Blurry vision, cloudy lenses, and difficulty seeing at night often lead people to consider cataract surgery. But many patients have questions about what happens after the procedure. One common concern is eye floaters after cataract surgery – are they caused by the procedure itself, and should you be worried?
At Florida Eye Specialists, we’re here to break down the connection between cataracts, cataract surgery, and eye floaters, as well as what treatment options are available if they’re affecting your vision.
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts refer to the clouding of the natural lens of one or both eyes. The cloudiness makes it harder for light to get through clearly to your retina, leading to blurry or hazy vision. As the condition worsens, you may experience double vision, light sensitivity, and difficulty seeing at night.
Cataracts typically develop slowly with age due to protein buildup. However, the condition can also be caused by factors such as genetics, eye injury, certain medications, or other underlying health conditions.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters appear as small specks, cobweb-like strands, or irregular shapes that drift across your field of vision. They form when tiny clumps in the eye’s vitreous humor cast shadows on the retina.
Floaters often become more noticeable with age, especially against bright backgrounds, and are usually harmless. However, a sudden increase in floaters or flashes of light can indicate a serious condition and should be evaluated by your doctor immediately.
Eye Floaters After Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most effective procedures performed today. It involves removing the cloudy natural lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens to restore vision. While the procedure itself does not cause new floaters, many patients notice floaters after cataract surgery because their vision is clearer and brighter, making pre-existing floaters more visible.
It’s important to know that cataract surgery does not treat or remove floaters; it simply improves the clarity of your vision so you may be more aware of them than before.
Will Cataract Surgery Fix the Floaters?
Although cataract surgery can dramatically improve vision affected by cataracts, it does not eliminate floaters already present in the vitreous humor. If floaters are bothersome or suddenly increase, talk to your eye care professional about your options.
Treatment Options For Eye Floaters
While most eye floaters do not require treatment, some individuals may find them bothersome or experience a sudden increase in their development, which could also indicate an underlying eye condition. In these cases, treatment options include:
Observation
Most floaters are harmless and may become less bothersome as our brain learns to ignore them. In most cases, the specks will go away on their own over time.
Surgery
In severe cases, a procedure called vitrectomy can be performed to remove the vitreous humor and replace it with a saline solution.
Laser Therapy
Laser treatment works to break up large eye floaters into smaller pieces that are less noticeable to you.
Schedule an Appointment with Florida Eye Specialists
If you have concerns about eye floaters after cataract surgery or are considering cataract treatment, our experienced team is here to help. Florida Eye Specialists offers advanced cataract care and guidance on managing floaters and other vision changes.
Protect your vision and see the world clearly again. Request an appointment today.