The Human Biology in Medical Field

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Article by Jeffrey Guild

The Good NewsI’ve always been a good news first type of guy. Well, here it is: If the vitreous humor has already pulled off of the back of the eye safely, it won’t be under tension and will not pull the retina off the back of the eye. So, no retinal detachment. This is called a PVD (posterior vitreous detachment).You can think of the interface between the vitreous and retina like plastic wrap: it’s clingy. If it’s already pulled away from its normal position where it pushes the retina flat, it won’t rip or tear holes at it starts to shrink. This type of pulling causes a common condition in the ERM, or epi-retinal membrane, which can tear in the center of the retina’s vision, creating a ‘Macular hole.’ I’m sure you realize you don’t want a hole in the middle of your vision. It is possible to self-monitor for this by using an Amsler Grid. The wrinkling that occurs where the retina and vitreous interface causes scar tissue to form. To get an idea of how this occurs mechanically in the eye, just lift up your sleeve and notice how it wrinkles.The Bad NewsNow we’re on to the bad news. That is, if you have a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), the floaters in your eyes are more noticeable. In general, eye floaters are more visible in a bright background which has a lot of contrast.The most common posterior vitreous detachments form a ring over the head of the optic nerve. This is called a Weiss’s ring. The shape of the ring is caused by the release of attachments at the rim of the optic nerve head. This ring is often significant visually, and is far larger and more condensed than your classic floaters. The more classic type of eye floaters are stringy with undefined shapes. Also, a typical eye floater is more often mobile than the ring-shaped one. In general, a person who has a posterior vitreous detachment has greater risk for retinal detachment (RD) – this is because they are experiencing changes in vitreous humor already.

Cotlier Genetic Eye Diseases – Retinitis Pigment Osa & Other Inherited Eye Disorders

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by Community Eye Health

Article by homas Carter

For a large number of aging people, they are suffering from juvenile macular degeneration. And a lot of young people also want to know more about juvenile macular degeneration in order to take precaution to this eye disease. However, they don’t have a clear idea or find little information to learn about this. The following will give some introduction on juvenile macular degeneration and the recent researches on this eye disease.

First let us talk about the macula. Macula is a very important part of our eyes. It is in the center of the retina at the back of the eyes. What functions do they have? Actually our detailed and straight ahead vision is both decided by macula. So you can imagine if there is some problem with our macula, what kind of situation it will be. Researches show there are several forms of juvenile macular degeneration that can affect the macula, which finally lead to genetic mutation.

Among all forms of juvenile macular degeneration, vitelliform macular degeneration is the best as it can be regarded as macular dystrophy. Vitelliform macular degeneration is a hereditary eye disease and can be transferred by genes. People can be diagnosed of vitelliform macular degeneration at their childhood or adolescence. Though it is minor disease, there are also several stages for it. There is a layer under the macula, caused retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The first stage is there is a yellow cyst under the RPE, but this can not influence our vision for many years. And the second stage is when the cyst ruptures, and then the RAPE will be flooded by fluid and yellow deposits. The third stage is more serious. Patients will lose their central vision as the fluid and deposits will cause RPE degeneration. However, the peripheral vision still exists.

The most common form of macular degeneration is Stargardt’s disease which was first discovered in 1901 by Karl Stargardt, who is a German ophthalmologist. After that, he did a lot of researches on this disease. And researches show the responsible gene, ABCR may be useful for future gene therapy. But as the clinical trials for different forms of juvenile macular degeneration are few, scientists still do not have enough information and can not prove the better way to treat it. And now there is a assumption that DHA dietary supplement may have some effect in improving macular functions with the ELOVL4 mutation. But scientists still need to do a lot of researches on patients with Stargardt-like macular dystrophy or Stargardt macular dystrophy to prove this assumption.

