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The Facts on Floaters
- Posted on: Jun 15 2025
Noticing strange specks, squiggles, or shadows drifting across your vision? Those annoying floaters are usually harmless, but they indicate it’s time for an eye check-up.
At Galiani Ophthalmology Associates, we offer advanced floater diagnosis and treatment in Doylestown, PA. Led by our esteemed medical director and founder, Dr. David Galiani, our team uses a personalized, patient-focused approach to keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear. We’ve been the area’s foremost eye care facility in Central Bucks County for about 40 years, and we’re proud to provide a safe, reliable space for support when you’re faced with frustrating problems like floaters.
Floaters happen to nearly everyone at some point, so it’s important to understand what they are and how to recognize them.
What Are Floaters?
Floaters are fragments of gel or cells within the vitreous (the clear, jelly-like substance filling your eyeballs.) These little clumps cast shadows on your retina (the light-sensing cells in the back of the eye), creating floating shapes in your visual field.
Recognizing Floaters
You might see floaters as:
- Strings or lines
- Wispy cobwebs
- Dark spots or specks
The main way you know they’re floaters is their movement. Floaters drift across your visual field, so they’re always moving (although slowly.) When you try and focus on them, they’re gone. Many people notice that floaters are especially prominent when looking at a bright background, like the sky.
When Should You Be Concerned About Floaters?
Most floaters are harmless and simply a part of aging — a process called posterior vitreous detachment. This happens as the vitreous gradually shrinks and separates from the retina.
PVD is usually a smooth process with only occasional floaters. A major increase in floaters, especially alongside flashes of light, could point to a serious problem like a retinal tear or detachment.
If your floaters are growing intrusive or quickly increasing, or if you experience vision changes, contact our office immediately. We take your concerns seriously and provide thorough exams to rule out vision-threatening conditions.
How We Treat Eye Floaters
Not all floaters require treatment, but we have options if they interfere with daily life. Based on your eye health and floater severity, Dr. Galiani and our team may recommend a watch-and-wait approach or an in-office laser treatment to break up floaters.
Some patients need a surgical procedure that removes the vitreous gel in severe cases.
We’ll walk you through your options and only suggest treatment if it benefits your long-term eye health.
Floater Treatment in Doylestown
Call Galiani Ophthalmology Associates at 215-345-5144 to book your appointment with Dr. Galiani and get help with floaters today.
Posted in: Floaters
