“Will eye floaters go away on their own?”

Floaters are most commonly caused by breakdown of the vitreous gel. This gel fills the back two-thirds of the eye and over time breaks down casting shadows on the retina that we sense as floaters. However, at age 27 there can be other issues such as inflammation. If they are simply vitreous degeneration they will not fully go away, but may change over time and the brain will also learn to suppress them. The best first step is to have the cause properly diagnosed because inflammation or other issues such as hemorrhage, retinal tear, or retinal detachment should be ruled out.

How long have the floaters been present and what shapes do they take? New onset floaters most often gradually become less noticeable over time but will take a few months. If the floaters came on all of a sudden and are black spiders or strings you should see an ophthalmologist immediately

When floaters begin it is important to see an Eyecare doctor to make sure there isn’t a retinal year or detachment If there isn’t one they will typically follow you. In general floaters dissipate over time with some new floaters incurring from time to time .

In many cases they will go away on their own or decrease but not in everybody. You should get a dilated eye exam with onset of any new floaters or flashing lights.

Usually, floaters are most noticeable on a light background like a computer screen or a sunny sky. Floaters usually represent an aging of the vitreous gel, but can herald a retinal tear, inflammation in the eye or in diabetes, bleeding in the eye. In general, floaters should be evaluated by an eye care professional to determine the source. Floaters can resolve if it is due to bleeding. Aging floaters do not usually disappear, but may become less noticeable as they shift position in the eye or the brain neuroadapts.

Floaters are normal as we age. But you are young for floaters, it could indicate a retinal tear that can lead to retinal detachment. See an ophthalmologist asap. If retina is fine then floaters usually become less bothersome over time, but do not go away. A surgical procedure called vitrectomy is the only way to remove floaters, but is rarely necessary.

Mark F. Pyfer, MD

Not really. But they are not dangerous. They may move out of your view for a period of time. They may become less noticeable as they move more anterior, but they don’t really leave.

Dr. LMJ

Always visible on a bright sunny day, but less bothersome over time. Get an eye exam to make sure there is no retinal hole or tear. SO

Floaters generally settle out of the visual field. If they do not, or if they worsen, an examination with your ophthalmologist would be in order.

Sometimes yes but usually they remain

It is important to know that floaters are a normal phenomenon in human eyes caused by the liquefaction of the vitreous humor, the gel which fills the larger space in the back of the eye, and which begins shortly after birth.

Floaters can occur at a younger age in people who are near-sighted or myopic.

As this process of liquefaction proceeds, eventually the vitreous gel separates from the back of the eye. This is known as a posterior vitreous detachment or PVD and is experienced first as lightning-like flashes followed by a sudden burst of new floaters or a large circular one (Weiss ring). So if this is your case, you should be evaluated by an eye doctor promptly. In a small percentage of cases, a PVD can be associated with a retinal tear or hole and this can potentially progress to a retinal detachment.

As the vitreous gel becomes mostly liquid in older age, the floaters that are left mostly settle to the bottom of the eye. So patients in their 80s and 90s don't complain about them as much. On the other hand, the younger the patient, the longer it might take for the floaters to settle down since the vitreous is more jelly-like.

So what about those floaters in younger patients? If they are new floaters, you should have your eyes evaluated to make sure everything is ok. If so, the best course of action is observation. If a floater is persistent and interfering with vision, there are options for removing them from Laser Floater Treatment (not covered by insurance) to Vitrectomy (covered by insurance but more invasive). Ask your eye doctor for their recommendation.