Floater Laser Treatment (Vitreolysis)

Vitreolysis, also known as floater laser treatment, is a pain-free, simple and non-invasive procedure that uses a laser to eliminate the visual disruption that floaters can cause. This procedure is performed at your ophthalmologist’s office and can take 20-60 minutes per treatment. Most patients will need to have two treatments in order to get their desired results, which is to have a “functional improvement.” This entails being able to resume your normal activities without having the burden of floaters.On average, patients will require two treatment sessions to achieve a satisfactory result.

Vitreolysis uses a nano-pulsed laser to evaporate the vitreous strands and opacities. This highly-effective procedure also evaporates the collagen and hyaluronin molecules to form a gas. The result is that the floater gets eliminated or reduced to a size that no longer obstructs your vision.

This outpatient procedure involves getting some eye drops that will prepare your eye and are a mild anesthetic. The ophthalmologist will then place a contact lens on your eye that the laser light will go through. While being treated, you will probably see some small dark shadows or specks. This indicates that the floaters are being turned into small gas bubbles that will dissolve and get reabsorbed into the vitreous humor.

After treatment, you may be given some anti-inflammatory drops. Most patients do require two sessions to get desired results. These treatment sessions can be performed on consecutive days since there is no inflammation post-treatment.

Right after you are treated, you may notice some small, dark specks in your lower field of vision. These are small gas bubbles that will get dissolved and they are not a hindrance to your vision.

Some patients may experience some mild discomfort after treatment or they may have some redness or blurred vision that is temporary.

There are some floaters that are effectively treated with vitreolysis, but some types may be more difficult to treat than others. In order to determine if you are a good candidate for vitreolysis, you will first need to have an ophthalmic exam.

You are most likely to be a good candidate if you are suffering from constant shadows in your vision that move because of vitreal condensations, strands, fibers, and/or clouds. Additional factors that play into whether or not this is a good treatment for you are:

• Age: For most cases, patients under 45 years old who suffer from microscopic floaters that are close to the retina are most likely not a good candidate
• Floater Characteristics: Floaters that are best treated with vitreolysis are large and have a soft border that is positioned away from the retina
• Onset of Symptoms: If your symptoms came on very fast, they may be connected with a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which can be treated effectively with vitreolysis