Definition
Sometimes, when looking at a bright surface, various structures appear in the eyes in the form of:
- thin threads;
- circles;
- pinpoint and granular accumulations of fibers.
Such small particles prevent the eye from reflecting light and cast small shadows on the retina, whose main function is to perceive color.
This phenomenon is called flying or floating floaters. They occur regardless of age; the causes are determined rather by lifestyle and the individual characteristics of the body.
Black and white floaters are located in the vitreous body, which makes up ⅔ of the volume of the eyeball. The jelly-like liquid inside consists of water and hyaluronic acids, proteins and collagens, performing several functions:
- protection of the eye shell from external irritants;
- maintaining visual acuity;
- ensuring proper functioning of the eye (light refraction, shape support).
This fluid is not replenished and remains for life. However, the prognosis for treatment is favorable.
Treatment methods
Most people, if they are only bothered by floaters, without deterioration in the quality of vision, pain, or changes in blood pressure, do not consider that “floaters” before their eyes require treatment. They would like to eliminate the obstacle, but are not ready to undergo surgery to do this, while it is quite difficult to find another remedy that eliminates the unpleasant symptom.
Many people try to get rid of flies and spider webs using folk remedies. Before doing this, it would be wise to consult first with an ophthalmologist and then, if necessary, with another specialist. The fact is that floaters can be a symptom of a disease not related to the visual organs. For example, floaters appear during sudden jumps in blood pressure and may indicate a hypertensive crisis. In diabetes mellitus, floaters may appear before the eyes when an attack of hypoglycemia begins. Vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and thyroid dysfunction can also manifest themselves in this way.
Therefore, you first need to be examined and establish for sure that in your case the so-called floaters are a harmless phenomenon that is not associated with serious dysfunctions of the internal organs. And only then start experimenting with folk remedies if the flies bother you so much.
For information: dots, spots and stripes often go away on their own a few months after they appear. You need to understand that flies are just shadows of particles of minerals and other impurities in the glassy substance. They tend to dissolve over time. In other words, you just need to be a little patient and everything will go away on its own.
Vitamins for the eyes will not be superfluous in any case, taking into account the stress that the visual organs of a modern person regularly experience
If you don’t want to wait, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a mild remedy that promotes the absorption of microelements. As a rule, these are tablets and eye drops for topical use that stimulate metabolic processes in the structures of the eye. To prevent vision deterioration and strengthen the retina and optic nerve, it would be a good idea to drink a multivitamin complex for the eyes with lutein, zeaxanthin, antioxidants, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids.
Physiotherapy procedures that improve metabolism in the cells of the eyeball have a good effect. The following events are scheduled:
- phonophoresis;
- color pulse therapy;
- infrasonic vacuum pneumomassage.
After a course of procedures, not only bothersome floaters in the eyes disappear, but also visual acuity improves.
As for surgical treatment, this is far from the most optimal method. There are two ways to eliminate flies, dots and lightning:
- Vitreolysis - the vitreous body is treated with a laser beam of a certain length and intensity, as a result of which particles of microelements in the vitreous body are destroyed.
- Vitrectomy is the surgical removal of the vitreous along with the “spots”.
Both types of surgery have a number of contraindications and serious side effects, including complete loss of vision. Therefore, taking such a risk just to eliminate floating points is not considered advisable.
Surgery is resorted to only if, in addition to spots, there are other indications before the eyes, otherwise the risk is not worth it
What else can a doctor advise to get rid of an unpleasant symptom? Recommendations are always standard, which everyone knows about, but in most cases ignore. And yet, they really work. Try this:
- do not abuse alcohol and nicotine, so as not to have spots and stars flashing before your eyes;
- rest fully, get enough sleep;
- do not overstrain your visual organs if possible - do not sit at the computer for a long time, do not read in public transport, etc.;
- regularly perform eye exercises;
- include more fruits and vegetables in your diet, eat less fatty, fried, and salty foods.
These simple measures will help keep your vision sharp and your eyes healthy. But if, in addition to floaters, other atypical symptoms occur, then you should not delay visiting an ophthalmologist.