If you want to know more about vision knowledge, then feel free to visit http://vision.firmoo.com/eye-diseases

Macular Degeneration; Dry and Wet Types; AREDS Result; Vitamins, antioxidants and Zinc; Omega3 fatty acids; Treatment of new vessels with VEGF inhibitors, Lucentis, Avastin; Risk Factors; age, race, smoking, family history, genetics, diet; Laser treatment of new vessels
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Central serous chorioretinopathy associated with topical corticosteroids in a patient with psoriasis.(SPECIAL TOPIC)(Report): An article from: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

This digital document is an article from Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, published by Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Inc. on August 1, 2011. The length of the article is 2415 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Title: Central serous chorioretinopathy associated with topical corticosteroids in a patient with ps

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Retinitis Pigmentosa Medical Guide

The Retinitis Pigmentosa Medical Guide is a publication which has been designed to better help readers understand Retinitis Pigmentosa. This Qontro Medical Guide has been designed with the reader in mind, and is a useful information source for readers at all levels looking to learn more about Retinitis Pigmentosa. The Retinitis Pigmentosa Medical Guide is highly recommended for those interested in understanding and learning more about Retinitis Pigmentosa.

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by qtschlepper

Article by Paul

Approximately 2,50,000 to 500,000 malnourished children in the developing world go blind each year from a deficiency of vitamin A makes the cornea dry, damaging it, and the retina. One of the first signs of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. Before you pop vitamin A pills, consult your doctor.

Too much vitamin A can harm.Consume rich in vitamin A, like meat and dairy products like fish, butter, cream, cheese, fruits and vegetables such as papaya, mangoes, spinach, sweet potatoes.

Vitamin A is a fat soluble substance that is divided into retinol and pro-vitamin A. retinol is the active form of vitamin A usually found in animal products, while pro-vitamin A is found in vegetables and fruits.You need to eat three times as much pro-vitamin A by the way of fruits and vegetables to get the same amount of retinol acquired in the consumption of animal products.

When you meet a blind person:

1. Don’t assume they need help. Ask.2. Speak in a natural tone. It is not necessary to speak loudly or to over enunciate. Shouting does not improve a person’s vision.3. Address him/ her personally, not through someone else. Loss of sight is not loss of intellect.4. If offering assistance, never hold them by the arm. Place their arm on your shoulder, so that they can follow slightly behind and anticipate changes.5. Indicate the end of a conversation when you leave so that she or he is not left talking to the air.6. Do not leave them standing in free space when you are serving as a guide. It can be unnerving.7. Be sure to give useful guidance and directions. Phrases like across the road and turn left at the next corner are more helpful than vague description like over there.8. Greet the person when you/ they enter the room so that she or he knows that you are present.

Types of visual impairment:

20 per cent of those legally blind are born with total blindness ( cause mostly unknown ). The remaining 80 per cent become blind as a result of :

Cataract:

A cataract forms when some of the protein in the lens of the persons eye clumps together, blocking some light from reaching the retina.

Glaucoma:

It is actually a group of diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve. As the optic nerve deteriorates, peripheral vision is gradually lost.

Retinal detachment:

A detachment occurs anywhere in the field of vision where the retina may be weakened, and pulled away from its normal position. Weakness in the retina may be a result of: injury, surgery, glaucoma, family history, etc.

Diabetic retinopathy:

Complications from diabetes cause blurred, patchy vision in areas that are damaged due to changes in the small blood vessels that nourish the eye.

Macular degeneration:

This is the result of deterioration of the macula, a portion of the retina responsible for clear sharp vision.

Retinitis pigmentosa:

Tunnel vision is commonly associated with the retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disease in which ones peripheral vision is lost.

Nystagmus:

This condition is characterised by an involuntary movement of the eyes, which may reduce vision or be associated with other, more serious condition that vision, like achromatopsia.

Degenerative Diseases of the Retina

University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Retinal Degenerations, held November 4-9, 1994, Jerusalem, Israel. Advanced clinical research, for ophthalmologists. Multiple international contributors. DNLM: Retinal Degeneration – congresses.

