Do you sometimes see dark dots, squiggly lines, and shadowy cobwebs drifting across your field of vision? These eye floaters are common among older people and can be extremely annoying. While the most common advice is 'do nothing and ignore them', some recent studies suggest that nutritional supplements might be able to help. A recent news article on ScienceAlert discusses eye floaters and nutrition and has gained a lot of attention. In this deep dive, we explain what eye floaters are, why they appear, how nutrition is relevant, and what you can do about your eye floaters.
Table of Content
Introduction
If you've ever noticed tiny shadowy spots or squiggly lines drifting across your field of vision when you look at a clear blue sky or a bright computer screen, you're not alone. According to research, 7 in 10 people develop eye floaters at some point in their lifetime, and the condition worsens and becomes more common with age.
The condition negatively affects vision and can cause psychological distress, but people with eye floaters do not receive much support. Unless they are caused by serious conditions, most optometrists and ophthalmologists tend to suggest that they are normal and nothing needs to be done. There is also insufficient understanding of the condition, even among many medical professionals: its causes, effects, significance, and connections to general health.
Some recent scientific studies suggest that nutrition is related to eye floaters and certain nutrients might be beneficial. Some supplement products for eye floaters have been created, and a recent article on ScienceAlert titled 'Can a Supplement Really Help Control Your Pesky Eye Floaters?', has brought more awareness to the issue.
At Theia Bio, our research team have studied eye floaters for several years and reviewed over 100 research papers on eye floaters and general eye health. In this article, we will elaborate on eye floaters, summarise the latest research, and explain the connection between nutrition and eye floaters.
What are eye floaters?
To understand what eye floaters are, it is useful to take a look at the structure of the eye and examine how it perceives images.
In the centre of the eyeball, there is a clear gel-like substance called vitreous humour. When light rays enter the eyeball, they pass through the vitreous humour before reaching the retina, which sends signals to the brain and enables it to generate images that we see.
When something goes wrong in the vitreous, new entities emerge in the gel that should be totally transparent in a healthy eye. These entities block the passage of light and cast shadows on the retina, which become different shapes of eye floaters. These entities can be a variety of things, depending on the cause of your eye floaters.
What causes eye floaters?
Eye floaters have many different possible causes. The most common types of eye floaters relate to the degeneration of the vitreous. However, they can also be caused by other conditions, some of which are serious and require immediate medical attention.
1. Vitreous Degeneration
In most people's eyes, the vitreous is a clear gel at birth. It contains mainly water, collagen, and hyaluronic acid.
However, as one grows older, the vitreous deteriorates: it becomes more liquid in form, and the collagen inside breaks down and clumps together. This process is called vitreous liquefaction or syneresis. At the age of 50, round 25% of the vitreous is liquid, and the percentage goes up to 60% for people over 80. (Source) This process leads to the most common kind of eye floater, which is caused by collagen clumps.
Among older people, vitreous degeneration often leads to another condition: Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD), where the vitreous has degenerated so much that it shrinks and pulls away from the retina. This process can cause the sudden emergence of new floaters. A particular ring-shaped type of floater called 'Weiss ring' is associated with PVD.
Something that is not often discussed or well understood is contributing factors that lead to or accelerate vitreous degeneration. Eye floaters occur very early for some people: genetics may be a factor, especially in the case of hereditary disorders like Stickler syndrome; myopia also increases the risk because myopic people have elongated eyeballs, which affect the vitreous structure. Menopause triggers hormonal changes that can cause vitreous degeneration. Trauma and inflammation are important reasons too. (Source)
2. Other more serious causes
While most eye floaters are caused by collagen clumps related to vitreous degeneration, eye floaters can be caused by other things such as blood and floating cells, which similarly block the passage of light and cause shadows. These floaters are associated with serious conditions such as vitreous haemorrhage and retinal detachment. That is why if you suddenly see more floaters or your floaters suddenly change in appearance, you should go to a doctor immediately.
What can you do about eye floaters?
Because eye floaters can be caused by serious conditions, it is important to have eye exams regularly to make sure that your eye health is fine. Other than that, there are many things you can do to deal with your eye floaters: to remove them, make them less bothersome, and/or prevent them from getting worse.
1. Treatment
To remove eye floaters, there are two main treatment methods: vitrectomy and YAG laser. Vitrectomy removes the vitreous humour, while YAG laser breaks down the collagen clumps that cause eye floaters. Because they are both very risky, they are rarely recommended by experts, except in cases where the eye floaters are extremely severe or when they are associated with serious medical issues.
While the treatment methods are not applicable to most people with eye floaters, there are other risk-free ways of improving floater symptoms and keeping eye floaters in check.
2. Symptomatic Relief
Eye floaters are distracting and annoying, but you can make them less intrusive. Because eye floaters are more apparent in brightly lit conditions, controlling your ambient lighting can make eye floaters less bothersome. You can choose warm indoor lighting instead of bright white lights. You can also wear dark tinted glasses indoors and wear sunglasses outdoors. Some doctors in the US prescribe low-dose atropine eye drops, which dilate the pupil and make eye floaters look fainter and fuzzier. There are also studies and subjective reports which suggest that certain nutrients can make eye floaters fainter.
3. Management
People with eye floaters often seek to get rid of eye floaters completely, but it is no less important to control the condition and prevent it from getting worse. As explained above, vitreous degeneration is a progressive condition that naturally gets worse with age. If no action is taken, it is likely that more eye floaters will emerge and the vitreous will worsen. Therefore, it is crucial to address the underlying cause of eye floaters: vitreous degeneration. Protecting your eyes from UV is essential. Some research suggests that blue light from LED screens can also cause damage, so it might be helpful to reduce screen time and wear blue light glasses. Hydration might be important too because the vitreous is composed mostly of water. Furthermore, based on the latest research, nutrition may be a commonly overlooked piece of the puzzle.
