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Are eye floaters normal?

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Eye floaters are a common phenomenon that occurs as a result of vitreous collagen reorganization and liquefaction, which happens to everyone over time. This leads to the aggregation of collagen fibrils and the liquefaction and collapse of the vitreous away from the retina, known as posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) . Floaters can also be caused by vitreous synchysis and syneresis, which occur in almost everyone but only some individuals perceive an effect on their quality of life . In some cases, floaters can be a symptom of vitreo-retinal pathology, such as retinal tears or retinal detachments, which require immediate medical attention . However, in the absence of any underlying pathology, floaters are considered a normal occurrence and do not typically cause significant morbidity .

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Open access•Journal Article•DOI Vitreous floaters and photopsia as predictors of vitreoretinal pathology Salah Zuhair Al-Asadi 28 Jun 2013 2 Citations	Eye floaters are not explicitly mentioned in the paper. The paper discusses the symptoms of floaters and photopsia as predictors of vitreoretinal pathology, but it does not provide information on whether eye floaters are normal or not.
Journal Article•DOI Floaters and the quality of life. Jerry Sebag 01 Jul 2011-American Journal of Ophthalmology 59 Citations	Eye floaters are not considered normal according to the information provided in the paper. The paper discusses the causes of floaters, which result from light scattering by structures within the vitreous body and/or at the posterior vitreous cortex. It does not mention floaters being a normal occurrence.
Journal Article•DOI New-Onset Floaters as Presenting Symptom. Hang Pham, Sweta Kavali - Show less +1 more 02 Nov 2017-JAMA Ophthalmology 1 Citations	Eye floaters are not mentioned in the provided paper.
Book Chapter•DOI Floaters and Flashes Jason Horowitz 01 Jan 2019	Eye floaters are common and usually not a cause for concern, but it is important to determine the underlying cause to rule out any serious conditions.

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What is the epidemiology of posterior vitreous degeneration?

Posterior vitreous degeneration is a common age-related process characterized by the separation of the posterior hyaloid membrane from the internal limiting membrane of the retina. Studies have shown that posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is prevalent in individuals aged 40-80, with a higher occurrence in myopia, diabetes, and retinal disorders. Research indicates that incomplete PVD is more common in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to controls, suggesting a potential association between the two conditions. Furthermore, symptomatic vitreo-macular adhesion, a vision-affecting condition related to PVD, has an estimated prevalence of approximately 355 per 100,000 population, emphasizing its clinical significance. Understanding the epidemiology of posterior vitreous degeneration is crucial for managing associated conditions like AMD and vitreo-macular adhesion.What causes floaters?

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