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by massdistraction

Article by Jacob Turner

If you have been seeing spots for some time now, you might have floaters inside your eyes. Do not worry though, as this is not a life-threatening condition. Almost everyone experience seeing these spots in their lifetimes. They are so common that many do not seek medical treatment and choose to live with it. Termed myodesopia medically, it can arise from a number of causes, including injuries, infections and diseases. In this article, you will read the situation that can predispose you into this condition.The most common cause of floaters is a condition called Posterior Vitreous Detachment. In layman’s term, PVD is the shrinkage of the vitreous humor. The vitreous humor is a substance that fills the eye, and also aids in the refraction of light. This substance is gel-like in consistency in younger people. Over time, it undergoes vitreous syneresis, a process that liquefies the substance. When the vitreous humor liquefies, some of its contents do not change in consistency. The unbroken vitreous humor now becomes plaques, which can accumulate in the chamber of the eye. When light passes through the pupils, these plaques cast a shadow, forming the specks that you see. PVD is not a rare condition, because the eyes naturally degenerate as people get older. Another cause of this condition is retinal detachment. Retinal detachment is a condition where the retina is peeled off from the lining of the eye. It can be caused by an injury or an aggravation of PVD. This is the time when seeing these specks become a threat. Retinal detachment can easily turn into blindness because it can be accompanied by injuries to the optic nerve and other tissues in the eye. When the number of these specks are said to increase in number drastically, it can be an indication of a retinal detachment. Other symptoms of retinal detachment include a curtain like sensation that covers the field of vision, flashes of light and a feeling of heaviness. It is important to consult an ophthalmologist immediately to provide the proper treatment and to prevent the worsening of the condition.If you are nearsighted or myopic, then you are also a candidate for acquiring this condition. If you are myopic, your eyes are longer than the average size. When the light enters your eyes, it focuses in a spot before the retina, making it hard to see images from a distance. Nearsightedness also means that there is a high chance that the vitreous humor can shrink, leading to PVD or retinal detachment. Other conditions that can predispose to having floaters are Diabetes, injuries to the blood vessels of the eye and other circumstances that can lead to formation of debris in the eye’s chambers.This condition can persist throughout your lifetime, and the shape of the specks frequently does not change. It is a good thing that the brain is able to cancel out these images by neural adaptation. This is because these fragments are fixed in a position. And if it is always there, the brain will just ignore it.

by clumsy_jim

Article by Joel Gray

We have entered the second decade of the twenty-first century. Today, affordable smart phones are widespread, computer game graphics look almost life-like, computer animation is almost indistinguishable from actual footage, remote-controlled drones patrol the skies, and Google maps provide street views of practically any city on Earth. What’s more, every year, the storage capacity of the average computer hard drive increases along with the computing power. We are living on the threshold of what could be a highly advanced future.

Along with the computer technology, medical technology is also advancing rapidly. Micro-computers, bionic limbs, artificial organs, nanotechnology, and lab-grown organs can potentially improve the quality of human life and change modern medicine. Such changes may take some time to be fully realized, but they are in their infancy today.

Micro-Computers and Nanotechnology

Micro-computers are a fascinating concept, and, until fairly recent years, they were only just a concept. But, today, the concept has become a reality. The phrase “worth your weight in salt” does not apply to micro-computers. One such computer that has actually been manufactured is smaller than a grain of salt (4). Professors Dennis Sylvester and David Blaauw, from the University of Michigan, have created a tiny, millimeter-long computer that contains a battery, a central processing unit (CPU), sensors, a tiny radio emitter, and electronics for powering the chip (4). The tiny computer is powered by light, requiring 10 hours of indoor lighting or 1.5 hours of sunlight exposure (4). The device is designed for being inserted into the eyeballs of glaucoma victims. It collects data with sensors and transmits the data through a radio wave (4). If there is too much internal pressure, the chip will transmit the data to medical professionals who will know what to do with the patient. Regarding this incredible technology, Sylvester said, “This is the first true millimeter-scale complete computing system. Our work is unique in the sense that we’re thinking about complete systems in which all the components are low-power and fit on the chip. We can collect data, store it and transmit it. The applications for systems of this size are endless” (5).

