Black dots and streaks in front of the eyes are common optical effects. The so-called flies are especially clearly visible in the sky, snow, bright screen, illuminated homogeneous surface. The reasons for their appearance may be insignificant: overwork, lack of vitamins or abuse of bad habits. But also black dots can be symptoms of serious pathologies of the organs of vision. If in the first case the flies often pass by themselves, then in the second case the help of a specialist is required.
What are the flies
The black dots in front of the eyes are opacities that cast a shadow over the retina. Red blood cells, clots of protein molecules, particles of crystals and pigments can block the path of light. As noted above, these optical effects become most noticeable on a uniformly illuminated surface, such as clear sky, snow cover, and a computer monitor screen. Since the vitreous structure is jelly-like, dense opacities float after eye movements.
"Dots" and "strings" are distinguished. The former are caused by the accumulation of pigments and hyalocyte cells. They may look like dots, rings, circles, specks with inaccurate outlines. Regardless of shape, the flies remain relatively stable in size and shape. This is their main difference from temporary optical effects, which are caused by changes in blood pressure (for example, with a sharp change in body position), injuries with strong bumps or drops.
Black strings in front of the eyes are the result of accumulations of connective tissue and deposits that take the form of sticks with branches. Like dots, they are stable in size and shape, in contrast to the so-called “sparks”. The latter are caused by the migration of leukocytes and red blood cells. This is a harmless optical effect that manifests itself when looking at the clear sky. Moreover, the white heads in the “sparks” are white blood cells, and the dark “tails” are red blood cells.
Destruction
The vitreous is a crystalline gelatinous mass that fills the eye immediately behind the lens. At 99%, it consists of water, and the remaining 1% falls on collagen, hyaluronic acid and other substances. Thanks to the “purity”, the vitreous in the normal state remains completely transparent, and nothing prevents the passage of light to the retina.
Under the influence of various factors, the composition of the mass changes, foreign opaque substances appear. This can be connective tissue, medications, lymphocytes, red blood cells, white blood cells and other blood elements that refract light and cast a shadow on the retina. So there is a visual effect that ordinary people call black dots and strings, and doctors call it destructive changes in the vitreous body of the eye. Despite the scary name, serious medical and surgical treatment is rarely required, in most cases you can get rid of flies on your own, eliminating the main factors of their appearance.
Common causes
There are many premises that contribute to the appearance of black dots in front of the eyes. Often, the causes are temporary:
- Frequent and prolonged eye strain.
- Emotional upheaval, stress.
- Physical overstrain.
- Avitaminosis.
- Excessive alcohol and smoking.
- High or low blood pressure.
In this case, turbidity passes by itself when the negative conditions are eliminated.
Hazardous Factors
There are more serious reasons for the appearance of black dots in front of the eyes:
- Violation of the blood circulation of the brain.
- Vasospasms.
- The consequences of head and eye injuries.
- Stroke.
- Inflammatory processes.
- Metabolic disorders.
- Hypoxia (prolonged lack of oxygen).
- Diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
- Poisoning.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Internal bleeding.
When to see a doctor
Black dots in front of the eyes can appear in everyone: young and old, in people with good and poor eyesight. If in some cases flies are caused by a simple overstrain, in others they can be a symptom of serious diseases: retinal detachment, uveitis, migraine, and mechanical injury. You should consult a doctor if:
- The number of black flies does not decrease for more than 3-5 days or even increases.
- Sight is deteriorating.
- Other symptoms appear, including flickering and flashing, bruising and bursting vessels.
- Flies suddenly occurred after an injury.
If these and other pathological visual effects are detected, you should consult a specialist. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment will minimize the negative consequences and cost a little blood without bringing the condition to critical, when only surgical intervention can help.
Retina Vitamins
As noted above, the reasons why black dots fly before your eyes can be associated not only with serious pathological changes or external influences. Sometimes flies appear due to a banal lack of vitamins, a deficiency of which slows down metabolic and regenerative processes. Comprehensive eye treatment is not carried out without the appointment of the necessary micro and macro elements to restore the organs of vision.
For eye health, vitamins of group B are needed. The organs of vision need them the most. For example, vitamin B1 affects metabolic processes and creates favorable conditions for eye health. An equally important function of vitamin B1 is to accelerate the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain. If this process is violated for some reason, then visual acuity can significantly decrease. A deficiency of nutrients from this group can also lead to dystrophy of the eyeball and contribute to the development of inflammation.
Vitamin B2 must be present in complex preparations intended to maintain eye health. It provides nutrition to the cornea and lens, takes part in regenerative processes. Also, this vitamin helps the eye cleanse itself of decay products and promotes faster oxygen saturation of tissues. With its deficiency, a person begins to see much worse at night. The eyes create a burning sensation, they can often blush.
