Most people are familiar with them: small moving dots or fluff in the field of vision. These “flying mosquitoes” or “mouches volantes” are neither imagination nor an optical illusion, but real. They arise as a result of vitreous opacities.
“The vitreous humor is located in the eye between the lens and the retina. There it takes up around two thirds of the inside of the eye with its jelly-like substance,” says the “Eye Foundation”. The jelly-like substance consists largely of water, but also small amounts of hyaluronic acid and collagen fibers. Over the course of life, the vitreous body becomes increasingly liquefied, with the result that tissue compaction can occur. These move in the vitreous fluid, which those affected often perceive as small black dots – or “flying mosquitoes”.
About 80 percent know “flying mosquitoes” by sight
“Vitreous opacity is a widespread symptom of aging that can be a bit annoying, but is generally harmless,” explains Frank Holz, chairman of the “Stiftung Augen” and director of the eye clinic at the University of Bonn. Around 80 percent of the population is affected.
Vitreous opacities are often only perceived temporarily. For example, they are particularly noticeable when looking at a white wall or bright surface. If the eyeball is moved, existing tissue compactions move with it – which can be perceived as disturbing. They usually do not have an influence on visual acuity. “Fortunately, you often get used to it. “Our brain is able to block out possible cloudiness over time,” the expert continues.
If the symptoms are severe, surgery can help
Special treatments are usually not necessary. In rare cases – if the symptoms are very severe – surgical measures can help. In a so-called vitrectomy, the surgeon removes the vitreous body, including any cloudiness, and then replaces it with fluid.
Depending on the type and location of the opacities, an innovative laser procedure may also be an option for treatment. In a so-called YAG laser vitreolysis, cloudiness is broken down using a laser, which reduces tissue compaction. “Doctor and patient decide together during an ophthalmological examination whether this treatment makes sense,” says Holz.
“Flying mosquitoes”? There are 3 important safety measures you should know
As a rule, you don’t need to worry about vitreous opacity. But you should know and take three important safety measures to heart, according to the website of the Lübeck Eye Clinic, Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital:
As soon as you first discover that you are seeing something that does not exist outside your eye, see your ophthalmologist so that he or she can rule out the much rarer but still possible pathological causes and take your worries away.
Have your eye health checked regularly – from the age of 40 at least once a year, because there are eye diseases that threaten vision and do not make themselves noticeable. Only your ophthalmologist can detect them in time.
If your “flying mosquitoes” suddenly appear in dense swarms, then definitely go to your ophthalmologist as a precaution or to the nearest eye clinic. Then you have to hurry because a retinal detachment may be imminent. Another early warning sign of a retinal detachment is the appearance of flashes of light. The risk of retinal detachment can be easily and quickly eliminated if the diagnosis is made in good time with a laser. This also applies to other noticeable phenomena such as soot rain, clouds or if a curtain seems to obscure part of your field of vision.