Symptomatic floaters as a clue to vitreoretinal disease.

One hundred consecutive patients with symptomatic floaters without previous ocular trauma or surgery are analyzed as to the underlying cause. The most common findings were posterior vitreous detachment with and without vitreous hemorrhage, vitreous syneresis with collagen fibril clumping, diabetic retinopathy with vitreous hemorrhage, retinal tears without retinal separation, and retinal separation. Significant vitreoretinal disease occurred in 36% of the patients.