Reasons for the appearance of “floaters” in the eye
The reasons for age-related flickering of flies are compression of the jelly part of the vitreous body, due to which the liquid part increases. If in young people the liquid part of the vitreous substance is only 20%, then by the age of 45-50 it is already 50%. And by the age of 80-90, the liquid part of the vitreous is almost 90%.
It is these liquid particles with admixtures of minerals and other substances contained in the vitreous body (see above), floating in the jelly-like mass, that a person perceives as cobwebs, flies, spots and stars before the eyes. It is precisely because the vitreous body loses its jelly mass and fills with liquid that the retina separates or ruptures in old age.
Banal overwork, excessive stress on the eyes can cause myodesopsia even in young people whose vision is not yet impaired and the vitreous body is not subject to destruction
After the age of 55 years, detachment of the vitreous body from the internal limiting membrane of the retina is observed in no more than 6% of patients. But by the age of 65 this figure increases to 65%. If the vitreous detaches completely, the retina suffers. If the layer is partial, then when a person moves the eye, the vitreous body stretches in the direction of movement.
When the vitreous detaches completely from the retina, lightning and flashes may bother you for weeks on end. This phenomenon is considered a sign of eye aging, natural and safe. But if lightning and flashes are accompanied by the flickering of a large number of dots and flies, you should consult a doctor. This symptom usually indicates a retinal detachment or tear.
Flickering and flashes before the eyes are not a good sign, often indicating vascular spasms and an approaching migraine attack
If sparkling wavy or jagged lines appear before your eyes and do not disappear within 10–20 minutes, you may suspect vascular spasm. In these cases, after lightning, attacks of dizziness and headaches may occur. But sometimes it happens the other way around: first the head hurts, and then bright flashes appear before the eyes.
If many sparkling dots flash before your eyes, reminiscent of a scattering of gold or silver crystals, this indicates that the vitreous body contains particles of calcium (this substance glows silvery-white), phospholipids or cholesterol (they look like a golden scattering). By the way, under a microscope the human eye looks exactly the same:
The most likely cause of floaters is destruction of the vitreous humor in the eye. The vitreous body fills the eye cavity between the lens and the retina. This substance has a gelatinous transparent structure. When changes occur in its mesh structure, some fibers tend to thicken, resulting in loss of transparency and so-called liquefaction of the vitreous. In this case, the deformed fibers stick together and form bizarre figures of flies, octopuses, spiders or other other shapes.
Retinal tears or detachment can also be accompanied by the appearance of “flying floaters,” but most often with this pathology, the occurrence of “lightning flashes” in the eyes is also observed, which develop as a result of the brain’s reaction to changes in the structure of the retina. The closer the lesions are to the retina, the more pronounced the “floaters” become. All patients noted a displacement of the “floaters” when moving their gaze and their subsequent return after a fraction of a second.
Most often, “floaters” in the eye are observed in old age, but such phenomena sometimes occur in young people. The appearance of “floaters” sometimes affects people with visual impairment – myopia. They can also occur after cataract surgery.
The causes of destruction of the vitreous body can be deviations from the norm in blood pressure, spasms and fragility of blood vessels, cerebrovascular accidents, various injuries and strokes, hypoxia of various origins, and many other diseases.
The condition of the vitreous body is affected by metabolic disorders and vitamin deficiency. Bad habits also contribute to the development of destructive processes in it.
The appearance of “floaters” in the eye can occur as a result of hemophthalmos - hemorrhage in the vitreous body, damage to it by various infections, trauma or intraocular tumor.
Low lighting slightly reduces the sensation of floaters and usually does not cause any discomfort. When you concentrate your vision on any object, the “sights” disappear. Sometimes a person gets used to their presence and does not pay attention to them. But if the process progresses, you should definitely consult a doctor.
What are flies and how do they appear?
What we call floaters - moving dark dots, translucent threads, tiny barely visible “tadpoles” that sometimes appear before the eyes - these are tiny opacities What you can do about floaters and flashes in the eye, shadows that the vitreous body of the eye casts on the retina. To figure it out, take a look at the picture.
