Eye Floaters Treatment
Do eye floaters significantly affect your quality of life?
They can, but you do not necessarily have to live with them forever. Vitreous floaters or eye floaters, can be treated in many cases without surgery. The in- office procedure is called “Laser Floater Treatment” (LFT) or Laser Vitreolysis.
How are eye floaters treated?
Using the FDA-approved Ellex Ultra Q Reflex Laser, the procedure neither removes nor fragments your floaters, but vaporizes them into gas bubbles. These are then absorbed into your bloodstream.
Am I candidate?
- 55 years or older, you are very likely a candidate for successful LFT
- 35-55 years old, there are many candidates in this age range
- 35 and younger, you may be a candidate, however not as likely
Extreme cases of eye floaters may require a surgical procedure called a Floater only Vitrectomy (FOV).
Who is going to evaluate and possibly treat my floaters?
Dr. Robin Ross, MD, MPH is a vitreo-retinal surgeon, double board certified in ophthalmology and public health. She has performed over 200,000 career patient visits over a 20 plus year career.
Dr. Ross has performed thousands of retinal laser procedures, and thousands of retinal surgeries, including floater-only vitrectomies. Furthermore, during her career she has both operated on and lasered premature babies as young as 23 weeks old who develop retinopathy of prematurity.
“Understanding the spatial context of the vitreous is critical to this treatment. My retinal ophthalmology career has always been in this space. Eliminating obtrusive floaters has allowed me to help a police officer protect themself, an ER physician stay working, and artists capture that magical photo. Vision is more than eyesight. Telling patients to simply live with it is no longer always necessary.” --Dr. Ross
What is the cost?
The consultation will be covered by insurance if we are enrolled with your insurance company. If the Global Retina Institute is not enrolled with your insurance, the full consultation exam for both eyes is $300.
LFT is not covered by insurance. The cost is $1900 per eye, which includes up to two treatments. Most patients require two treatments.
If more than two treatments are required, additional treatments are $400 per treatment, per eye, per session, for however many treatments are required.
If you have an extreme case of floaters requiring vitrectomy, medical insurance typically covers this outpatient surgical procedure.
What are the risks?
LFT is a very low-risk procedure, however there always risks associated with any ophthalmic procedure.
Use the form to inquire about treatment for eye floaters.