Mouches Volantes

Symptoms

Mouches volantes (“flying flies,” “flying gnats”) are small, gray, translucent, and blurry opacities in the visual field that look like spots, threads, or dots. They are mainly subjectively visible against a bright and white background and float by with a delay when the eyes are moved. These vitreous opacities can be considered bothersome. They can interfere with reading, driving, watching television, and working on the computer.

Causes

The eye is filled between the lens and the retina by a gel-like substance composed primarily of water, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. This vitreous is transparent and allows light to fall unobstructed on the retina. With advancing age, it becomes increasingly liquefied. Mouches volantes are usually collagen fibers stored together in the vitreous body. They cast a shadow on the retina, scattering light and thus interfering with perception. Risk factors include:

  • Age – however, the opacities can occur even in young people.
  • Myopia
  • Eye diseases, eye injuries, hemorrhages, eye inflammation.
  • Posterior vitreous detachment
  • Diabetes (retinopathy)

If many of the dots suddenly appear, or if there are additional flashes of light and visual disturbances, patients should seek medical attention immediately, as it could be a retinal detachment.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made in ophthalmologic care.

Treatment

Usually, no treatment is necessary for benign mouches volantes. Patients should not focus on the “floaters” and get used to them. For severe cases, treatment options exist at the ophthalmologist:

  • In laser vitreolysis, the particles are dissolved with a Nd:YAG laser. This method can be performed on an outpatient basis, is non-invasive and is considered relatively safe.
  • Vitrectomy involves surgical removal of a portion of the vitreous. This procedure is associated with more risks and is rarely performed.