The vitreous humor is a clear, jelly-like substance that occupies most of the eye. It is thanks to him that the eyeballs have a round shape. On one side, the anterior side, the vitreous body is limited by the lens. From the lateral and posterior sides - the retina.
The vitreous's job is to conduct focused light from the lens to the retina, the light-sensitive cells that capture the resulting image and send it to the brain through the optic nerve.
But here it is important to understand one nuance. The vitreous body, although transparent, is not completely homogeneous
It is woven from the finest collagen fibers, the spaces between which are filled with liquid. Sometimes, due to the natural movement of fibers, so-called lacunae are formed in the spaces - areas where the density of the substance that makes up the vitreous body is reduced. The sensitive retina detects these changes. And we see barely visible glassy “worms”. Something like this:
Other figures - dots, “tadpoles”, flashes of light - are also consequences of the “shadow” that the vitreous body casts on the retina for various reasons. And these reasons can be either completely harmless or dangerous.
Alternative treatment for retinal detachment
Traditional treatment for retinal detachment includes the use of a number of folk remedies that can prevent this disease and facilitate healing. Be sure to consult your doctor before using any of the following remedies.
The main role of folk remedies in the treatment of retinal detachment lies in the following effects: 1) antihypertensive folk remedies reduce blood pressure in the eye; 2) antidiabetic drugs are used in the case of diabetes or prediabetes; 3) plants rich in antioxidants and vitamins are good for the retina.
Mistletoe is a very powerful antihypertensive agent that helps reduce intraocular pressure. Use an infusion of 1 tsp. raw materials for 1 cup of boiled water. If you have retinal detachment, use this remedy 1 cup 2 times a day.
Blueberries and blueberries. Since the berries of these plants are rich in antioxidants, they are very useful for improving night vision and should also be used as a folk remedy for the treatment of glaucoma, retinal detachment and myopia. These berries can be used raw or as a medicine (capsules).
Blackberries are rich in vitamin C, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the use of blackberries promotes the outflow of fluid and reduces intraocular pressure, which is very useful for retinal detachment.
Hawthorn improves blood circulation and reduces blood pressure. Usually use 1 tsp. leaf or flower extract of this remedy 2 times a day.
Elder. Wash your eyes with 2 tbsp infusion. flowers of this product per 1 liter of water.
Fennel. Make an infusion of 40 g of seeds per 1 liter of water; apply lotions to your eyes.
Eyebright has been used for many years to treat eye diseases. This folk remedy relieves inflammation in the eyes. Make an infusion of 2 tbsp. plants per 0.5 liters of water. Make warm eye lotions using this folk remedy.
In addition, the following folk methods are useful for the prevention of retinal detachment: relaxation techniques, yoga, massage, homeopathic medicine (treatment with aconite).
In general, a combination of folk remedies and medical procedures can effectively treat retinal detachment. Only comprehensive treatment can eliminate the causes of this disease. In this case, patients gradually regain full or almost full vision over several weeks or several months. Folk remedies “work” by providing a significant improvement in vision for patients suffering from retinal detachment.
Ophthalmologists often hear complaints from patients about various kinds of visual effects: black dots, floating cobwebs, glowing stars. For some, these may be structures resembling the shape of worms or lightning; in others - formations in the form of stripes, streaks, spots, jellyfish - the classification is limited only by the imagination of people with similar visual impairments.
In official medicine, it is customary to refer to this phenomenon with the general term “floaters”. Floaters before your eyes: causes, methods of treatment and prevention - read about all this in detail below.
Treatment
To get rid of midges in the eyes, treatment is carried out aimed at eliminating the causes of their appearance, which means that therapy is preceded by differential diagnosis. According to indications, the doctor chooses medicinal, surgical, and hardware methods. The vitreolysis procedure is performed for patients with diagnosed destruction of the vitreous substance.
During the procedure, the doctor uses a laser beam to specifically destroy visible formations in the vitreous zone, which provoke the feeling that there are floaters running around in the organs of vision. Exposure to a laser beam leads to the crushing of foreign inclusions to microscopic sizes, when they are no longer able to form a shadow and interfere with vision. Anesthetics are used locally and dropwise for pain relief.