Another kind of micro-computer is in the process of being developed. Unlike Sylvester and Blaauw’s micro-computer, this one would use DNA for its electrical components. At the Hebrew University of Jerusalem a team of scientists has created the first DNA logic gates (3). Like their non-biological counterparts, the DNA logic gates represent one of two possible states, such as the zeros or ones of binary code (3). When one of two inputs was present at a DNA logic gate, the gate fluoresced, giving off light. And, when both of the two inputs or neither were present, the gate ceased fluorescing. This is similar to how a computer logic gate works. The DNA logic gates, when connected together and injected under the skin, may be able to form a biological-based computing system that can detect, diagnose, and treat common sicknesses or medical conditions (3).

Speaking of computers, a fairly new technology field has been gaining ground in recent years. Ever since Don Eigler of IBM spelled out “IBM” with 35 individual xenon atoms in 1989 (13), nanotechnology has been making many breakthroughs. Unlike most technology, which is easily visible to the unaided eye, nanotechnology deals with components much smaller than the head of a pin. Instead of being measured in meters, these components are measured in nanometers. To get a picture of how small this is, a billion nanometers can fit in one meter. Some examples of nanotechnology already in use would include carbon nanotubes (made out of billions of individual carbon atoms). These are currently being used to give extra strength to mountain bikes, golf club, and other high-end sporting equipment (7). Because they are composed entirely of carbon atoms, carbon nanotubes are used in water purification systems. Carbon, which is found in filters and diamonds, is good at attracting impurities and has a strong bonding arrangement.

Nanotechnology also has great promise for the future of medicine. One application of nanotechnology to the medical field is through the use of nanobots–microscopic machines made out of molecules–for fighting infection. Researchers at the Southwest UK Paediatric Burns Centre at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol have teamed up with scientists at the University of Bath to develop a “dressing” that kills pathogens (such as bacteria) by releasing antibiotics from “nanocapsules” (12). The harmful bacteria produce toxins which eat through the “nanocapsules”, releasing antibiotics (12). If this is perfected, the way doctors treat diseases may change. A patient may find that all he or she needs to do to recover from an illness is to simply swallow a pill: a pill filled with “nanocapsules”. Some other possibilities for nanotechnology in medicine might include nanobots for repairing damaged cells, nanobots for accelerating bone repair, and nanobots for killing cancer cells (14). Yes, you read it correctly, nanotechnology is thought to be a possible cure for cancer.

Bionics

Nanotechnology also has another application in the developing area of medical technology called bionics. Imagine that you lose both your hands. Now, you are unable to work or do a lot of the things you enjoy. But, there is no need to worry. All you have to do is purchase an i-LIMB and have it installed. It sounds like it could be something made by Apple along the same lines of an iphone or ipod, but the i-LIMB is not another phone or portable computer. It is a prosthetic, robotic hand, created by Touch Bionics, that allows users to pick up a variety of objects, including glasses, playing cards, and suitcases. It works by detecting tiny electrical signals from arm muscles to control the movements of its individual, robotic fingers, wrist, and thumb (11). Bionic legs that work in a similar way to the i-LIMB are also on the market.

