Vitreolysis is a non-invasive procedure that can reduce or eliminate the visual disturbance caused by floaters. The procedure is performed in-office and takes only about 10-20 minutes. The procedure is pain-free, so no anesthesia is required.
Floaters are located between the lens and the retina. When we are born, the vitreous humor (the gelatinous substance filling the eye) is perfectly transparent. As we age, this vitreous humor degenerates, losing its form and liquefying. Without the stable vitreous humor, the collagen fibers collapse and bind together to form clumps. It is these fibers that cast shadows on the retina and appear as spots, strings, or cobwebs that are commonly referred to as “floaters.”