Treatment of Eye Floaters with Vitreolysis

Degenerative Vitreous Eye Disease, also known as "eye floaters", which occurs as small dark spots that start to appear in front of your eyes over time or suddenly, occurs as a result of the vitreous fluid between the lens and the retina, which is completely transparent at a young age, deteriorating as the eye ages and losing its shape and liquefaction form.

With the deterioration of the structure of the vitreous, collapse of the collagen fibers in this gel structure occurs and these appear as floaters in the eye. As a result of the collapse, the bodies that create shadows on the retina can appear in different forms such as spots, threads, spider webs. When the floaters move with eye movements, they cause temporary blurred vision and glare and can cause difficulty in driving, reading and close work. They are usually noticeable when looking at a light-colored area such as the sky. This condition, which disrupts the visual comfort of the person in daily life and has not had a treatment option until today, can now be eliminated or its effects can be reduced with laser.

The shadows formed by small bodies in the fluid sac behind the eye cause floaters and can disturb 7 out of 10 people at any time of their lives. Floaters can be seen at any age. It is especially important to examine young people in this respect.

The fact that the floaters are very close to the lens and retina in the eye is an obstacle to laser application. However, most of the bodies are far from the natural lens and retina and usually occur in the central part of the vitreous. In this case, it can be said that the patient has suitable conditions for Vitreolysis treatment. This evaluation should be performed by a specialist physician and treatment should be initiated according to the results of the evaluation.

Not all types of eye floaters may be suitable for laser. In order to determine the types of eye floaters that are suitable, it is necessary to undergo a complete eye examination. If the type of floaters is suitable for laser treatment, it may be possible to eliminate or reduce the small floaters behind the eye in one or more sessions.

Filamentous Floaters: These thin, dense floaters, which are formed as a result of the collagen fibers in the vitreous coming together and clumping together, can be encountered in the form of many dots and/or thread-like spider webs. Depending on the size and location, these flakes can be treated with Vitreolysis Laser, which can usually be seen in younger patients.

Diffuse Floaters: This type of cloud-shaped floaters occurs as a result of the natural aging process. Treatment of this type of floaters usually requires more Vitreolysis laser sessions to achieve successful results.

Weiss Ring Floaters: This ring-shaped flutter is a large flutter that is usually located at a safe distance from the lens and retina. Because of its safe distance, it can be treated safely and effectively with Vitreolysis.

Vitreolysis, a type of laser treatment method applied to reduce floaters in the eye, is a painless and painless method that can restore the comfort of vision. The main purpose of vitreolysis treatment is to ensure that the person regains the comfort of daily vision without the problem of floaters in the eye.

Before the procedure begins, the specialist anesthetizes the eye with a mild anesthetic eye drop to ensure that the eye does not feel pain during the procedure. During the treatment, the laser beam is directed to the eye through a specially designed microscope and special lenses. Depending on the nature of the objects in the vitreous gel structure in the eye, the procedure is performed in sessions and each session may take approximately 15 minutes.

Based on the size and number of objects observed, 2 or 3 sessions may be required to complete the treatment. Vitreolysis laser treatment is based on the use of nanosecond laser pulses to destroy floaters in the eye that interfere with visual comfort. The collagen and hyaluronic molecules of the floaters are converted into gas by the laser. At the end of the procedure, most or a significant portion of these floaters are destroyed or reduced to a size that does not significantly interfere with vision. It is normal for the patient to observe small, dark spots in the lower part of the field of vision after the treatment. This is the effect of the gaseous molecules and disappears in a short time.

Clinical studies to date have shown that vitreolysis laser treatment is an effective and reliable treatment for many patients to eliminate or reduce floaters in the eye.  Some individuals may not be suitable for this procedure due to their eye structure. Whether people are suitable for vitreolysis treatment can be determined by the specialist physician.

Apart from vitreolysis laser treatment, surgical intervention can also be decided according to the diagnosis of the disease. With the surgical procedure to be performed under the control of an experienced specialist physician, some or all of the intraocular gel vitreous fluid is removed and replaced with a special electrolyte saline solution.

If there is no eye floaters that adversely affect the comfort of vision in daily life, no treatment is required. However, patients who are uncomfortable due to these floaters can be offered a solution with Vitreolysis Laser procedure.