Vitamin B6 reduces the intensity of inflammatory processes in cells. It also helps the eye muscles to relax after a long and hard work. Vitamin B12 is equally important for visual acuity. Manifestations of its deficiency can be noticed without special diagnostics. With insufficient amounts of vitamin B12, the cornea becomes dull, blood vessels clearly appear on it. There is a risk of developing anemia and dystrophy of the eye.
For visual acuity, not only group B is of great importance. Thus, vitamin A helps prevent the development of dystrophic processes. The drugs in which it is included can be of help in the fight against cataracts and glaucoma. Vitamin C protects cells from free radicals. It increases the tone of capillaries, thereby providing blood flow to the retina. Vitamin E protects the eyes from harmful UV exposure. He also takes part in the regeneration of damaged tissues. Vitamin D helps relieve inflammation. Its equally important function is the assimilation of useful macro- and microelements. Vitamin F is indispensable for patients who have been diagnosed with increased intraocular pressure. It promotes the outflow of excess fluid, thereby relieving stress.
Useful material
It is important to obtain micro- and macrocells in balanced proportions, which allows vitamin-mineral complexes. The latter also include additional substances that are beneficial to the health of the retina and the eyes as a whole. These include:
- Zinc - a natural antioxidant, as well as an excipient that is actively involved in the absorption of vitamin A.
- Lutein is the main pigment of the so-called yellow spot (the main part of the retina), which provides protection against ultraviolet rays and too bright light.
- Blueberries - perhaps the most useful berry for vision, improves blood circulation and cell regeneration, reduces eye fatigue.
- Bioflavonoids. Strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, improve blood circulation.
Physical education for the eyes
Often black dots fly before your eyes due to overvoltage. In this case, physical education will help get rid of annoying symptoms. Simple exercises will relax muscles, improve blood flow, distribute fluid in the vitreous body, and remove feelings of dryness.
Gymnastics for the eyes can be performed in any convenient position: sitting, standing, lying down. The set of exercises includes:
- Deliberately frequent blinking.
- Smooth eye movements left and right, up and down.
- Strong squinting.
- Circular motion.
- Moderate pressure on the eyes with fingers in the corners and across the surface.
- Change of focus with alternating concentration on near and far objects.
Gymnastics should be performed smoothly without sudden movements. It is recommended to do at least 5 repetitions of each exercise and blink as often as possible, because this physiological process relaxes the muscles, relieves their fatigue, and lubricates the surface of the eyeball. You should do the exercises after a long reading, staying at a computer or work that requires concentration of vision.
Drug treatment
If the clouding is caused by dead cells, then even a small black dot in front of the eye cannot pass by itself. It is almost impossible to completely clear their eyes. If there are few black dots, then treatment is not required. In this case, the brain adapts to the turbidity, and the person simply does not notice them. But when there are a lot of flies, in addition to vitamins, lifestyle correction and physical education, medications are required.
Often, with complaints of black dots in front of the eyes, vitamin drops are prescribed to patients. Your doctor may prescribe drugs such as Taufon and Quinax. In this case, potassium iodide is also effective. When acceleration of regenerative processes is required, drops "Emoksipin" and "Wobenzym" are used. Additionally, biostimulants, electrophoresis, paraffin baths and other procedures can be prescribed.
Surgical method
When the usual methods do not bring the desired results, and the patient is very much disturbed by black dots in front of the eyes, the treatment may consist of vitrectomy. This is a surgical procedure in which doctors remove the vitreous. In the future, it is completely replaced by an artificial environment. This is a very dangerous operation, which, under adverse circumstances, may result in retinal detachment. In this case, the vitreous body is replaced with artificial materials using a vitreotome (cutting tool) and an end illuminator. For this, a polymer, silicone oil, saline solution can be used. The natural physiological composition of the intraocular fluid is restored several days after the operation. The result is a purification of vision.
Laser correction
Vitreolysis is an alternative operation. It is carried out using a laser and consists in “breaking” the threads. As a result, clusters of points disappear. Safety and high performance of the operation are confirmed by leading American ophthalmologists and surgeons Brendan Moriarty and Scott Geller. However, since the manipulation is complex in itself, it can only be performed by experienced professionals.
The essence of the laser operation is the action of the beam on a "floating" object. During the procedure, black dots turn into tiny particles. In the future, they do not interfere with vision at all. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is extremely difficult to accurately direct the laser beam at floating opacities in the vitreous body of the eye. No less important is the fact that this operation does not require hospitalization of the patient. A few hours after it, if everything went well, he can go home.
Conclusion
Black dots and sticks - in most cases, a harmless optical effect, which goes away by itself in compliance with eye hygiene, a healthy lifestyle and the correct mode of rest. However, it is worth asking for help if there are a lot of flies, they do not disappear for a long time or are accompanied by extraneous unpleasant symptoms.