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Private Eye Floaters Treatment London

Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) Treatment 1

At a glance:

EYE FLOATERS & FLASHING LIGHTS

Overview:

Eye floaters are common and when with flashes risk causing a retinal tear that requires laser treatment to prevent retinal detachment.

Symptoms:

Dark spots, winding lines, fly-in vision, cobweb-like patterns and flashes of light within your field of vision.

Cause:

Symptoms arise from changes in the gel of the eye and their pull on the retina.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosed through Diagnostic Retinal Screening by the medical retinal Ophthalmic specialist.

Treatment:

Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment may include retinal laser, retinal cryotherapy, vitrectomy, vitreolysis, or no treatment may be necessary.

Our clinic operates as a private surgery and is not affiliated with the NHS (National Health Service)

Private EYE FLOATERS TREATMENT

At Clinica London we have two eminently skilled Vitreo-Retinal Consultant Ophthalmologists who specialise in the assessment and treatment of floaters and flashes from posterior vitreous detachment and retinal detachment.

They will carry out necessary diagnostic scans with scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and ocular coherence tomorgraphy (OCT) and dilated retinal examination. They do retinal laser treatment, retinal cryotherapy, vitreolysis and vitreo-retinal surgery.

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Vitreous Floaters by Consultant Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon Ms Evgenia Anikina

What are eye floaters and flashes?

Eye floaters are tiny spots or specks that drift across your vision, often seen against a clear background sky or white wall.

Light flashes are brief stripes of light that appear in the edge of your visual field, especially when you move your eyes.

Both eye floaters and light flashes occur because of changes in the gel inside the eye, called the vitreous gel.

The vitrous detaches its position adjacent to the retina and cause floaters.
The gel can pull on the retina, stimulating it and causing a flashing light.
This can lead to a retinal tear that requires treatment, usually with laser, to prevent more serious sequalae requiring eye surgery.

Floaters versus flashes

Floaters are caused by the vitreous shrinking and becoming more liquid, resulting in clumps forming. These clumps cast a shadow on the inside surface of the retina, which you can see in your vision. This is called “entoptic phenomenon”.

Flashes, on the other hand, are caused by the vitreous tugging on the retina. This can happen as the vitreous shrinks or as it pulls away from the retina, a process known as posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

While floaters and flashes are often harmless, they can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a sudden onset of floaters, flashes, or both. Treatment with laser around an early retinal hole or tear can prevent a full progression of retinal detachment, which would require more complex vitreo-retinal surgery.

Common eye floaters & flashes symptoms

The main indicator of eye floaters manifests as the appearance of dark spots, winding lines, a fly in your vision, or web-like patterns within your field of vision.

Floaters tend to shift as your eyes move and can become more noticeable against bright backgrounds or the backdrop of a clear blue sky. With eye flashes, you will notice brief stripes of light in your visual field from time to time.

Floaters and retinal tear explanation

In many cases, eye floaters and flashes do not require treatment as they tend to fade away or become less bothersome over time. As long as these symptoms do not occur frequently, they should not affect your vision.

You should seek a retinal check-up to prevent further vision damage if you are experiencing:

a sudden increase in the number of floaters interfering with your vision
flashes of light in your peripheral vision
loss of side vision (peripheral vision)

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A vertical closeup shot of an elderly human's light blue eye

What causes eye floaters?

Retinal health is important. We often ignore the vitreous gel and floaters, which can sometimes indicate a deeper retinal problem and require assessment and advice, even laser or surgical treatment. Eye floaters can also be psychologically very upsetting.

Eye floaters occur when the vitreous, which is the clear, gel-like substance that fills the inside of your eye, develops tiny clumps of gel or cells, which you then visualise as floaters in your vision. This is called Entoptic phenomenon where you are visualising the floaters inside your own eye as they are situated directly in your visual axis and move about with eye movement. Sometimes the area associated with flashing lights as well.

The vitreous gel can develop clumps or cells within the gel due to:

Age-related changes in the vitreous humour, syneresis, or watery vitreous humour
Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) – the vitreous humour shrinks and moves away from its attachments to the retina
Uveitis (inflammation in the eye)
Eye injuries or trauma that cause a PVD or retinal tear
Near-sightedness (myopia) with more fluid vitreous
Diabetic retinopathy
Retinal tears or retinal detachment
Bleeding into the eye from varied causes

Most of the causes of eye floaters cannot be prevented, as they are related to natural processes that occur in the eye over time. Still, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing floaters or experiencing complications from them. These include:

protecting the eyes from injury or trauma
vitamin C and zinc supplements and healthy Mediterranean diet
managing underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, that can affect the eyes
seeking prompt assessment and treatment for eye bleeds, eye infections or inflammation

When should you see a doctor about eye floaters and flashes?