The vitrectomy procedure involves partial or complete removal of the vitreous body from the organ of vision. During surgery, pathological formations, blood particles, and scar changes that provoke tension in the retina and the appearance of the sensation that flies are flying are removed. The removed fragments of the vitreous are replaced with a special solution of salts and polymers that hold the retina in its normal position - at the back wall of the organ of vision.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment of black floaters in the eyes is carried out taking into account the causes of their occurrence. Usually the doctor prescribes drops of Taufon and Emoxipin to be instilled into the organs of vision. These drugs are indicated for dystrophy and traumatic injuries of the cornea, as well as for cataracts. Medicines slow down or stop the progression of destructive processes in the tissues of the organs of vision, promote cell regeneration and restoration of the normal structure of damaged parts of the eye.
In addition to eye drops, therapy aimed at getting rid of floaters in the eyes involves instilling an ophthalmic composition - potassium iodide (3%), and taking the immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory drug Wobenzym, made on the basis of proteolytic enzymes of animal and plant origin, as well as rutoside.
Folk remedies
Treatment of eye floaters with folk remedies is carried out using a decoction of dill seeds, alcohol tinctures of peony and geranium. Homemade preparations made from rose hips and turmeric roots, rich in vitamins and antioxidants, are useful.
It is recommended to take decoctions, teas and infusions from medicinal plants that improve cerebral blood flow. These include ginkgo biloba and blueberries. To quickly get rid of an unpleasant symptom, you should look away to the side, up and down, and repeat the exercise several times.
The attending physician, who will also prescribe the correct treatment based on the results of a diagnostic examination, will help you find out the causes of the condition when floaters constantly appear before your eyes.
Medical definition of symptom
Hypertension as a cause of floaters before the eyes.
Thus, floaters are always shadows of opaque objects in the eye. Their appearance due to the destruction of the vitreous body can be caused not only by problems with the eye itself, but also by various diseases of other body systems. In addition, blood or medications getting into the eye has similar symptoms.
Most often, the vitreous body is destroyed due to metabolic disorders, which are caused by various problems with the composition of the blood and the functioning of the circulatory system as a whole.
The first possible cause of the pathology is hypertension. Vascular hypertension leads to increased blood pressure - that is, overexertion. It becomes maximum during a hypertensive crisis. Vasospasm leads to disruption of blood flow in the capillaries of the eye, which is why floaters appear. In addition, the vessel may rupture, blood will leak into the vitreous, and its formed elements will cast a shadow on the retina.
Blood flow can also be disrupted due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - in this case, the vertebrae compress the vertebral arteries. It is not difficult to diagnose osteochondrosis, because The following symptoms are added to the flies:
- acute headache;
- dizziness;
- weakness in the limbs;
- aphasia;
- facial asymmetry.
Another disease that leads to the destruction of blood vessels and poor circulation is diabetes mellitus. In advanced cases, the capillaries of the retina become fragile and rupture, which leads to the appearance of blood clots in the vitreous.
Due to various diseases, blood clots can form in the vessels, which also lead to the appearance of shadows on the retina.
If floaters before the eyes are accompanied by a headache, this may indicate not only osteochondrosis, but also some problems with the brain. First of all, this is a migraine, the pain in which is localized in one half of the head. The floaters appear not during the attack itself, but shortly before it. They are complemented by the following symptoms:
- flashes of light;
- blurred vision;
- hallucinations;
- aphasia.
Another possibility is a head injury (concussion, contusion). A TBI can be suspected if, in addition to floaters and pain, the following are observed:
- fainting;
- dizziness, nausea and vomiting;
- memory impairment;
- convulsions;
- other neurological disorders.
Floaters can also indicate a cerebral hemorrhage. Moreover, in this case they may be the only symptom. Sometimes anemia is additionally associated with a drop in hemoglobin levels in the blood.
