Eye floaters are a visual condition that appears as spots, black dots, or floating strands in the field of vision and can occur at any age. At the same time, a number of eye doctors in Kabul say that a lack of awareness about the causes of this condition, the age at which it becomes common, and its possible consequences has led some patients to ignore it and delay visiting a doctor. According to them, floaters are in most cases linked to bodily changes and aging, and are more common in people over 40. In their view, severe nearsightedness, eye trauma, inflammation, and a history of eye surgery can also play a role in their onset.
These doctors add that some patients turn to traditional methods such as using kohl and honey to treat the condition, whereas these methods do not cure floaters, and the use of unhygienic substances may damage the eye. They warn that the sudden appearance of floating spots, flashes of light, or a shadow or black curtain in the field of vision can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment, and that delaying a visit to a doctor increases the risk of severe and permanent loss of vision. The doctors stress the importance of public awareness about this condition and say that recognizing the warning signs and seeing a doctor on time is important in preventing serious damage to eyesight.
Ahmad Walid Farhmand, an eye doctor, says that awareness about eye floaters is low among people in Afghanistan, and that a number of people do not take the condition seriously because they are unaware of its consequences. According to him, some patients use home remedies to treat floaters instead of visiting a doctor.
Farhmand says: “Not every case of floaters means the presence of a dangerous disease, but a new and sudden onset of floaters should not be ignored. Sometimes this condition can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment. If a person suddenly notices numerous black spots in their field of vision, sees flashes of light, or feels that a black curtain has covered part of their vision, they should see an eye specialist immediately, because delays in diagnosing and treating retinal problems may lead to severe and permanent loss of vision.
Farhmand adds that floaters in most cases do not require specific treatment, but if a retinal tear or detachment occurs, the patient must receive treatment as soon as possible. According to him, the method of treatment is determined based on the cause of the condition, and in some cases, laser or surgery is used.
The doctor continues: “People should not turn to home remedies such as honey, kohl, water, or traditional drops to treat floaters, because these substances not only fail to treat changes in the vitreous, but may also cause inflammation, irritation, or eye infection. Seeing an eye specialist on time and getting a correct diagnosis of the condition, especially in cases of retinal damage, can prevent severe and permanent loss of vision.”
Abdul Wahid, an eye specialist and surgeon, describes eye floaters as a common eye condition that appears as black dots, thin strands, cobweb-like shapes, or floating objects in the field of vision. According to him, this condition mostly develops as a result of changes in the vitreous body and aging, especially after the age of 40; severe nearsightedness, and a history of eye surgery or trauma are factors linked to its onset.
This eye specialist says: “Eye floaters usually appear as black dots, thin strands, or floating objects in the field of vision, and in many cases they result from changes in the vitreous body and the buildup of collagen fibers inside it. This condition is seen more often in people over 40 and in those who have severe nearsightedness or have experienced eye surgery and trauma. However, not every case of floaters is a sign of a dangerous disease. But if floating spots appear suddenly or their number increases, it should not be put down to aging or eye fatigue. In such cases, an examination of the retina is essential, because sometimes floaters can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment.”
This doctor stresses that using ordinary eye drops, kohl, and honey are among the false beliefs about treating floaters, because these substances cannot eliminate the floating spots inside the vitreous. He recommends that people not resort to home remedies to treat this condition, and that after noticing symptoms, they see a doctor to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.
This doctor warns: “One important point is that prolonged use of mobile phones and computers, lack of sleep, or eye fatigue is not a direct cause of true floaters. Likewise, ordinary eye drops, kohl, and honey cannot eliminate the buildup inside the vitreous body or treat a retinal tear or detachment. If a person suddenly faces numerous floaters, sees flashes of light, or feels that a curtain or black shadow has covered part of their field of vision, they should see an eye specialist without delay and on the same day. In the case of a retinal tear or detachment, delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to severe and even permanent loss of vision.”
Abdul Wahid has stressed the need to raise awareness among the people of Afghanistan about eye floaters and considers awareness-raising about the symptoms, causes, and consequences of this condition to be essential.
Meanwhile, several patients who have developed eye floaters say that before developing the condition, they had little awareness about it and did not know about its causes, diagnosis methods, or treatment. They add that at first they did not take the floating spots in their field of vision seriously and did not know that in some cases this condition can be a sign of a serious problem in the retina of the eye.
Shima, 40, one of the patients with eye floaters, says that floating black spots appeared in her field of vision after her husband beat her and she was struck in the eye. According to her, she did not take the situation seriously at first and thought the spots had appeared as a result of anxiety and psychological pressure, but as time passed, the number of spots increased, and her vision also became blurry.
Shima says: “In the first days, I thought that perhaps I was seeing the black spots in front of my eyes because of anxiety and psychological pressure, but over time these spots increased and my vision became blurry. After that, my brother took me to a doctor, and he referred me to an eye specialist. After visiting and receiving treatment, my condition improved. Now I think that if someone faces such a problem, they should not wait and should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Eye floaters are a visual condition that in many cases is linked to aging and changes in the vitreous body. This condition usually does not require specific treatment, but the sudden appearance of floating spots, or their coming together with flashes of light and reduced vision, can be a sign of serious retinal problems.
Eye specialists stress that distinguishing between ordinary floaters and cases caused by a retinal tear or detachment is possible only through a specialized eye examination. However, no specific and accurate statistics are available on the number of people with eye floaters and cases related to retinal damage in Afghanistan.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
«مگسپران چشم»؛ عارضهای شایع با پیامدهای احتمالی خطرناک برای بینایی
