Most of us at some point have probably experienced the mild symptoms of seeing little dots floating in our vision. What are floats? Floaters are defined as small specks or clouds that move in our field of vision. They also sometimes appear as small dots, circles, clouds, or cobwebs.
What is happening inside the human eye in floaters? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there are actually small clumps of cells within the vitreous: a gel-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye. What is quite interesting about floaters is the fact that although they appear as objects in front of the eye, they are actually tiny cells floating inside. The images you see in your physical vision are reflections of the shadows they cast on the Retina. People with hoverflies in some cases can see flashing lights or lightning. These are created by the action of the Vitreous gel pulling on the Retina. These are also sometimes defined as seeing stars. This can happen in cases where an object has hit your eye. The flashes can occur intermittently for months.
What causes floaters? It usually occurs with the aging process. As we approach our middle age, it becomes more pronounced. There are 2 main causes of floaters: The first is caused by contraction of the vitreous gel in the eye as it begins to create clumps and strings in the eye that block the area that transmits light to the retina. Hence the creation of shadows that our eyes process like floaters. The second is the action of the vitreous moving away from the posterior wall of the eye. The second cause is more common in myopic people, people who have undergone YAG laser eye surgery, eye injuries, and eye inflammations. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends consulting your Ophthalmologist in the following serious cases:
1 The size and number of Floaters increase dramatically.
2 The appearance of sudden flashes in your vision.
3 There is a sudden significant decrease in your vision.
Can natural healing methods reduce mild or moderate forms of floaters? According to natural vision specialist Dr. Marc Grossman, floaters can be treated with a special vision diet. His recommendations are whole grains and replace white sugar with molasses. He advises minimizing salt intake. The vision diet includes food sources such as fish, soy, and nuts instead of meat, poultry, eggs, or dairy. Eliminate Coffee, Tea and Alcohol and increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Avoid the nightshade family of fruits. These are tomatoes, green peppers, white potatoes and eggplant. Antioxidants such as grapeseed oil, lutein, zeaxanthin, and cranberry are recommended. These promote healthy blood vessels in the eyes while Ginkgo increases blood flow. Vitamin A and C promote eye health, while apple pectin and L-methionine are for detoxification purposes; removing heavy metals that circulate through the eye.
Eye exercises can reduce floaters and bring energy and circulation to the parts of the eyes that need it most. Here is a sampling of 3 simple, safe, and easy eye exercises that can reduce floaters.
The eyes of a patient with floaters responded positively to the following eye exercise techniques: Remember, always consult your ophthalmologist before beginning any eye exercise program to ensure that your eyes are healthy enough to perform the techniques. A physical eye exam is always strongly recommended to indicate whether or not there are any underlying medical issues associated with your eye condition.
1 Warm your hands by rubbing them together, then gently and gently press your palms against your eyes for 10 seconds. Be careful not to put too much pressure on your eyes. Repeat this process 5 times. You can perform this technique daily to gradually reduce floaters.
2 Apply a light message to your temples with your knuckles in a circular motion, first forward, then back. Repeat this process 5 times in each direction. Gently apply the same message technique to your forehead.
3 Tilt your head so that you are looking up at the ceiling. Look straight ahead and roll your eyes clockwise, then switch to a counterclockwise movement. Repeat this exercise 5 times.
In most cases, floaters are a relatively harmless eye condition, except in severe cases. You have the ability to take control of your eye health. By combining the proper diet for healthy vision along with effective natural eye exercise techniques, you can reduce the incidence of floaters.