Floaters

EYE PHYSICIANS OF ORANGE COUNTY, PC, Introduces Treatment for Patients with Bothersome Vitreous Opacities “Floaters”

Eye Physicians of Orange County PC, announced the introduction of a new laser that performs Laser Vitreolysis; a highly effective treatment for treating vitreous opacities - commonly referred to as floaters. As many as 70% of all people will experience floaters in their lifetime. While they are only a nuisance for many people, in a significant amount of patients they can have serious quality of life issues, often disrupting a patients ability to read, drive and otherwise function normally.

This minimally invasive, in-office procedure can provide much-needed relief from the symptoms associated with floaters; which are known to bother many people as they approach middle age.

Vitreous Opacities or ‘Floaters’ are pieces of debris that float in the eye’s vitreous humor (the jelly-like substance in the main chamber of the eye). This debris casts shadows onto the retina (the light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye) and can often create a visual disturbance that can interfere with daily activities such as reading, using a computer or driving.

The procedure to treat floaters uses a specially designed YAG laser to vaporize the vitreous strands. During the procedure, the laser emits short (3 nanosecond) bursts of energy. This laser energy does not simply break the vitreous strands into smaller pieces, but rather converts the collagen and hyaluronin molecules within the floater into a gas, which is then resorbed into the eye.

Recent studies have demonstrated a low complicated rate for Laser Vitreolysis. Most patients will experience an almost immediate improvement in visual function and are able to return to normal day-to-day activities directly following the procedure.

“Typically, many of my patients describe floaters as ‘strands’ or ‘blobs’ obstructing their line of vision which can significantly affect their day-to-day activities. Patients may have been told that they should just learn to live with their floaters or if they are particularly severe or troubling, they should consider a surgical intervention. We are so pleased to be able to offer these patients a non-surgical; minimally invasive procedure that offers the potential to deliver a notable improvement in functional vision.”

“Since commencing this treatment in my practice, I have come to appreciate the negative effect that floaters can have on a patient’s quality of life. To date, the overwhelming response from my patients has been that floaters pose a major hindrance in their daily lives. As clinicians we believe we must embrace the growing need to manage floaters – we can no longer diminish the impact that they can have on a patient’s quality of life.”