Eye Floaters

Most floaters are the result of bits of cells that remain in the gel-like vitreous humor after birth and become more obvious when the vitreous becomes more liquified later in life.

Over 50% of people over 70 years of age report seeing floaters. Most floaters are age-related, due to degenerative changes of the vitreous humour or retina that results in the release of connective tissue (protein) into the vitreous humour. Some parts of the vitreous may also form clumps or strands inside the eye.

Other spots can be caused by little bits of protein trapped within the eye during while in utero. Trauma to the eye or breakdown of the vitreous humour may also cause spots and floaters. Many floaters remain in the eye for long periods of time before they gradually disappear.

Floaters are commonly found in those who are nearsighted. People with food allergies and/or candidiasis (chronic yeast infections) are also likely to notice eye floaters.

From the perspective of Chinese Medicine, floaters are an indication of congestion in the liver, kidney, and colon. The herbs and nutrients we recommend below are chosen for their abilities to eliminate congestion in these organs and thus keep the vitreous of the eye clear from these annoying specks. The supplements also help strengthen the retinal tissue and integrity of the blood vessels.

Finally, we believe chronic stress in one's life may play a role in the generation of floaters, so developing a daily routine of relaxation and meditation is very important.

IMPORTANT NOTE: A sudden increase of floaters can be an indication of a vitreous or retinal detachment. People who are very nearsighted and/or diabetic are particularly prone to floaters and retinal tears. After the age of 70 the prevalence of a vitreous detachment jumps from 10% of the population to 63%. If you suddenly see new floaters, make an appointment with your eye doctor immediately.

See "Drugs That Harm the Eyes" for a discussion of medications that could be potentially detrimental to your vision.

There is no specific treatment for floaters. In very severe cases, the doctor may consider doing a vitrectomy, in which the vitreous fluid is removed and replaced with an artificial gel.

There are a few eye doctors that are performing laser surgery for floaters, but one of the major criteria for one's eligibility is the location of the floaters in the vitreous fluid. Apparently, most people that may be eligible for laser surgery have had a post vitreous detachment (PVD), which sometimes pushes the floaters toward the middle of the eyes and away from the retina and lens.

This procedure has not yet been accepted by most of the medical community, probably due to the associated risks.

Maintain a healthy diet:

• The Vision Diet, as recommended in Natural Eye Care: An Encyclopedia on CD, authored by Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac. and Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac. This CD covers 29 major eye conditions, including floaters. It offers advice and instruction on nutrients, diet, exercise, and juicing specific to each eye condition, plus much more.
• Daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic). Our floater recipe involves some combination of the following: garlic, parsley, beets, carrots, celery, parsnip, apple, raspberries (not too much fruit). Also see more information on juicing..
• Supplement your diet with a good multivitamin such as Dr. Grossman's Whole Food Multivitamin and/or an organic green drink daily
• For protein, emphasize fish, soy (in moderation), almonds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds. Avoid meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and most other nuts.
• Eat brown rice and other whole grains instead of refined and processed grains (such as white bread and pasta).
• Use unsulfered molasses and fruit juices for sweetening instead of white sugar, chocolate, or honey.
• Drink rice, almond, or soy milk, herb tea or unsweetened, diluted fruit juices instead of coffee, tea, alcohol, or dairy drinks.
• Steam or bake foods instead of frying them.
• Eat lots of vegetables, but avoid the nightshade family (e.g., tomatoes, green peppers, white potatoes and eggplant).
• Minimize your use of salt.

Lifestyle

Try to manage your stress. Take up Yoga, Tai Chi, meditation, walks in nature, or prayer on a daily basis.

Finally, you'll find the experience of a woman who recovered from floaters and vitreous detachment to be quite interesting.