Eye floaters and flashes usually last for a couple of weeks. During this time, your brain naturally learns to ignore and not perceive these visual anomalies. If these symptoms persist or worsen over time, you may have an underlying retinal problem that requires prompt attention. It is certainly worth you getting your floaters checked at Clinica London.

In such cases, you should schedule an eye check-up with one of the Retinal Care Consultant at Clinica London to obtain a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Ignoring these symptoms or delaying medical attention can lead to serious eye complications and permanent vision loss.

At Clinica, we specialise in the assessment and safe management of eye floaters and eye flashes treatment in London. Our state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technology and retinal laser treatments, plus vitreo-retinal surgery, allow us to diagnose and treat eye floaters quickly and efficiently, where there is a medical cause, giving our patients peace of mind and restoring their vision. Inflammation within the eye (uveitis) or a retinal issue can bring on the onset of troublesome floaters.

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Eye Floaters & Flashes Treatment

Eye floaters and flashes are diagnosed during the diagnostic retinal screening. If there is a medical cause (uveitis) our Uveitis Specialist Mr harry Petrushkin will manage this medically, in children and adults.

If the floaters are in a child with myopia, all the consultants listed below can assess and treat.

If your eye floaters are found to be caused by a retinal hole or break, or if there is a small weakness in the retina and even small retinal detachment, you might undergo the following treatments:

Laser

Retinal laser of a small retinal hole or retinal tear helps seal the retina and prevent retinal detachment. All three Consultant retinal Ophthalmologists carry out this treatment; Ms Evgenia Anikina, Mr Julian Robins and Professor Michel Michaelides.

Vitreolysis

Vitreolysis is a specific non-invasive YAG laser procedure directly to the vitreous floaters that works by breaking down the larger floater particles into smaller ones, which are less noticeable. Although the procedure does not eliminate floaters, it can significantly reduce their size and visibility. However, it is now regarded as an old fashioned approach and not recommended. Laser may be needed to treat the retinal hole or break if found, not the actual floater.

It is only advised in severe cases of floaters without retinal hole or tear and with a full PVD (posterior vitreous detachment). It carries its own risks of retinal damage by the YAG laser and is not advocated by our retinal surgeons.

Cryotherapy

In certain cases of retinal tear with early focal retinal detachment, treatment with cryotherapy to prevent progression is carried out at Clinica London by Ms Evegenia Anikina and Mr Julian Robins.

Vitrectomy Surgery

Vitrectomy is surgery performed in severe cases where floaters are causing vision impairment. It involves removing the vitreous gel in order to eliminate the pull on the retina and replacing the gel with saline or other solution. Although it is a surgical procedure, it is safe and effective in treating vision problems associated with floaters.

A vitrectomy may also be necessary if you have a retinal detachment problem that requires simultaneous laser therapy, cryotherapy, removal of the vitreous humour and retinal peeling. This can include conditions such as retinal detachment or retinal macular membrane.

Clinica London´s Vitreo-retinal surgeons Ms Evgenia Anikina and Mr Julian Robins carry out vitrectomy surgery.

Medication

If the floaters are caused by eye inflammation or intra-ocular infection rather than a vireo-retinal traction and retinal hole / tear, our specialists may prescribe eye drops or medications to alleviate the underlying condition. It is important to closely follow the instructions provided by the specialists when using these medications, as improper use may lead to further complications.

What to expect after your eye floaters treatment?

The recovery process after eye floater treatment is very quick, and most patients can resume normal activities within a day or two of treatment. After a retinal hole or tear has been lasered, recovery if very rapid with normal activities ensuing the day after.

In some patients where vitrectomy has been necessary to treat a more severe retinal tear or early retinal detachment, posturing afterwards is important if a silicone oil or heavy liquid has been used to tamponade the retinal tear.

Your vision may be blurry after vitrectomy. You may experience minor discomfort and sensitivity to light for a few days, but noticeable improvement in symptoms should be apparent within a week of treatment.

It is important to follow your consultant’s instructions carefully and attend all follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing and monitor for any potential complications.

Risks & Recovery

Risks are rare: Every year, thousands of people successfully undergo private eye floater assessment and management where a retinal cause is found.

Treatments include:

LASER to seal the causative retinal hole or tear.
Cryotherapy to seal a larger retinal tear and shallow detachment.
Vitreolysis (LASER to vitreous floaters directly) – old fashioned treatment, not recommended.
Vitrectomy: Some patients require more extensive vitreo-retinal surgery with intraocular gas or silicone oil and internal LASER performed by one of Clinica London´s two vitreo-retinal surgeons, Ms Evgenia Anikina and Mr Julian Robins. The success results of such surgery under the skilful hands of the two vitreo-retinal surgeons are high, depending on how early the retinal condition is detected. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of vitreous eye floaters causing a retinal tear or detachment is essential.

