Floaters are usually a normal age-related change in the vitreous gel, and most settle as the brain adapts over 3–6 months. Treatment is reserved for floaters that remain genuinely disabling after that period and are anatomically suitable. The two options are YAG laser vitreolysis (non-incisional, for discrete floaters) and floater-only vitrectomy (definitive, for diffuse or numerous floaters). The first and most important step is a dilated exam to rule out a retinal cause.
What are vitreous floaters?
Vitreous floaters are small shapes – dots, cobwebs, rings or strands – that drift across your vision, most obvious against a bright background. They are shadows cast on the retina by clumps in the vitreous gel that fills the eye, and they become more common with age as the gel liquefies and separates from the retina (a posterior vitreous detachment).
The great majority of floaters are harmless and become less noticeable over time. However, a sudden shower of new floaters, flashing lights, or a curtain or shadow across the vision can signal a retinal tear or retinal detachment and must be assessed urgently. This is why every floaters consultation begins with a full dilated retinal examination.
Treatment options
Treating floaters is a careful selection decision. After mapping your floaters in relation to the lens and retina, your consultant recommends one of three routes – observation is almost always the right first step.
Floaters disrupting your daily life? A consultant will examine your retina and tell you honestly which option, if any, is right.
Book your assessmentHow the treatments work
Floater-only vitrectomy (FOV) is a day-case pars plana vitrectomy under local anaesthetic. Through three tiny sutureless ports, the surgeon removes the vitreous gel – and with it the floaters – and replaces it with balanced salt solution that the eye maintains naturally. It is the most definitive treatment, with very high patient satisfaction, but it accelerates cataract in eyes that still have their natural lens and carries a small risk of retinal detachment.
YAG laser vitreolysis is a non-incisional alternative performed at the slit lamp under drops. A focused laser breaks a discrete floater into smaller fragments the eye reabsorbs. It is only suitable for a single, well-defined floater sitting clearly away from the lens and retina – read more about YAG vitreolysis.
Recovery & aftercare
Day 0–1
Vitrectomy is a day case; you go home the same day. A next-day check confirms the eye pressure and that the retina is flat. Begin antibiotic and steroid drops.
First 1–2 weeks
Vision clears as the eye settles. Avoid swimming and heavy lifting. Vitreolysis patients usually resume normal activity the next day after the dilating drops wear off.
Weeks to months
Vitrectomy gives an immediate, lasting reduction in floaters. After vitreolysis, fragmented floaters continue to clear and the brain adapts to any residual specks.
Follow-up
Structured consultant reviews monitor the retina and, in phakic vitrectomy eyes, watch for the cataract that commonly develops within 12–24 months.
How much does private floaters treatment cost?
UK 2026 self-pay fees are £1,200–2,200 per eye per session for YAG laser vitreolysis (a package of up to three sessions is £2,400–4,800), and £6,500–9,500 per eye for floater-only vitrectomy at CQC-registered vitreoretinal centres. Fees include the consultant assessment, OCT, the procedure and structured follow-up.
Floaters treatment is not routinely funded by the NHS, so it is accessed privately. See full vitreoretinal surgery pricing, the wider vitreoretinal surgery overview, or our floaters information.
Vitreous floaters FAQs
How much does private floaters treatment cost in the UK in 2026?
UK 2026 self-pay fees are approximately £1,200–2,200 per eye per session for YAG laser vitreolysis (a package of up to three sessions is £2,400–4,800), and £6,500–9,500 per eye for floater-only vitrectomy at CQC-registered vitreoretinal centres. Fees include the consultant assessment, OCT, the procedure itself and structured follow-up. The right option – and therefore the cost – depends on the type, number and position of your floaters, confirmed at your consultant assessment.
What are vitreous floaters?
Vitreous floaters are small shapes that drift across your vision (often described as dots, cobwebs or strands). They are usually caused by natural changes in the vitreous gel inside the eye. Many floaters are harmless, but a sudden increase in floaters can sometimes signal a retinal problem and should be assessed promptly.
When should I seek urgent advice about floaters?
Seek urgent assessment if you notice a sudden shower of new floaters, flashing lights, a shadow or curtain in your vision, or a sudden reduction in vision. These symptoms can be associated with retinal tears or detachment and need prompt evaluation.
Do floaters go away on their own?
Floaters often become less noticeable over time as the brain adapts and the particles may settle. However, bothersome floaters can persist and continue to interfere with reading, driving or screen use. If they significantly affect your quality of life, a specialist consultation can confirm the cause and discuss suitable treatment options.
What private treatment options are available for vitreous floaters in the UK?
Treatment depends on the type and severity of floaters, eye health and your symptoms. Options range from monitoring and reassurance after a thorough retinal examination, to YAG laser vitreolysis for a discrete floater, or floater-only vitrectomy for persistent, visually significant or diffuse floaters. Your consultant will advise the most appropriate option after assessment.
Can floaters be a sign of retinal detachment?
Floaters are commonly linked to a posterior vitreous detachment (a frequent age-related change), but in some cases they can be associated with retinal tears or detachment – especially when accompanied by flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, or a curtain-like shadow. Prompt assessment is recommended if these occur.