Do the eye floaters disappear with time or they are permanent?

Vitreous "floaters" are the annoying, slightly out-of-focus remnants of the once transparent gel that filled the eye as a child. Since the vitreous has no purpose in the adult eye, it degenerates over time, leaving the floaters suspended loosely in the eye.

They typically settle with gravity slowly, but only have to move a millimeter or so to get out of the line of vision and no longer be noticeable. Furthermore, the brain works at re-programming itself to ignore them. In some cases, though, they may be more severe and interfere with visual functioning.

_Written by J. Trevor Woodhams, M.D. - Chief of Surgery, Woodhams Eye Clinic