Floaters after LASIK. Is it true that they do not go away?

Floaters are part of a normal aging process of the gel-like substance that fills the eye called vitreous. Vitreous is originally composed of a very uniform matrix of three materials - water, collagen and hyaluronic acid. As we age, the vitreous becomes more liquified and the collagen component condenses and forms small opacities. These opacities cast shadows on the retina and we perceive them as floaters. The bad news about these floaters is that they do not typically disappear completely. Unfortunately, glasses and contacts will not fix this issue. The good news is that our brains typically "photoshop" them out and they become less pronounced. Over time, they typically become less and less bothersome, and you may not even notice they are present. However, I do warn my patients that these floaters can, on occasion, be caused by a tear in the retina. When a patient develops new floaters, I advise they undergo a dilated eye exam to confirm that no tears or detachments are at the root of this new symptom.