural Changes in the Eye
Vitreous liquefies, shrinks, and sags over time. This causes floaters, but isn't necessarily a cause for concern.
Retinal Tears
Retinal tear and detachment are the worst-case scenarios that floaters indicate. If this is the cause of your floaters, emergency medical intervention is crucial.
Surgery and Medication
Medications that are injected into the vitreous (such as antibiotics) can create air bubbles in your eye that cause shadow-like floaters in your vision. Additionally, certain eye surgeries can create similar bubbles that lead to floaters.
Certain Factors Increase Your Risk
of Eye Floaters
While anyone can experience eye floaters, the following are risk factors that can make them more likely:
- Being over 50 years of age
- Having nearsightedness
- Sustaining eye trauma
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Complications from cataract surgery
- Suffering from eye inflammation
Floaters Can Be Signs of Serious Conditions
Retinal Detachment or Tear
As the vitreous liquifies, it begins to pull on the retina. If the force and stress of the retinal pull is strong enough, it can cause a total tear of the retina.
When a retinal tear is not treated swiftly, it can result in complete retinal detachment from the eye and total blindness.
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. A sudden increase in floaters may be a sign of retinal detachment, so you should contact us as soon as possible.
Vitreous Detachment or Hemorrhage
The vitreous is the clear gel between the eye's lens and retina (light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). It shrinks with age. Shrinkage causes the vitreous to pull away from the retina. Vitreous detachment won't cause blindness, but can cause floaters, flashes, and dark areas in your field of vision.
Vitreous hemorrhage is bleeding in the eye. The floaters caused by a hemorrhage can be a sign of blood vessel leak, infection, or injury. This condition can lead to blindness, making prompt care essential.
Do Not Wait If Your Floaters Increase Reach Out to Our Denver, Colorado Office Today
Your floaters do not necessarily indicate serious problems, but reaching out to our Denver, Colorado, eye doctors is the best way to be certain that your vision is not in jeopardy.
At Hines Sight, we use advanced techniques and technology to screen for conditions and provide safe, effective treatments. Denver, Colorado, has trusted us with their eyes for over 35 years due to our track record of success, personalized treatment, and calming state-of-the-art facility.
Unlike many practices, we perform surgery on-site. Patients find this comforting, and it allows us to maintain exceptional safety. If you are experiencing a sudden onset of floaters, flashes, or dark areas in your field of vision, call us now:
(303) 777-3277
Patients Love Our Care In Denver, Colorado
Geneva lebron
2021
I love this place. I've been going to Hines Sight since I had my Lasix surgery 19 years ago. I saw Stanley Cushing and I was pleased with him. He made me feel comfortable and he explained everything I asked for and needed to know and he had a sense of humor too. He's a nice and kind and friendly I would recommend him and say your in good hands ..
View on GoogleGeorge Waggoner
2019
My cataracts were terrible and I was very scared about having surgery. I hadn't been to Hines Sight since Dr. Hines had retired, but Dr. Coco and his staff were so reassuring that I was kicking myself for waiting so long! They explained everything about the process, AND gave me options to choose from. Now I don't need glasses anymore, for the first time since 2nd grade! Thanks you Dr. Coco!
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How We Examine Your Eyes
When Floaters Cause Problems
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Dr. Justin Coco or Dr. Stanley Cushing will check for floaters via a dilated eye exam. The simple process involves the use of eye drops to widen your pupils.
After dilation, your doctor will use sophisticated technology to evaluate your eyes for floaters and signs of other eye issues. They may apply pressure to your eyelids to check for retinal tears.
How We Treat Non-Emergency Cases
In most cases, occasional floaters and flashes do not require any medical intervention. Rolling your eyes left, right, up, and down will shift the fluid in your eyes and might shift the floaters so they do not obstruct your vision.
However, when floaters start to become a problem, but do not indicate a more serious ocular health issue, these are two primary treatments we may recommend:
Laser Treatment
Laser removal can break up your floaters, which makes them less of an obstruction and can clear up your vision.
Vitrectomy
Vitrectomy is a surgery that removes the vitreous and replaces it with a sterile solution.
We Have the Treatment You Need
During your in-person consultation at our South Denver office, you can undergo a total eye evaluation so we can determine if you are experiencing an emergency or simply need a treatment to reduce the number of floaters affecting your vision. We can get to the root of your problem and initiate the right care to stop more serious vision issues from occurring. Write to us or reach out over the phone to request a consultation with our team of eye experts.
(303) 777-3277
Our Team Receives Top Marks In Denver, Colorado
Ron Green
2019
I went in for a simple eye exam and got contacts that were great. But I was also given information of PRK surgery that would fix my vision long term. I felt very confident with Dr. Coco and decided to go ahead with prk surgery. Let me tell you, IT WAS THE BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE. I wont have to mess with putting contacts in my eyes every morning or wearing glasses. THIS IS AMAZING. Thank you very much Dr. Coco, Dr. Cushing and the entire Hines Sight staff, YOU GUYS ROCK!~
View on GoogleChristine Curtis
2012
I have had many friends that have had lasik from different places and most of them have had to have their eyes re-done. I was skeptical because of their results, but a couple of different people recommended me to Hines Sight because they loved their experience so much. From the first phone call I knew this was the place that I would have lasik. The staff is wonderful and very helpfull. They went out of their way to make sure my experience was superior! Dr Hines was very patient and wonderful in surgery.
View on GoogleMeet Your Doctors Serving Denver With Skill and Compassion
The serious issues that floaters may indicate, such as retinal tears or total detachment of the retina, need prompt, qualified treatment. When facing the risk of vision loss, you want highly skilled and qualified doctors you can trust.
When facing the risk of vision loss, you want highly skilled,
highly qualified doctors you can trust.
We Make the Care You Need Affordable Don't Let Cost Stand in the Way of the Care You Need
If you have insurance, it will likely cover at least a portion of the cost of treatments your floaters require. However, if you are uninsured or have out-of-pocket costs, our practice is glad to help make these expenses manageable.
We accept financing through CareCredit®. Patients can use this medical credit card to cover their treatment costs, then pay off their balance with manageable payment plans that range from six to 60 months.