The most dangerous disease, the symptom of which is floaters in the eyes, is a brain tumor. If the occipital part of the brain is damaged by cancer, the functioning of the visual cortex is disrupted - this can manifest itself in a variety of vision problems, including blindness, although the eyes themselves continue to function normally. Floaters are just the beginning; as the tumor grows, flashes of light appear, a narrowing of the field of vision, and disturbances in color perception.
In addition to the visual cortex of the brain, the optic nerve connecting it to the eye can be damaged - for example, due to exposure to toxic substances (botulinum toxin, methyl alcohol, etc.)
Problems with blood pressure during pregnancy can result in eclampsia, a condition when blood pressure rises to a level that is dangerous for the woman and fetus. Therefore, if floaters appear in the eyes during pregnancy, you should be examined by an ophthalmologist.
Floaters before the eyes vary in shape and color. They appear as ring or point formations on the projected image. Sometimes they take the form of white or black threads. In medicine, this manifestation is characterized as polymorphic opacities in the viewing radius. They appear once as a result of exposure to an irritant or constantly if a person is sick.
White flies
Due to oxygen starvation of the brain, the appearance of floaters is accompanied by weakness and nausea. They may indicate an impending stroke. Therefore, if this effect is chronic, you should be examined by a neurologist or cardiologist.
Floaters before eyes - reasons
One of the reasons for the appearance of floaters before the eyes is vitreous opacification (VOC), a structural change that leads to the formation of aggregates in the vitreal cavity. As a result of the clouding process, which arose as a result of a malfunction in the molecular composition of the vitreous body, light does not reach the retina. Thus, the PST casts shadows on the retina, which allows a person to observe floaters.
Floaters often accompany the natural aging process of the body. According to the American Society of Retinology Specialists ,
PST, accompanied by the appearance of floaters, is most common in people over 60 years of age. At some point, any person may experience floaters before their eyes, and most people ignore their appearance. Many people only notice them against a light, clear background, such as when looking at the sky.
In any case, if floaters appear, it is necessary to consult an ophthalmologist during the first months in order to prevent serious consequences.
Retinal detachment
As mentioned, the appearance of floaters is part of the natural aging process, but a sudden increase in floaters can be caused by retinal detachment.
When a retinal detachment occurs, a person experiences other symptoms, such as flashes of light, especially in the lateral visual fields, where vision loss can also occur. A detached retina can lead to blindness that cannot be treated. Therefore, when floaters first appear, along with other symptoms, you should immediately consult an ophthalmologist.
Other reasons
Floaters can also appear due to inflammation, infection, retinal tear or injury, eye injury, diabetic retinopathy, hemorrhage, or tumors.
Traditional methods of treating vision
Since conservative therapy has not been found, and not everyone will decide on surgical treatment, treatment with folk remedies is used.
These methods include eye massage: it stimulates blood circulation in the vitreous body, thereby preventing the spread of the process. It is performed by closing the eyelids, while gently pressing on the area of the eyeball in the direction from the inner corner of the eye to the outer. The massage is carried out with patting movements for 2-3 minutes.
It is important to perform the procedure regularly, in courses
Other remedies include drops prepared from a mixture of aloe juice and honey. This composition is instilled into the eyes, 2 drops 3 times a day.
Treatment with folk remedies also includes the use of propolis infusion with shungite water, which is also instilled into the eyes for pathology of the vitreous body. If a shungite solution cannot be found, then use ordinary water.
When blocking the blood vessels of the eye, a tincture of clover heads and clove seasoning, 10 pcs., which is placed on top of the inflorescences, helps. After the container is filled with vodka, the solution is infused for 7 days in a dark place. It is necessary to take 10 drops orally before meals.
The content of all content presented on the site is for educational and informational purposes only, aimed at giving visitors to the resource a clearer idea of healthy vision, its acquisition and maintenance, diagnosis, prevention and treatment methods and techniques.
Putting things in order
After the nest has been found, you need to take care of the adult insects. The most important thing now is to deprive fruit flies of a place for reproduction and food. In this case, they will die even without your help. Therefore, we hide all products that may interest them. Carefully cover jam, honey, vegetables and fruits. It is best to put all this in the refrigerator to deprive the fruit flies of their chances of survival.
