Citation

Webb BF, Webb JR, Schroeder MC, North CS. Int. J. Ophthalmol. 2013; 6(3): 402-405.

Affiliation

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Texas Tech University, 3601 4th St #2B106, Lubbock, Texas 79430, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Press of International Journal of Ophthalmology)

DOI

10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2013.03.27

PMID

23826541

PMCID

PMC3693028

Abstract

AIM: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for vitreous floaters in the general population.

METHODS: An electronic survey was administered through a smartphone app asking various demographic and health questions, including whether users experience floaters in their field of vision. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors.

RESULTS: A total of 603 individuals completed the survey, with 76% reporting that they see floaters, and 33% reporting that floaters caused noticeable impairment in vision. Myopes were 3.5 times more likely (P=0.0004), and hyperopes 4.4 times more likely (P=0.0069) to report moderate to severe floaters compared to those with normal vision. Floater prevalence was not significantly affected by respondent age, race, gender, and eye color.

CONCLUSION: Vitreous floaters were found to be a very common phenomenon in this non-clinical general population sample, and more likely to be impairing in myopes and hyperopes.

Language: en