Besides prosthetic limbs, bionic technology offers replacement hearts, lungs, eyes, ears, and the potential for much more. Since we don’t have time to delve into all these unique and cutting-edge technologies, let’s take a look at the bionic eye. The Argus II, an amazing device created by Second Sight, a California-based company, allows the blind to see once again, albeit with limited vision. According to Robert Greenberg, president and CEO of Second Sight, “Patients can locate and recognize simple objects, see people in front of them, and follow their movement. They can find doors and windows, follow lines, and in the best cases read large print slowly” (6). This limited amount of sight comes with a cost: 115,000 U.S. dollars (6). It makes use of an array of electrical photoreceptors that stimulate retinal cells at the back of the eye, which then send a signal through the optic nerves to the brain. A wireless signal is transmitted from a camera built into a pair of glasses, worn by the patient, to a chip implanted near the retina (6). Besides having limited seeing capabilities, the Argus II only works for people who have a rare disease called retinitis pigmentosa, which only damages light-sensing photoreceptors and leaves the other retinal cells alone (6). The Argus II is currently only available in a number of clinics in the U.K., France, and Switzerland (6). If you live in the United States and you have retinitis pigmentosa, you’ll have to hop on a plane and have over 115,000 dollars at your disposal. For most, this is far too costly. Perhaps, as the technology is refined, it will become cheaper and more available to the general public.

Pretend that you had a healthy eye, but your optic nerve was damaged. Is there any way to repair the damaged nerve? We have looked at bionic hands and mentioned bionic legs, but is there such thing as a bionic nerve? Surprisingly, the answer is “yes”. Scientists at the University of Manchester have converted adult fat-tissue stem cells from animals into nerve cells (2). Their goal is to make an artificial nerve to replace damaged nerves or nerve sections. Soon, they will be collecting adult stem cells and will try to convert them into nerve cells. They plan to make a “bionic” nerve by inserting the converted stem cells into a biodegradable polymer tube, which they will then surgically place into a break in a nerve (2). The growing nerve fiber will be able to pass through the tube and connect with the other end of the nerve, repairing the break (2). This “bionic” nerve could replace broken nerves in patients with cancer, in patients who have had tumor surgery, and in patients who have had severe injuries to their limbs (2).

Regenerative Medicine

Re-growing nerve cells is one thing, but re-growing a finger or a limb is another thing entirely. The technology for re-growing fingers and limbs seems like it would belong in a science-fiction novel. But scientists today think that such science-fiction-like ideas are possible with a new type of medicine called regenerative medicine. Though regenerative medicine is currently in its developmental stage, a few amazing breakthroughs have been made. In 2005, a Cincinnati hobby-store owner, Lee Spievack, cut off his finger tip when showing a customer a model airplane (1). His brother, Alan Spievack, who is a medical research scientist, gave him a special powder to sprinkle on his finger. After taking the powder, Lee Spievack was astonished to find that his fingertip was growing back. Four weeks later, it looked as good as new (1). The powder he took was made from a substance called extracellular matrix. It was developed by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh’s McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine (1). The extracellular matrix powder is made from pig bladders (1), but it does not contain in pig cells (9). Instead, the matrix is composed of proteins, such as collagen (9), and connective tissue, which scientists believe stimulates the regeneration of tissue (1). The function of the extracellular matrix is to form a structure that helps cells generate any given body part (9). All animals have this special structure, as do developing babies (or fetuses). Two-year-olds have even been documented to re-grow missing finger tips with no medical help (9). This amazing framework for cell regeneration has many possibilities for the future of medicine. Some believe that the human body may be able to re-grow entire limbs due to the extracellular matrix. If that were possible, bionic prosthetics may be unnecessary.

Regenerative medicine is not limited to special powders for regeneration. Dr. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University has grown muscle tissue, heart tissue, and a total of 18 different types of tissue in his laboratory (1). He’s even grown a mouse heart (1). Atala is quoted in a New York Times article as saying, “A salamander can grow back its leg. Why can’t a human do the same?” (10). One idea Atala has for replacing damaged organs is to surgically insert a biodegradable scaffolding, containing regenerative cells, into the body (10). The cells will theoretically grow to form the replacement organ and the scaffolding will eventually decompose. If this actually works, replacement organs will no longer need to be taken from organ donors when they’ve died (10). Perhaps, in the future, people could extend their lives by replacing their organs and damaged tissues with lab-grown counterparts, but right now that technology is still experimental.