Ideal cleanliness in the kitchen is, in some cases, a sufficient measure so that you no longer have to think about how to get rid of small midges in an apartment or house. Within ten days in the warm season, all individuals, including existing clutches, may die. In winter, the process can last for several months, since the development of the larvae will be delayed.
Treatment and prevention
Treatment for the presence of flies with VSD should be comprehensive. Therapy includes medications aimed at maintaining normal blood pressure levels. Auxiliary treatment includes psychotherapeutic correction, acupuncture, normalization of sleep and nutrition, as well as taking medications that reduce the risk of an attack.
Pressure correction
To prevent the onset of symptoms, drugs that correct blood pressure are used. If you have high blood pressure, taking antihypertensive medications is indicated. Most often these are adrenergic blockers, loop diuretics and other drugs. If blood pressure levels are reduced, drugs based on caffeine, eleuthrococcus, ginseng extract, etc. are prescribed. Maintaining blood pressure at the proper level is also possible with the help of folk remedies. Hawthorn and motherwort help lower blood pressure, while coffee and black tea with sugar, on the contrary, increase it.
The holding of trainings
Psychotherapeutic training helps reduce the frequency of attacks, since the occurrence of VSD is often associated with emotional overload, stress and anxiety disorders. Group classes produce a good effect in combination with individual psychotherapy.
The doctor tries to find out the cause of the disease by asking the patient about the presence of stressful situations and other experiences that worsen the quality of life. Often, troubles in the family, at work and health problems provoke attacks. However, Gelstatt therapy methods give good results.
Carrying out reflexology
Impact on active points of the body using reflexology methods produces a good effect. The most commonly used treatment is acupuncture. This method of treatment improves blood circulation, stimulates the immune system and allows you to relax.
Acupuncture for the appearance of spots before the eyes is carried out in the area of the face, scalp and ears. To get rid of the symptom, it is necessary to combine this method of treatment with medication.
Correction of daily routine
Normalization of lifestyle leads to an improvement in the condition and a decrease in the frequency of attacks. First of all, you need to get enough sleep. For proper rest, the brain needs at least 8-9 hours a day. With a lack of sleep, thought processes deteriorate, the body does not have time to recover, which creates additional stress on the autonomic nervous system.
It is important to alternate between work and rest. If a person spends a lot of time in the same position during the day, then every hour it is recommended to do a small warm-up to speed up blood circulation.
Floaters can also occur during prolonged work at the computer, when the eyes are under strain for a long period. In this case, every hour you need to take a break of 5 minutes. Some helpful exercises include circular eye movements, intensive blinking, or simply closing your eyelids for a few seconds.
Nutrition correction
Diet also affects the course of VSD and the occurrence of floaters
It is important to exclude from the menu everything that can worsen the course of the disease and provoke attacks:
- fast food;
- fried foods;
- fats;
- smoked meats;
- alcohol;
- products containing preservatives and GMOs.
Drug therapy
Groups of medications that are used when a symptom occurs:
- Nootropic: Mildronate, Mexicor, Nootropil, etc. This line of products helps accelerate blood circulation in the brain, while improving the nutrition of the eyeballs.
- Antidepressants. It is dangerous to take such drugs without prescription. They promote addiction and are used for treatment for a course of no more than 1-2 weeks. Tricyclic antidepressants are most often prescribed.
- Anti-anxiety: Novopassit, Afobazol, Persen, etc. Calm and relieve the effects of stress. Improves the condition of VSD.
Additionally, when such attacks occur, antispasmodic and painkillers are often prescribed. To improve the condition of the visual system and relieve discomfort, eye drops based on taurine and other active ingredients are used. A good effect is produced by the drug Cinnarizine, which eliminates vascular spasm.
Floaters fly before your eyes: diagnosis of the disease
- From all of the above, it is obvious that we see colorless flies flying before our eyes for many reasons. Sometimes we see black spots before our eyes due to eye fatigue, and sometimes due to the presence of serious diseases in the body.
