Floater

As floaters (French literally flying flies, German flying mosquitoes, English called floaters, Syn: , vitreous flakes ') are small black spots, stains, or thread-like structures in the visual field refers to the shift in characteristic scurrying manner together with the view direction, they run slow swinging movements about a basic position around. In the initial phase, they are particularly noticeable when backgrounds with relatively few dark structures are considered, such as brightly painted walls, blue sky or white paper. A categorization of vitreous opacities does not exist. Depending on the typing and severity, they differ in the type of impairment. In advanced destruction of the vitreous opacities which must be seen against any background, even with closed eyes in a bright environment.

The term vitreous floaters is sometimes used in ophthalmology as a synonym for any kind of vitreous opacities. This is misleading. In contrast, the English generic term floater covers every type of vitreous destruction as floaters, vitreous opacities and the white ring floaters. Meanwhile, he is often found in the German literature.

Formation

Eye floaters are based on small non-uniformities in the vitreous fluid and are found in almost every eye. They are caused by the physiological condensation of collagen fibrils, which are dissolved in the ground substance to microscopic filaments and clumps. Eye floaters can be explained by shadow and diffraction effects at these condensates, which are stronger, the more light enters the eye, and be seen more clearly, the closer the irregularities are of the retina. They often occur in conjunction with higher-grade myopia.

Eye floaters as a disease

Floaters takes almost every person in the course of his life true under certain lighting conditions. The diagnosis indicates a harmless, but sometimes disturbing change. Visual acuity, which is used to evaluate the impairment, not a reliable parameter to measure the degree of impairment, because he is in a sitting position without eye and head movements performed. This come the vitreous opacities that otherwise constantly swimming back and forth in the eye, to a standstill. The clinical significance is determined largely by the severity, the typing, the localization in the central field of view, the proximity to the retina and the mobility of turbidity. There is a striking discrepancy in the assessment of interference by ophthalmology and how it is subjectively perceived by those affected.

Treatment

One treatment option would be surgical removal of the vitreous ( vitrectomy ), but only in severe cases and for pronounced discomfort is because of the disproportionate expense and potential complications a potential therapy .. Since September 2012, a nationwide study of OcuNet group to new passes treatment ( vitrectomy ) with vitreous opacities (also called " floaters, floaters or Eye Floaters "). To a limited extent, laser treatments are performed, their benefits and success are still controversial.

Demarcation

Eye floaters are distinguished from the performance of different gearteter vitreous opacities. Suspects are particularly sudden, severe changes such as an increase in the number, size, movement or a change of the color of the perceived spots. The massive appearance of rough, deep black spots, which move smoothly up and down, like a " Rußregen " can be caused by bleeding in the vitreous cavity. A sudden increase in floaters, coupled with the perception of flashes is a common symptom of physiological " posterior vitreous detachment ". You can, in rare cases, a retinal tear to retinal detachment. The above changes should always be cause for an immediate eye exam.

Vitreous opacities

Also delineate them are large-scale liquefaction of the vitreous, which are perceived as clouds and streaks. In a vitreous detachment of the so-called Weiss ring floaters, which can be perceived depending on the type of detachment as a simple, multiple, torn or chunky ring by the person concerned is produced. Depending on the stage of progressive detachment it can be mainly carried out centrally or peripherally. If the liquefaction of the vitreous far advanced, he is whirled due to the head and eye movements incessantly and with great speed through the entire field. This type of turbidity lead to blurred vision hazy and disturbing entoptic phenomena. The blurred vision, entoptic phenomena and the mobility of turbidity can by those affected - are perceived as very disabling and irritating - depending on the severity.

Preservative benzalkonium chloride

The preservative benzalkonium chloride has already at low concentrations a pronounced cytotoxic potency. Concentrations, as found in eye drops lead after a short application to cytological and histological changes in ocular tissue, including a fibrosis. It is assumed that also damage the lens, the trabecular meshwork and retina. The Federal Association of Ophthalmologists writes to the structural changes of the vitreous humor of the natural degeneration on its website.