For us to see the world around us, light enters the front of the eye and passes through the vitreous before it is focused on the retina.
The vitreous is the clear gel like fluid inside of the eye. The retina is the light sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. Frequently
tiny clumps of cells form inside the gel like vitreous. The shadows these clumps cast on the retina are what we perceive as floaters. They
can appear as dots, circles, lines, clouds or cobwebs in the field of vision. Floaters are more common as we reach middle age. A time in
our life when the vitreous gel can start to thicken and shrink forming clumps or strands. Sometimes the shrinking of the vitreous can create
tiny tears in the retina as it pulls away from the wall of the eye. If these tears bleed new floaters may appear.
With Flashes the vitreous gel is rubbing or pulling at the retina, moving it slightly from its normal position lining the back of the eye.
Flashes are flashes of light that appear in your vision intermittently and may be noticeable off and on for several weeks to months. Trauma to
the eye can often cause floaters and flashes. Also migraine headaches can cause flashes.
Floaters and flashes can also be caused by retinal detachment, a serious condition requiring immediate attention. The warning signs of a retinal
detachment are:
- Flashing lights
- Sudden appearance of new floaters
- Shadows in the side or periphery of your vision
- Gray curtain moving across your field of vision
These symptoms don't always mean you are experiencing a retinal detachment, but you should see your
Colorado Springs Ophthalmologist (Eye Doctor)
right away.
Treatments for a detached retina vary, but the goal is to return the affected area of the retina to its correct position at the back of the eye. There are
several techniques for doing this for example:
-
A flexible band called a scleral buckle is placed around the eyeball to counteract the force pulling the retina out of place.
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Fluid may be drained from under the detached retina allowing it to settle back to its normal position against the back of the eye.
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A gas bubble may be placed in the eye to push the retina back into place. With pneumatic retinoplexy a gas bubble is injected
into the vitreous space inside the eye. The bubble pushes the retinal tear closed against the back wall of the eye. With this
procedure the patient must maintain a certain head position for several days after surgery. The gas bubble will eventually disappear.
Laser or cryotherapy is also added to seal the retinal tear back into place.
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Vitrectomy is an eye surgery where the vitreous gel that
is pulling on the retina is removed from the eye and replaced with a gas bubble. Over time fluid naturally replaces this gas
bubble. In select cases, silicone oil is used instead of gas. This usually requires a second surgery to remove the oil
once healing has occurred. A vitrectomy is sometimes used with a scleral buckle.