How does nutrition affect eye floaters?
To explain the role of nutrition, it is essential to go back to vitreous degeneration and examine its causes in more detail. Why does the vitreous degenerate? Why does the collagen inside clump together?
Recent research has identified two underlying mechanisms that negatively affect vitreous health: oxidative stress and protein glycation. (Source) Oxidative stress is caused by reactive oxygen species, which are generated all the time within the body and also caused by external factors. The body has antioxidants that can neutralise reactive oxygen species, but when there is an imbalance, reactive oxygen species can cause damage. Meanwhile, protein glycation is caused by sugar: sugar can react with normal proteins and damage them. That is why high blood sugar can lead to collagen damage and affect skin health, joint health, and eye health.
The vitreous is naturally high in antioxidants, especially vitamin C, which helps it combat oxidative stress. However, over time, the body's antioxidant capacity decreases, and there may also be more sources of oxidative stress. Studies show that liquefied vitreous has lower levels of antioxidants. (Source)
In 2021, a peer-reviewed study shows that certain antioxidants and anti-glycation nutrients can help to support vitreous health. (Source) The researchers gave a supplement formulation to a group of people with eye floaters. After 6 months, around 70% of the test subjects experienced tangible improvements: they reported their visual comfort improved, and scans of their vitreous showed reductions in vitreous opacity areas that cause eye floaters. The researchers suggest that the formulation can be used to support eye floater patients.
This supplement formulation is currently the best formulation for eye floaters. Admittedly, the study has certain shortcomings: for example, the sample size is small. However, its methodology is sound, and its results are encouraging. On a podcast interview, Dr Joseph Allen, a leading optometrist, says the following: 'It's only one study, and I want to see more, but that right now is probably the only supplement on the market that has probably the best research behind it. It was a placebo-controlled trial.' (Source) Furthermore, all of the nutrients in the formulation have well-attested benefits for general health, apart from their effects on eye floaters: for example, grape seed extracts can support brain health and cardiovascular health; zinc has extensive health benefits; lysine supports collagen health.
Theia Bio's Clearer® Eye Health Supplement is the leading supplement based on this study. It contains all the nutrients tested in the study at doubled dosages. It also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are nutrients that support macular health: they help to combat oxidative stress, absorb high-energy blue light, and increase macular pigment density. Thanks to its research-backed formulation and exceptional quality, it has been featured in national and international media, recommended by expert nutritionists, and trusted by thousands of customers.
- Containing all the nutrients tested in the eye floater study
- Boosted with lutein and zeaxanthin for macular support
- Clean and bioavailable formulation without artificial fillers
- Made in the UK to the highest manufacturing and testing standards
'I have used Clearer for 8-9 months now and my floaters have become much lighter and less distracting. I can honestly say it's working.'
What do people say about using supplements for eye floaters?
Since the launch of Clearer® two years ago, thousands of people in over 10 countries have chosen Clearer® to support their vitreous health and manage eye floaters.
While it is not a cure for eye floaters, many of our customers report that their eye floaters are fainter or smaller and they are less bothered by eye floaters.
Furthermore, Clearer® offers an all-round formulation that supports both vitreous and macular health and helps to combat oxidative stress and age-related degeneration.
At Theia Bio, we are proud of having created an innovative nutritional product that supports people's eye health. We are determined to improve Clearer® continuously and support clinical research so as to help people with eye floaters protect and improve their vision.
Frequently asked questions
My optician told me nothing can be done about eye floaters. Why is that?
Many medical professionals regard eye floaters as a normal effect of ageing and advise passive observation. However, research clearly suggests that eye floaters stem from a degenerative condition that worsens over time, which can lead to serious issues. While it is true that removing eye floaters is very risky and difficult, many things can be done to improve eye floater symptoms and also to slow down the progression of eye floaters. Boosting your antioxidant intake is one of them.
Can Clearer® get rid of eye floaters?
No, Clearer® cannot remove eye floaters completely. However, the research study suggests that the formulation may reduce floater sizes for some people, and many of our customers report that their eye floaters are fainter or less intrusive. That would be a very desirable outcome that can improve visual comfort and psychological welfare.
How long do I need to take Clearer® for?
The eye floater study lasted for six months. Therefore, it is recommended to take Clearer® for at least six months. You can take Clearer® daily in the long term for general vision support as well.
I don't have eye floaters. Can I take Clearer®?
Yes, Clearer®'s nutrients can combat oxidative stress and support general eye health. The eye is particularly prone to oxidative stress because it is constantly bombarded by light that triggers photochemical reactions, which generate reactive oxygen species. That is why antioxidants are especially beneficial for eye health.
I am taking other supplements. Is that a problem?
No, but you might want to check your combined intake of nutrients from all your supplements to avoid overdosing on certain nutrients such as zinc.
Conclusion
Eye floaters are very common, especially among older people. While they can be caused by serious conditions and you should monitor your eye health closely, most eye floaters are caused by the progressive age-related degeneration of the vitreous, which liquefies and forms collagen clumps.
Traditionally, medical professionals tend to advise passive observation, except for the most serious cases. However, given that eye floaters stem from a progressive condition, it is important to keep them in check by supporting vitreous health. In addition, you can adopt various strategies, such as wearing tinted glasses, to make them less noticeable.
Recent research suggests that nutrition is important for managing vitreous degeneration. Nutritional supplements can be helpful in two ways:
- For some people, certain nutrients, such as those in Clearer®, can improve floater symptoms by making eye floaters smaller or fainter.
- For everybody, specific antioxidants and anti-glycation nutrients can help to slow down vitreous degeneration by counteracting oxidative stress and supporting collagen health.
Take action against eye floaters now