- Before you begin treatment and elimination of such an unpleasant symptom as floaters before your eyes, you need to establish the disease that provoked it.
- The first thing you need to do is contact an ophthalmologist and tell him your complaints.
- The specialist will collect anamnesis, analyze complaints and refer you to the necessary examinations that will help you understand what exactly caused the spots before your eyes.
The following examinations may be prescribed:
- Ultrasound of the eye.
- Ophthalmoscopy. With the help of such an examination, the specialist will be able to see empty cavities and opacities in the vitreous body.
Needs to be examined
- Visometry. This procedure makes it clear how well a person sees in principle.
- Tanometry is the measurement of intracranial pressure.
- By decision of the doctor, the patient may be referred for other examinations depending on the complaints.
Possible diseases
Black flies that appear before the eyes are a sign of many diseases; exactly why they appear can be determined by taking into account the accompanying symptoms and disorders. If this is the only symptom that does not progress, it is usually not associated with serious pathology. Often flies disappear without a trace after a certain period of time. The reason to consult a doctor are signs - a constant increase in the number of floaters and the presence of concomitant neurological symptoms.
Brain tumors
The flickering of flies before the eyes may indicate the appearance of a space-occupying formation in the brain tissue. In addition to the appearance of midges before the eyes and the feeling of dizziness, in the case of the development of a tumor process, symptoms such as blurred vision, pain in the head area, nausea, often accompanied by bouts of vomiting, are observed. Other associated symptoms: daytime drowsiness, lethargy, seizures.
Other disorders are detected: deterioration of visual acuity, hemianopsia (bilateral loss of half of the field of view), congestion in the area of the base of the optic nerve head. More often, ophthalmological symptoms are provoked by compression of the optic nerve, blood vessels supplying the organs of vision, compression of the chiasm area (the place where the fibers of the optic nerve intersect). Characteristic symptoms appear as a result of increased intracranial pressure.
Cerebrovascular insufficiency
Dyscirculatory encephalopathy, strokes, TIA and other diseases associated with cerebrovascular insufficiency in history are risk factors that indicate a high likelihood of the appearance of such a symptom as spots before the eyes. Ischemic damage to parts of the brain is accompanied by focal neurological symptoms that reflect motor, sensory, and cognitive impairment.
Ophthalmological pathologies
Myopia, glaucoma, destructive changes in the tissues of the vitreous body are not a complete list of the reasons for the appearance of goosebumps in front of the eyes in the right or left organ of vision. The vitreous body has a jelly-like consistency. This clear substance, predominantly composed of water (about 99%) and hyaluronic acid, fills the space between the eye lens and the retina.
Destruction of the body is detected in 80% of patients who go to the doctor in the hope of removing spots from before their eyes, as an uncomfortable sensation that complicates professional and everyday activities. Destruction of the body occurs under the influence of pathological factors - infectious lesions, impaired blood supply. The entry of foreign cells and blood particles into the vitreous body leads to impaired visual function.
Diagnostic methods
Why do white pimples appear under the eyes?
Many people try to get rid of flies and spider webs using folk remedies. Before doing this, it would be wise to consult first with an ophthalmologist and then, if necessary, with another specialist. The fact is that floaters can be a symptom of a disease not related to the visual organs. For example, floaters appear during sudden jumps in blood pressure and may indicate a hypertensive crisis.
Therefore, you first need to be examined and establish for sure that in your case the so-called floaters are a harmless phenomenon that is not associated with serious dysfunctions of the internal organs. And only then start experimenting with folk remedies if the flies bother you so much.
For information: dots, spots and stripes often go away on their own a few months after they appear. You need to understand that flies are just shadows of particles of minerals and other impurities in the glassy substance. They tend to dissolve over time. In other words, you just need to be a little patient and everything will go away on its own.
