Options for the treatment of floaters
For about 30 years we have been using YAG lasers for the removal of posterior capsular opacification (after-cataract) and densifications in the anterior area of the vitreous humor. This is a standard procedure for every ophthalmologist performing surgeries.
Even with the preceeding high-end devices we could only treat the anterior part of the eye precisely and accurately. The method became inaccurate in the posterior area of the vitreous humor and most floaters are located especially in this area.
In 2012 the company Ellex released their YAG Laser Ultra Q Reflex, Ellex perfectly achieved the placement of the monitoring beam, the lighting beam, and the laser on one axis. Apart from other sophisticated technical features this is the novelty making this laser the ideal instrument for treatments of the vitreous humor.
Floaters can be treated painlessly and with minimal invasion. In a laser vitreolysis short laser pulses are accurately beamed into the vitreous humor. The floaters absorb the laser energy, get broken up by it and dissolve. Disturbing tissue strands get cut. The solid floater material can be significantly reduced and thus doesn't disturb your vision by the formation of shades.
Unfortunately only small floaters can be removed with the YAG laser. For many patients the only alternative is the surgical removal of the vitreous humor. The method is explained in detail on the doctors Kaymak and Beyer's web page.