Pay attention to these "mosquitoes" that you can't drive away!

Ms. Li (pseudonym), 52 years old this year, is an avid square dance enthusiast. She feels uncomfortable if she doesn't dance for a day. But recently, Ms. Li had to give up dancing temporarily because a lot of "mosquitoes" that she couldn't drive away suddenly appeared in front of her eyes.

"After I got up that day, I suddenly found several small black shadows floating in front of my eyes, and I couldn't get rid of them no matter what I did." Sister Li complained, "These black shadows are like mosquitoes flying around in front of your eyes, but what is more annoying than mosquitoes is that they can't be driven away at all. Not only do I can't dance, but it also affects my life!" Sister Li realized that there might be something wrong with her eyes, so she hurried to the Department of Ophthalmology of the Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University for examination. After a detailed examination by Director Li Xiangyun, Sister Li was diagnosed with floaters.

Director Li Xiangyun said : When a dark shadow appears in front of your eyes that you cannot get rid of, do not ignore the seriousness of the problem. You should go to a regular hospital for examination immediately to protect your eye health as soon as possible. According to the cause of the floaters, the next step of treatment or follow-up plan should be formulated in time.

# 1What are vitreous opacities?

Vitreous opacities (floaters) are a symptom in which shadows of opacities in the vitreous are cast onto the retina, interfering with vision.

# 2What are the common symptoms of eye floaters?

The symptoms are floating dots, strips, clouds, spider webs, and shadows that move with the eyeballs, especially when looking at a bright background.

# 3 What factors may cause floaters?

Physiological reasons: The vitreous body undergoes liquefaction-like changes, producing some turbid substances, which is more common in myopic people.

Degenerative causes: As age increases, the vitreous further liquefies, causing the vitreous to separate from the retina, which often occurs in people over 40 years old.

Pathological causes: generally caused by fundus diseases, which are caused by changes in the vitreous body due to lesions in the retina, optic nerve, ciliary body, etc. This will affect vision and sometimes even cause blindness.

Wu Jianhua, chief physician, associate professor, master's supervisor, deputy director of the 3rd Committee of the Ophthalmologists Branch of the Hubei Medical Association, director of the Department of Fundus Diseases, and dean of the Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University (Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital), reminds that "floaters" may be the first symptom of certain serious eye diseases. If you have related symptoms of floaters, you must go to the hospital for examination in time to avoid unnecessary eye diseases.