Vitamins for the eyes will not be superfluous in any case, taking into account the stress that the visual organs of a modern person regularly experience
If you don’t want to wait, you can ask your doctor to prescribe a mild remedy that promotes the absorption of microelements. As a rule, these are tablets and eye drops for topical use that stimulate metabolic processes in the structures of the eye. To prevent vision deterioration and strengthen the retina and optic nerve, it would be a good idea to drink a multivitamin complex for the eyes with lutein, zeaxanthin, antioxidants, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids.
Physiotherapy procedures that improve metabolism in the cells of the eyeball have a good effect. The following events are scheduled:
- phonophoresis;
- color pulse therapy;
- infrasonic vacuum pneumomassage.
As for surgical treatment, this is far from the most optimal method. There are two ways to eliminate flies, dots and lightning:
- Vitreolysis - the vitreous body is treated with a laser beam of a certain length and intensity, as a result of which particles of microelements in the vitreous body are destroyed.
- Vitrectomy is the surgical removal of the vitreous along with the “spots”.
Both types of surgery have a number of contraindications and serious side effects, including complete loss of vision. Therefore, taking such a risk just to eliminate floating points is not considered advisable.
Surgery is resorted to only if, in addition to spots, there are other indications before the eyes, otherwise the risk is not worth it
What else can a doctor advise to get rid of an unpleasant symptom? Recommendations are always standard, which everyone knows about, but in most cases ignore. And yet, they really work. Try this:
- do not abuse alcohol and nicotine, so as not to have spots and stars flashing before your eyes;
- rest fully, get enough sleep;
- do not overstrain your visual organs if possible - do not sit at the computer for a long time, do not read in public transport, etc.;
- regularly perform eye exercises;
- include more fruits and vegetables in your diet, eat less fatty, fried, and salty foods.
These simple measures will help keep your vision sharp and your eyes healthy. But if, in addition to floaters, other atypical symptoms occur, then you should not delay visiting an ophthalmologist.
Summary: Floaters, dots, cobwebs, stars, lightning and rainbow circles before the eyes are a common phenomenon, with complaints about which people quite often turn to an ophthalmologist. In most cases, it is harmless and does not require serious treatment. But since such a symptom may indicate serious injuries to the head, blood vessels, organs of vision, detachment or rupture of the retina, it would not be superfluous to consult.
First of all, when examining a patient who complains of the appearance of spots before the eyes, the doctor conducts ophthalmoscopic and biomicroscopic examinations. If visual defects are not detected, the patient is referred to other specialists. Additional studies are prescribed:
- Computed tomography of the brain.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.
- Blood analysis.
- Ultrasound of the heart.
- ECG.
Floaters before eyes - treatment
In most cases, the appearance of floaters does not require treatment. And although flies cause some inconvenience, they do not pose a direct threat to human vision.
Surgery
In rare cases, the flies become denser and thereby cause visual impairment. In such situations, the ophthalmologist may recommend a procedure called vitrectomy
.
During a vitrectomy, the surgeon removes part of the vitreous, replacing it with balanced salt or another special solution. In most cases, operations give positive results. But since this procedure can lead to complications such as the development of cataracts or retinal detachment, doctors recommend resorting to surgery only in exceptional situations.
Other treatments
An alternative to surgery is the laser vitreolysis
, during which large pieces of the vitreous are crushed or dissolved by a laser beam. However, laser therapy is not indicated for all patients, so the opinion of a professional ophthalmologist is necessary in each individual case.
Prevention of floaters
How to prevent the appearance of annoying floating “floaters” before your eyes without seeking the help of a doctor? To a large extent, this is possible and accessible to everyone. However, there are no special preventive measures; they all consist in well-known principles of maintaining health, which include:
- Proper nutritious nutrition;
- Sufficient physical activity;
- Good rest, sleep;
- Getting rid of bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs).
As for the eyes, they need to be protected from direct sunlight, injuries, dust, and various chemicals. If your eyes experience excessive strain, for example, when working with a display, a microscope, or small objects, you should follow an eye rest regimen, take breaks, and do special exercises.
Proper hygienic eye care is also necessary, especially for people who use contact lenses, and do not forget to regularly visit an ophthalmologist for preventive purposes.
Now you know why floaters appear before your eyes, as well as about the causes and treatment of abnormalities.