Risks of the eye floaters treatment depend on the type of treatment you undergo. Note that many patients do not require treatment for their floaters when full examination excludes a serious vitreo-retinal cause. In many patients the floaters settle with time, becoming only noticeable against a white plain background or clear sky.

Although YAG Laser vitreolysis does reduce floaters where the larger floaters are laser zapped to make them smaller, it does not get rid of all the floaters, the floaters just become much smaller. It is regarded as an outdated concept and is not done by Ms Anikina or Mr Robins. YAG laser vitreolysis carries its own risks of idiopathic laser damage to the retina.

Those patients undergoing vitreo-retinal surgery are at risk of complications including:

Retinal bleeding
Retinal damage and tears
Retinal detachment
infection
increased intraocular pressure
cataracts

Recovery

After treating eye floaters, the recovery process usually involves experiencing minor discomfort and sensitivity to light for a few days.

Avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting for a certain period after treatment and may also prescribe eye drops to help with any discomfort or inflammation.

Restrain from rubbing your eyes or touching them unnecessarily, as this can increase the risk of infection or other complications.

If you have any concerns or questions about the recovery process after eye floater treatment, please contact us.

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OUR CONSULTANTS

At Clinica London, we have a team of qualified eye specialists with extensive experience in eye floaters assessment and management. Our state-of-the-art clinic is equipped with the latest technology and equipment to ensure the highest level of care, treatment and surgery for our patients.

Book a consultation with one of our highly qualified ophthalmic specialists:

Ms Evgenia Anikina

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Cataract, Surgical Vitreoretinal (VR) and Medical Retina Specialist

Mr Julian Robins

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Cataract, Vitreoretinal (VR) and Medical Retina Specialist

Mr Harry Petrushkin

Consultant Ophthalmologist
Adult and Child Uveitis Specialist and Cataract Surgeon

Ms Naomi Tan

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Paediatric Ophthalmology, Paediatric Strabismus, and Adult Cataract Specialist

Pricing

How much does eye floaters treatment cost?

Prices may vary according to the patient’s individual cases and eye risk:

Treatment	Price range
Laser Retinal
Cryotherapy
Vitrectomy Surgery	from £550
Consultation Fees	Not Included

Initial consultation fees are not included.

Our clinic operates as a private surgery and is not affiliated with the NHS (National Health Service)

EYE FLOATERS TREATMENT FAQS

Floaters and flashes are caused by the detachment of the vitreous gel in the eye, which can occur naturally with age. As the gel shrinks and moves away from its attachments to the retina, it can cause clumps of proteins to cast a shadow on the retina, which appears as floaters. The floaters are entoptic phenomena meaning you are seeing the floaters of your own eye.

Flashes occur when the vitreous gel grazes or pulls on the retina, causing a flashing light in the eyesight.

Flashes in your vision usually go away over time, taking up to six months.

Floaters, on the other hand, will stick around longer. They may gradually get smaller and less visible over a couple of weeks or months. However, the floaters will never completely disappear and will show up in certain light conditions.

Eye flashes are considered benign. Nevertheless, be aware that a sudden increase in flashes and floaters may indicate more serious eye problems, particularly in an older person.

In most cases, seeing flashes and floaters is a symptom of vitreous detachment, which is usually not a cause for concern. However, as the vitreous begins to separate from the retina, it may cause a tear in some instances. This can lead to the sudden appearance of flashes and floaters, which can have a serious impact on a person’s vision and require treatment.

In such cases, it is important to seek immediate medical attention from the Retinal Specilist Ophthalmologist to prevent any long-term damage.

While stress itself may not be a direct cause of eye floaters or flashes, it can exacerbate pre-existing conditions. The deterioration of the vitreous humour is what causes the appearance of most eye floaters and flashes in the first place.

When the body is under stress, it releases a hormone called epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which causes the pupils to dilate and can lead to eye strain. Eye strain, in turn, can worsen pre-existing conditions and cause floaters and flashes to become more noticeable.

Therefore, while stress may not be the root cause of these ocular phenomena, it can certainly play a role in their perceived intensity and frequency.

Award Winning Clinic in London

Clinica London is a leading ophthalmology and dermatology medical clinic. It has a sense of passion for helping patients. The clinic’s consultants are highly skilled professionals who have received British, European, and international awards in their respective fields. Clinica is honest and offers transparent treatment advice in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

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