Zap those pesky floaters?

Is it possible to "zap" vitreous floaters away? John Karickhoff, Virginia, USA, thinks so and has performed 1,400 procedures over the last 15 years, despite most ophthalmologists thinking that it is unnecessary.

There is little peer reviewed literature about the laser procedure and, although it does appear to be safe, reports of its effectiveness appear to be mixed. Karickhoff claims that the success rate of such studies have not been as high as his because the technique requires a specific intensity of laser beam.

A spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology acknowledged that the treatment can be successful and carries few risks but emphasized that any risk is unacceptable for treating such a benign condition.