We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is the Best Way to get Rid of Floaters?

By Christina Edwards
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 15,527
Share

Some people call them spots or dots, some call them squigglies, and some even call them snakes. Floaters are a very common eye problem that affect just about everyone at some point. These tiny specks are usually caused by clumps of gelled vitreous fluid, which is the watery fluid that makes up the center of the eyeball. Although most of the time, floaters are harmless and may possibly fade with time, a few methods have been devised to get rid of them, including special diets and eye drops. In more serious cases, however, some ophthalmologists will recommend surgery to improve or save a person's vision.

Some people recommend a special diet to get rid of and prevent floaters, though many ophthalmology experts are skeptical of this method. Special diets to get rid of floaters often encourage the consumption of a number of organic foods, especially vegetables. Fruit, however, should be eaten in moderation. Certain types of proteins are strongly recommended, especially protein from fish and nuts, along with whole grains and brown rice.

As with most diets, this diet has a list of things that should be avoided. These include processed white sugars, honey, salt, and anything from the nightshade family, like peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes. These diets call for food to be cooked by steaming, baking, or broiling, and it should never be fried in oil or butter. Many individuals who follow this diet also take a daily multi-vitamin or herbal supplement specifically made for optimal eye health.

Special eye drops can also help eliminate floaters. These eye drops typically contain a compound known as methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is a sulfur that occurs naturally in the human body. Manufacturers claim that these drops soften the membrane of the eye, which allows certain nutrients and moisture to penetrate the eyeball. These claims, though, have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Many ophthalmologists believe the only way to get rid of floaters is with surgery, and this is typically only used in very severe cases in which the patient's vision problems make daily tasks difficult. A vitrectomy is often used to correct a severe condition, along with other more serious eye problems, including a detached retina and bleeding inside the eyeball. During this procedure, the vitreous fluid inside the eyeball is removed and replaced with a stable solution.

Laser eye surgery, although considered to be a little less effective, is another, less-invasive type of eye surgery that can be done to remove floaters. During this surgery, a laser is used to obliterate the clumps inside the eyeball. Larger clumps typically take a number of sessions to completely remove.

Just about everyone experiences floaters at some point, and the majority of the time, they are harmless, albeit annoying. The sudden appearance of severe floaters or floaters along with flashes of light, however, can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as a torn or detaching retina. A person should seek medical care as quickly as possible if these symptoms are present. If caught early enough, a surgeon will most likely be able to repair the damaged portion of the eyeball with little or no vision impairment.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon1006655 — On Apr 22, 2022

I am 63 (born 1058). At 20 I moved into my first apt - fixing my own food for the first time, where a staple of my diet became pasta with tomato sauce (made my own). This continued for decades - I was addicted to tomatoes.

At age 25, virtually overnight, my eyes filled with cobwebby floaters. At 36 a psychic healer in Holland told my it was a metabolic disorder, but she was unable to say what food was doing it. I saw a nutritionist. But nothing came of it. It wasn't until 2011 (at which point the condition had peaked) that my sister said her TCM dr. said I should drop all nightshade foods. Within a few months I noticed a difference. After a couple years they were reduced by 85% or more. Since then a detached retina necessitated a vitrectomy in one eye (so floaters gone now in that eye), but the remaining floaters in the other eye are entirely manageable.

During the 3 decades of torture I blackened my computer screen (white text), wore eye patches, sunglasses, double sunglasses, etc to cope. It was unremitting torture. I can't say if quitting nightshades would help everyone, but for me it was a miracle! Though, I still miss tomatoes.

By anon299135 — On Oct 23, 2012

Floaters are hell!

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-the-best-way-to-get-rid-of-floaters.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.