Emerging nonsurgical methods for the treatment of symptomatic vitreous floaters, a review

Abstract

Despite being clinically regarded as a benign condition, vitreous floaters can profoundly impair quality of life, with those affected experiencing severe anxiety, depression, and significant difficulties in daily functioning. While no definitive cure exists, the currently available, invasive vitreoretinal procedures carry notable risks and often provide incomplete or inconsistent outcomes, leaving many patients with no option but to adapt to their symptoms. Driven by these limitations, research efforts focus on nonsurgical, minimally invasive strategies that aim to reduce vitreous structural integrity and dissolve or redistribute vitreous opacities. Chief among the emerging alternatives is the use of enzymatic or non-enzymatic, vitreolytic agents, to achieve targeted vitreous liquefaction and cleave collagen aggregates. This review summarizes the existing evidence, highlights current research strategies, and outlines upcoming management pathways that may ultimately offer safer, non-invasive, more effective, and more accessible treatment options for patients with symptomatic floaters.