Medical Terminology for Visual Floaters
The medical term for seeing floaters in your vision is "myodesopsia" or "vitreous floaters," which refers to the perception of spots, shadows, or translucent structures in the visual field caused by opacities in the vitreous gel. 1, 2
Understanding the Terminology
Myodesopsia is the formal medical term describing the visual phenomenon of floaters, derived from the Greek words for "fly" and "vision" 2
Vitreous floaters or vitreous opacities are the more commonly used clinical terms that describe the actual structures causing the symptoms 1, 3
Symptomatic vitreous opacities (SVO) is the precise terminology used in clinical literature to distinguish floaters that cause visual impairment from incidental findings 3
Underlying Pathophysiology
The floaters themselves result from specific vitreous changes:
Vitreous syneresis refers to the age-related liquefaction of the vitreous gel that leads to condensation of collagen fibers, which cast shadows on the retina 1
Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is the most common cause of new-onset floaters, occurring when the vitreous gel separates from the retina, typically between ages 45-65 1, 4
The opacities consist of microscopic collagen fibers that aggregate and appear as irregular, worm-like shadows or translucent to black structures 2
Clinical Context and Importance
Vision degrading myodesopsia (VDM) is an important subset term that specifically describes floaters severe enough to cause significant visual impairment and reduced quality of life, particularly in younger myopic patients 2. This distinction matters because while most floaters are benign, VDM represents a condition requiring potential intervention 2.