Extending and improving the quality of life is the whole purpose of modern medicine. This article focused on some of the technologies being developed in three areas of modern medicine. We looked at the role played by micro-computers and nanotechnology and how nanobots could theoretically stop infections. In the area of bionics, we briefly examined some of the bionic technologies scientists are working on, such as the bionic hand. In the last section, we saw how regenerative medicine has allowed people to grow back their finger tips. Finally, we learned that organs and cell tissues are being grown in laboratories with the goal that they will be used to replace or repair natural organs. There seems to be a pattern in the goals set for the future of medicine technology. Scientists, technologists, and thinkers have envisioned a future where medical technology will provide people with a vehicle to live forever. Aubrey de Grey, a biomedical gerontologist believes that sometime in the future, the process of aging will be stopped. He told a Reuters correspondent that there is “a 50/50 chance of bringing aging under…a decisive level of medical control within the next 25 years or so” (8). He added, “And what I mean by decisive is the same sort of medical control that we have over most infectious diseases today” (8). If this prediction is true, we may find ourselves in a very different world from the one we know. Living for an eternity sounds wonderful, but, on our decaying planet, would it really be such a good thing? Aside from the good reasons for the development of medical technology, does it seem at all like some people may be trying to play God? I leave that thought for you to ponder.

Works Cited

(1) Andrews, Wyatt. “Medicine’s Cutting Edge: Re-Growing Organs.” CBSNews.com. CBS Interactive Inc, 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(2) “‘Bionic’ Nerve To Bring Damaged Limbs And Organs Back To Life.” sciencedaily.com. ScienceDaily LLC, 17 Oct. 2007. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(3) Dillow, Clay. “World’s First DNA-Based Logic Gates Could Lead to Injectable Bio-computers.” Popsci.com. Bonnier Corporation, 2 June 2010. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(4) Eaton, Kit. “Meet the Cutting Edge of Medicine: 1mm Injectable Computers.” FastCompany.com. Mansueto Ventures LLC, 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(5) Fahey, Mike. “The World’s Smallest Computer Wants To Be Inside Of You.” kotaku.com. kotaku.com, 23 Feb. 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.

(6) Graham-Rowe, Duncan. “A Bionic Eye Comes to Market.” technologyreview.com. MIT, 7 March 2011. Web. 9 Feb. 2012.

(7) Kahn, Jennifer. “Nano’s Big Future.” NationalGeographic.com. National Geographic Society, June 2006. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(8) Kelland, Kate. “Who wants to live forever? Scientist sees aging cured.” Reuters.com. Thomas Reuters, 4 July 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.

(9) Layton, Julia. “Can humans regrow fingers?” health.howstuffworks.com. Discovery Communications, LLC, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2012.

(10) Parson, Ann. “A Tissue Engineer Sows Cells and Grows Organs.” nytimes.com. The New York Times Company, 11 July 2006. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(11) “Rebuilding humans using bionics.” Science.org.au. Australian Foundation for Science, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(12) “Revolutionary Medical Dressing Uses Nanotechnology to Fight Infection.” sciencedaily.com. ScienceDaily LLC, 7 July. 2010. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(13) Shankland, Stephen. “IBM’s 35 atoms and the rise of nanotech.” news.cnet.com. CBS Interactive, 28 Sept. 2009. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

(14) “25 Ways Nanotechnology is Revolutionizing Medicine.” FutureMedica. FutureMedica, 19 Jan. 2010. Web. 8 Feb. 2012.

Cone-rod dystrophy: An entry from Thomson Gale’s Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, 2nd ed.

