Floaters are very common. Typically people just learn to live with them (I have some myself that I really notice on bright days). As long as you don't notice a large increase in their number, blurry vision or flashing lights, there is nothing dangerous about them.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=184573
I got the following from a website, the accuracy of which I can't confirm. Btw, I did see a retina specialist do a vitrectomy for a guy complaining of floaters for years, but this is uncommon.
"We must caution at the very outset of this discussion that laser or surgical treatment of floaters is not considered a standard management strategy or algorithm and is recommended by a minority of physicians, even then under exceptional circumstances. We are not aware of any vitamins or drugs that can reduce floaters.
Laser Surgery
A Nd:YAG laser is used to 'disrupt' the floaters. The laser places a high energy acoustic (sound-wave) pulse close to the floater. This energy pulse disrupts/blasts the floater. Technically this procedure is termed 'vitriolysis'. Despite studies describing laser vitreolysis as a treatment for vitreous floaters, this technique is not widely practiced. The reason for this may be a combination of disappointing results, or reluctance to use Nd:YAG laser in the posterior segment of the eye. The latter may be influenced by the known complication of retinal detachment following YAG laser capsulotomy (performed after a cataract surgery), which occurs at an incidence of between 0.50% and 4.16%.
A recent study showed that laser surgery for floaters ameliorated symptoms in only a third of patients. Furthermore the clinical improvement was only moderate in degree, subjectively being graded at no greater than 50% by 93.3% of patients. In no patient was there complete resolution of symptoms. Laser treatment led to worsening of symptoms in 7.7% of patients (Eye 2002; 16,:21-26).
Vitrectomy
Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is a procedure usually reserved for complicated posterior segment disease. It has a well-known risk profile and justifiably there is reluctance to offer this surgery to treat floaters. However the post-operative complication rate following PPV has been assessed in the setting of retinal detachment surgery or in the presence of complicated vitreo-retinal disease. It may be argued that pars plana vitrectomy for floaters, in eyes that have an established posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), may be associated with a lower incidence of both intraoperative and post-operative complications. The three main postoperative complications that one must worry about in vitrectomy are: development or progression of nuclear sclerosis cataract, retinal detachment and choroidal or vitreous hemorrhage (bleeding) in the eye.
Pars plana vitrectomy has been reported to be a highly effective treatment for floaters with complete resolution of symptoms recorded in 93.3% of patients in one study (Eye 2002; 16,:21-26) and 100% of patients in another study (Retina 2000;20:591-6)."
