Vitreous floaters and vision: Current concepts and management paradigms

Abstract

Floaters most commonly occur in the middle age due to age-related changes in vitreous structure and light scattering by the posterior vitreous cortex after collapse of the vitreous body during posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). In youth, floaters are most often due to myopic vitreopathy. Vitreous floaters can have a negative impact on visual function and in turn the quality of life. Techniques to characterize floaters clinically include ultrasound imaging, optical coherence tomography, and dynamic light scattering for structural characterization. Functional impact can be assessed by straylight measurements, as well as contrast sensitivity testing. When the severity of floater symptomatology is significant, commonly used therapies include neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser and limited 25-gauge vitrectomy. While the former is of unproven efficacy, the latter has been shown to be a safe, effective, and definitive cure that improves patients’ quality of life and eradicates symptomatology produced by light scattering and diffraction. It is thus reasonable to offer limited vitrectomy to individuals who have attempted to cope unsuccessfully and in whom functional deficit can be objectively demonstrated by testing contrast sensitivity, an important aspect of vision.