Information on many genetic disorders, and the frequent new findings on them, has been extremely difficult to come by—until now. The “Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders” addresses the need for current, hard-to-find facts on emerging discoveries. The two-volume Encyclopedia, presented in a single alphabetical sequence, provides clear, complete information on genetic disorders, including conditions, tests, procedures, treatments and therapies, in articles that are both comprehensive and

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by massdistraction

Article by B. Cash

About Eye Floaters

Floaters are deposits of various size, shape, consistency, refractive index, and motility within the eye’s vitreous humour, which is NORMALLY transparent.They may be of embryonic origin or acquired due to degenerative changes of the vitreous humour or retina.The perception of floaters is known as myodesopsia,or less commonly as myiodeopsia, myiodesopsia, or myodeopsia.

Floaters are visible because of the shadows they cast on the retina or their refraction of the light that passes through them, and can appear alone or together with several others in one’s field of vision.

CausesThere are various causes for the appearance of floaters, of which the most common are described here. Simply stated, any damage to the eye that causes material to enter the vitreous humour can result in floaters.

The most common cause of floaters is shrinkage of the vitreous humour: this gel-like substance consists of 99% water and 1% solid elements. The solid portion consists of a network of collagen and hyaluronic acid, with the latter retaining water molecules. Depolymerization of this network makes the hyaluronic acid release its trapped water, thereby liquefying the gel. The collagen breaks down into fibrils, which ultimately are the floaters that plague the patient. Floaters caused in this way tend to be few in number and of a linear form.[citation needed]

In time, the liquefied vitreous body loses support and its framework contracts. This leads to posterior vitreous detachment, in which the vitreous body is released from the sensory retina. During this detachment, the shrinking vitreous can stimulate the retina mechanically, causing the patient to see random flashes across the visual field, sometimes referred to as “flashers”, a symptom more formally referred to as photopsia. The ultimate release of the vitreous around the optic nerve head sometimes makes a large floater appear, usually in the shape of a ring (“Weiss ring”). As a complication, part of the retina might be torn off by the departing vitreous body, in a process known as retinal detachment. This will often leak blood into the vitreous, which is seen by the patient as a sudden appearance of numerous small dots, moving across the whole field of vision. Retinal detachment requires immediate medical attention, as it can easily cause blindness. Consequently, both the appearance of flashes and the sudden onset of numerous small floaters should be rapidly investigated by an eye care provider.

The hyaloid artery, an artery running through the vitreous humour during the fetal stage of development, regresses in the third trimester of pregnancy. Its disintegration can sometimes leave cell matter.

Patients with retinal tears may experience floaters if red blood cells are released from leaky blood vessels, and those with a posterior uveitis or vitritis, as in toxoplasmosis, may experience multiple floaters and decreased vision due to the accumulation of white blood cells in the vitreous humour.Other causes for floaters include cystoid macular edema and asteroid hyalosis. The latter is an anomaly of the vitreous humour, whereby calcium clumps attach themselves to the collagen network. The bodies that are formed in this way move slightly with eye movement, but then return to their fixed position.Tear film debrisSometimes the appearance of floaters has to be attributed to dark specks in the tear film of the eye. Technically, these are not floaters, but they do look the same from the viewpoint of the patient. People with blepharitis or a dysfunctional meibomian gland are especially prone to this cause, but ocular allergies can also cause the problem. To differentiate between material in the vitreous humour of the eye and debris in the tear film, one can look at the effect of blinking: debris in the tear film will move quickly with a blink, while floaters are largely unresponsive to it. Tear film debris is diagnosed by eliminating the possibility of true floaters and macular degeneration.

Is it curable?

There are various (often expensive) E-Books on curing Eye floaters.

And to be honest, as with every illness there is no ’100% guaranteed’ cure.

But there ARE various ways of helping you either way get rid of floaters, or learn to ignore them.None of them do magic and remove them in one day, it often takes a few months.

A FREE list of treatments.

CLICK HERE for a free list of treatments that might really help you!You have nothing to lose!Try this out, it is FREE and has helped people I know – and even myself.

My Advice to You

If you’re experiencing floaters, I would recommend you to check out the free list mentioned in this article.If you keep experiencing bothersome floaters, contact your MD (very important!)

Good luck to you!

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