The One Seoul Eye Clinic is located in Sinsa Square near Sinsa Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Our ophthalmology specialists provide care for retinal disease, glaucoma, cataract and presbyopia, vision correction (LASIK, LASEK, implantable lenses), pediatric myopia, and dry eye. We are about 307m from Exit 6 of Sinsa Station on the Sinbundang Line.
Vitreous floaters, also called 'flying flies', are symptoms where foreign substances like insects or threads appear to float in front of the eyes. One or several may be visible, and their position tends to change along with the direction of gaze. This generally occurs when cloudiness develops in the detached part during posterior vitreous detachment due to aging, and part of the light entering the eye is blocked.
Classification and Symptoms
Vitreous floaters can be classified into physiological floaters that occur due to aging and pathological floaters. Physiological floaters generally occur due to vitreous changes with increasing age. The vitreous is a transparent jelly-like substance that fills the eye, and as one ages, it becomes liquid and parts that were firmly attached may detach, which is called posterior vitreous detachment. Pathological floaters are floaters that appear as symptoms of various eye diseases. They mainly occur due to retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, etc. When the retina detaches, cloudiness in the detached part blocks part of the light entering the eye, making one feel as if there is something in the visual field.
Diagnosis Methods
Since vitreous floaters can be easily observed with the naked eye, they are symptoms that can be self-diagnosed, but there are also cases where they cannot be observed with the naked eye. Since floaters may occur as early symptoms of retinal detachment and other diseases, it is necessary to examine the peripheral retina as well.
Treatment Methods
Floaters that appear as symptoms of other diseases can be improved by treating the underlying disease, but there is no specific treatment for floaters caused simply by aging. However, if floaters are severely felt to the extent that daily life is difficult, vitrectomy may be attempted. If other diseases are discovered due to floaters, prompt treatment is required.
Laser photocoagulation performed after discovering retinal tears
The One Seoul Eye Clinic has introduced wide-angle fundus cameras to easily find abnormalities in the peripheral retina that are easy to miss, and can provide immediate treatment upon discovery, improving safety.
