Can Astigmatism Cause Eye Floaters? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

What are Eye Floaters?

Eye floaters are small specks or cobweb-like shapes that drift across your field of vision. While annoying, eye floaters are very common and usually aren't cause for concern. Almost everyone has experienced eye floaters at some point.

Eye floaters occur when tiny clumps of collagen or cells inside the vitreous, a gel-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye, cast shadows onto your retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that transmits images to your brain.

As we age, the vitreous begins to shrink and liquefy. This causes pieces of collagen or cells to clump together and cast shadows on the retina. These shadowy shapes you see drifting in your field of vision are called eye floaters.

Eye floaters come in different shapes and sizes. Some common types include:

• Spots - small, dot-like floaters
• Cobwebs or stringy floaters - thin, wispy strands
• Rings or small circles
• Clouds or smears - larger blob-like floaters

Most people learn to ignore mild eye floaters and don't seek treatment. But in some cases, bothersome eye floaters can interfere with vision and activities. Treatment options for severe floaters include vitrectomy surgery to remove the vitreous gel and floaters.

What Causes Eye Floaters?

There are several possible causes of eye floaters:

• Age-related vitreous changes - As you age, the vitreous gel inside the eye liquefies and its proteins clump together. This is the most common cause of eye floaters.
• Posterior vitreous detachment - The vitreous gel pulls away from the retina, causing clumps or strands of collagen to detach. This also occurs with aging.
• Injury to the eye - Trauma from an injury may cause bleeding inside the eye. Blood in the vitreous cavity can appear as spots or cobweb shapes.
• Inflammation - Eye inflammation can cause white blood cells to clump in the vitreous, appearing as floaters.
• Tears or holes in the retina - Small tears in the retina allow vitreous fluid to seep behind the retina, causing floaters.
• Diabetic retinopathy - Abnormal blood vessels leaking blood or fluid into the vitreous.
• Eye surgery - Floaters are common after cataract surgery or other eye procedures.
• Eye tumors - Rarely, eye lymphomas or other tumors on the retina can cause eye floaters.

Are Eye Floaters Related to Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a common vision condition that causes blurred vision. It occurs when the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, has an irregular shape. This causes light rays to focus incorrectly on the retina, resulting in distorted or blurred vision.

People with astigmatism may have impaired vision at all distances. The irregularly-shaped cornea causes light to focus at more than one spot on the retina rather than one clear point. This dual focus results in blurry or distorted vision.

Astigmatism has nothing to do with the vitreous gel inside the eye where floaters occur. So astigmatism itself does not directly cause eye floaters.

However, astigmatism may be indirectly related to eye floaters if it's caused by an eye injury or inflammation that also results in bleeding or changes in the vitreous. For example, an eye injury could cause astigmatism due to corneal scarring as well as vitreous changes that lead to floaters.

But in most cases, astigmatism and eye floaters occur independently and aren't directly related. Millions of people have astigmatism without experiencing an increase in eye floaters. And floaters are primarily caused by age-related vitreous changes rather than corneal shape issues.

Key Points

• Astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea, not changes in the vitreous gel.
• Eye floaters occur due to clumping and collapse of vitreous proteins.
• Astigmatism itself does not cause eye floaters or increase risk.
• Injury, inflammation or surgery may independently cause both conditions.
• For most people, astigmatism and floaters are unrelated.

When to See an Eye Doctor About Eye Floaters

In most cases, small, sparse eye floaters are harmless and don't require treatment. But it's important to see an ophthalmologist or optometrist if you experience:

• Sudden onset of new floaters
• Sudden increase in number and density of floaters
• Floaters accompanied by light flashes
• Curtain-like shadowing over a large part of your vision
• Decreased vision or other vision changes

These symptoms can signal a retinal tear, retinal detachment, or other serious condition that requires prompt treatment. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency that causes blindness if not treated quickly.

See an eye doctor right away if you notice any symptoms of new or suddenly increased eye floaters. Your ophthalmologist will examine your eyes to determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.

When Floaters May Require Surgery

While surgery isn't necessary for most mild floaters, vitrectomy may be recommended if floaters:

• Impair reading vision or other daily activities
• Cause significant annoyance or distress
• Persist and don't fade even after 6 months
• Are very dense and numerous

Vitrectomy is outpatient surgery that removes the vitreous gel and replaces it with a salt solution. Removing the vitreous eliminates the collagen pieces and cells that cause floaters.

