I haven't needed laser treatment, but I have had floaters for 7 years
since I began getting light flashes and went to an ophthamologist.

My light flashes were determined to be part of the aging process as were
the floaters. The flashes are common in older people as the vitreous
humor thickens and tugs on the retina. This can also be the sign of a
detached retina or diabetic retinopathy.

The floaters tend to improve over time, but then more occur. I've just
had to get used to them, which is  easy to do. As I recall, they are
clumps of protein in the vitreous humor.

So far, no diabetic retinopathy, according to my doctor.

Here's a link:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/spotsfloats.htm

Pat,

I've had a couple "floaters" for 9 years now. Mine were caused by a doctor
not monitoring my blood pressure while I tried the patch to quite smoking in
96. When I got off the smokes and the patches, my B.P. went to the basement
and the thinned blood seeped into my eye.

I've gotten used to them and actually have to try to "see" them ( you really
just detect the shadow).

Oh the doctor? After he got back from the unannounced golfing holiday, two
weeks after the incident, I found another doctor.

Budd

I don't have RO, but I've had floaters since I was about 9 years old.
Drove me nuts for years until I got used to them.  then they got worse
and bugged me a lot.  I remember looking down at tests in high school
and seeing huge dark globs drifting across my central vision.  I still
have them but ignore them.  Sorry I have no info on the relationship
between laser treatment and floaters, but it seems logical that it could
be a byproduct of such treatment.  I'll ask my wife later today.  She
works with eye doctors nearly every day.

Dave

depends on what the floaters consist of.  If it's blood more than
likely it will leach away in time.  If you have persistent micro
vessel bleeding then they will continue to recur.  You should discuss
this with your ophthalmologist.

Almost all of mine are were gone within a few months of my last laser
treatment.

Hi pat-

I wouldn't care to take a guess at what the problem might be, after
reading some of the other's posts.  Apparently, 'floaters' don't always
mean much.  In my case, they were a sign my retinopathy was getting
worse and the fact that I didn't go to a doctor sooner meant I missed
my best chance of treatment.  So, regardless of anything, do keep your
doctor informed.

Still, even when the floaters in my eyes were really bad, they always
cleared up on their own after a week or two.  So don't worry that
they're permanent, or anything.

Mark