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EXAMINATION
IN YOUR CITY
You might want to get an evaluation for laser treatment of floaters in your
city so you can learn with 90% certainty whether or not you are a candidate
without coming here. See your eye doctor. Most doctors have not heard of the
procedure, so even if you meet the criterion, you might expect the doctor to
discourage you from having the procedure. The most important findings from that
examination are that the doctor can readily see your floaters, that they are
not real close to the lens or retina, and that hopefully a vitreous detachment
is present. If your doctor can't find the floaters, perhaps I won't be able
to find them either, so the trip here would not be fruitful. Of course I would
have to defer final judgment until my examination. Print this page out, cut
it off at the horizontal line, and take the bottom part with you when you see the
ophthalmologist. You might also want to print out the photographs on the Case
Photographs page of this web site and show them to the doctor.
Would you please evaluate this patient as to whether they may be a candidate
for laser disruption of their vitreous floaters using our criterion below. We
can usually clear the vitreous of fairly large floaters, including Weiss rings.
(I usually use the direct ophthalmoscope, holding it about 6 inches from the
eye, and focus just behind the lens of the patient. With a well dilated pupil,
have the patient look to the sides and back to the center looking for the floaters.
Then do the same, moving the focus toward the retina.)
THESE PATIENTS PROBABLY ARE CANDIDATES FOR FLOATER DISRUPTION:
You, the doctor, can readily see the floaters.
The floaters are not especially close to the lens or retina.
There is a vitreous detachment (a helpful but not necessary
finding).
The patient is bothered by the floaters.
They have had the floaters at least two months with no real improvement.
(Both single and multiple floaters can typically be treated successfully.)
THESE PATIENTS ARE NOT CANDIDATES FOR FLOATER DISRUPTION:
Have floaters far out of the central visual axis.
Their floaters are from asteroid hyalosis or vitreous hemorrhage.
Have unreasonable psychological symptoms attached to their floaters.
John Karickhoff, M.D.
313 Park Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046 |