Potential risks and complications of vitrectomy include infection, bleeding, retinal tears, cataracts, glaucoma, and double vision. Discuss the benefits and risks with your eye surgeon.

Tips for Coping With Annoying Eye Floaters

While you can't completely eliminate floaters, there are tips to help minimize annoyance:

• Use bright illumination - Floaters are more visible in dim light. Bright lighting makes them less obvious.
• Focus vision farther away - Looking at a distant scene rather than reading helps floaters fade from notice.
• Supplements like bilberry extract may help slightly by supporting eye health.
• Wait it out - New floaters often fade and become less bothersome over time.
• Reduce eye strain - Avoid staring, take frequent breaks, adjust your screen.

With time, your brain will adapt and eye floaters will become less distracting. See an eye doctor if floaters don't improve or if you have any other vision changes.

When Are Flashing Lights Serious?

Sometimes eye floaters are accompanied by flashing lights in your peripheral vision. These flashes often appear as:

• Lightning streaks
• Sparkles, twinkles, or flickering lights
• Momentary dimming or darkening of vision

Seeing flashes along with new floaters is a medical emergency requiring immediate evaluation. These symptoms indicate a posterior vitreous detachment with traction on the retina that can lead to a retinal tear.

A retinal tear can allow vitreous fluid to seep under the retina, causing it to separate from the back of the eye. This is called retinal detachment and causes serious vision loss if not treated quickly.

Flashes and increased floaters are your warning signs of an impending retinal detachment. Seek emergency eye care even if flashes resolve on their own. The retina may still have suffered damage.

Flashing lights with eye floaters can also signal other conditions like:

• Inflammation or swelling in the eye
• Torn or loose retina
• Vitreous hemorrhage or bleeding
• Scar tissue on the retina
• Signs of vision loss

Eye flashes are always abnormal and need immediate evaluation to preserve your vision.

Diagnosing the Cause of Eye Flashes

To diagnose the cause of flashes, the ophthalmologist will:

• Ask about your symptoms and medical history
• Test visual acuity
• Check eye pressure
• Examine the eyes with a slit-lamp microscope
• Dilate the pupils to inspect the retina
• Check for areas of retinal tears of detachment
• Evaluate for bleeding or abnormalities in the vitreous

Additional tests like optical coherence tomography (OCT) or ultrasound may be done. OCT uses light waves to take cross-section images of the retina.

Once the cause is identified, prompt treatment can begin. This may include laser repair of retinal tears or cryopexy freezing to seal detaching retina. More severe retinal detachment requires surgical repair.

Can Astigmatism Be Corrected?

There are several options to correct astigmatism and improve blurred vision:

• Eyeglasses or contact lenses - Prescription lenses compensate for the irregular corneal curvature.
• Toric IOLs - Special toric lenses can be implanted during cataract surgery.
• Orthokeratology - Rigid contact lenses worn overnight reshape the cornea.
• Laser eye surgery - LASIK, PRK, or corneal implants correct astigmatism.

Eyeglasses or contacts are the simplest and most common way to manage astigmatism. But for those with severe astigmatism, permanent vision correction surgery may be preferable.

Discuss all the options and potential risks with your eye doctor. Determine the most appropriate method to improve astigmatism and vision clarity.

Can Astigmatism Be Prevented or Avoided?

Unfortunately, there's no reliable way to prevent astigmatism. It's usually congenital, meaning you're born with the irregular cornea shape. Or it develops later due to factors like:

• Aging
• Eye injuries
• Genetics
• Corneal scarring or disease

Since astigmatism is largely out of your control, focus on getting regular eye exams and treating it early. Proper vision correction helps prevent amblyopia and permanent vision impairment in children.

Using protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities can help lower injury risk. But even with precautions, astigmatism may still occur.

In Conclusion:

Eye floaters and astigmatism are two common vision conditions that affect millions of people. But in most cases, they occur independently and aren't directly linked.

Eye floaters result from age-related changes in the vitreous gel, while astigmatism is caused by an irregularly shaped cornea. Astigmatism itself does not increase the risk or severity of eye floaters.

However, eye injury or inflammation can sometimes independently cause both astigmatism and floaters. It's important to have regular eye exams to monitor both conditions and detect any retinal tears or detachment.

With proper treatment, bothersome eye floaters and blurred vision from astigmatism can be effectively managed. See an ophthalmologist promptly for any sudden increase in floaters, flashing lights, or vision changes.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.