Flies in front of the eyes: when should you worry?

We found out where the "flies" in front of the eyes come from and whether it is possible to get rid of them у ophthalmologist of the highest category Olena Paramonchyk.

What is this pathology?

- similar in most cases, the symptoms are caused by the destruction of the vitreous body (VTE) - damage to the gel-like intraocular structure. It is accompanied by clouding, thickening and sticking of its fibers. Normally, the vitreous body should be completely transparent.

RџSЂRё damage his structures a person complains about the appearance of floating "flies", threads, lines or dots in the field of vision, most noticeable on a bright plain or white background - when looking at the sky, snow, a blank sheet of paper. The culprits are cells of the vitreous body that have peeled off and move freely along with eye movement.

Why having a vision problem?

This is a very common pathology. After five years on her almost every second one complains. Most often, this is a consequence of the body's natural aging processes, which are not subject to correction. But there are other, more dangerous reasons, when problems with the vitreous body and the appearance of "flies" become a symptom of diseases or conditions that require urgent treatment.

In addition to age-related changes, damage to the vitreous body can be caused by severe myopia, injuries, impaired cerebral circulation, hormonal failures, endocrine and infectious diseases, cervical osteochondrosis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, and nervous disorders.

Obesity, the presence of parasites in the body, taking certain medications, deficiency of vitamins and trace elements, frequent й prolonged visual stress, smoking, chronic stress, depression.

What are the symptoms? є dangerousthem?

In addition to the destruction of the vitreous body, "flies" in front of the eyes can occur with hemorrhage in the retina or vitreous body, detachment of the vitreous body, inflammation of the choroid of the eye.

But the most dangerous pathologies, the symptoms of which are similar to DST, are tearing and detachment of the retina, which threaten irreversible loss of vision і require immediate surgical intervention. Therefore, if floating cloudy particles appeared in front of the eyes suddenly and in large quantities and are accompanied by sparks, lightning or flashes of light, urgently go to the doctor!

What treatment will be prescribed?

For confirmation diagnosis "destruction of the vitreous body" usually involves an ophthalmological examination using a slit lamp, visual acuity test, ophthalmoscopy (examination of the transparency of the eye structures and fundus), tonometry (measurement of intraocular pressure). If the doctor needs additional data, an ultrasound may be prescribedka and other diagnostic examinations.

Questions about how to treat the destruction of the vitreous body of the eye and whether it is necessary to do it are decided in each case individually.

• As a rule, if floating "flies" appeared with age, they are small, byaloneкand, do not change their shape and do not interfere with vision, therapy is not carried out. It is quite simple for such patients to undergo regular ophthalmological examination in order not to miss a more serious disease. Moreover, over the years, opacities in the vitreous body can sometimes even decrease or disappear.

• If DST arose as a result of another pathology, treatment of the underlying disease is prescribed.

Sometimes surgery is recommended for the treatment of destruction of the vitreous body - vitreolysis (splitting opacities with the help of a laser) or vitrectomy (partial or complete replacement of the vitreous body with an artificial medium). But these interventions are carried out in exceptional cases, as they have a high risk of complications і в are often contraindicated in old age.

Charging for the eyes will help і sunglasses

To reduce the risk of the appearance of "flies" or to stop the destructive process that has already begun in the vitreous body:

•  regularly do relaxing exercises for the eyes і eyelid massage;
•  exclude excessive physical activity і lift heavy objects;
•  зprotect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation.

Iryna Kadchenko