JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Vitreous floaters are a prevalent phenomenon, with some patients experiencing persistent symptoms that substantially degrade their vision. Demands for vitreous surgery are challenging to quantify using claims or surgical volume alone.

Objective:

To evaluate temporal and geographic patterns of public interest in vitreous floaters and floaters intervention in the United States (U.S.) and to contextualize this interest relative to the availability of retina specialists.

Methods:

In this retrospective observational study, we queried Google Trends for vitreous floaters and floaters interventions-related search terms originating in the U.S. from 2008 to 2025. Google Trends reports relative search volume (RSV) on a normalized scale from 0 to 100. We extracted annual and state-level RSV values using a composite of vitreous floaters and floaters interventions-related terms. We obtained state-level counts of vitreoretinal surgeons from the American Society of Retina Specialists database and calculated retina surgeon density per 100,000 population using 2025 U.S. Census estimates. To contextualize public interest relative to specialist availability, we calculated a Demand Index (DI) as the ratio of state-level RSV to retina surgeon density. We obtained state-level age distributions from the U.S. Census Bureau and evaluated associations between RSV, DI, population age structure, and time.

Results:

From 2008 to 2025, non-surgical floaters-related RSV increased by 138%, with a significant temporal increasing trend (P<.001). In 2025, RSV ranged from 48 to 100 (median 68). States with a higher proportion of residents aged ≥40 years demonstrated higher RSV (P<.01). DI ranged from 48 to 311 (median 123), with the highest values observed in states with limited retina surgeon availability. Population age distribution was not significantly associated with DI. Surgical floaters-related RSV increased by 133%, with a significant temporal increasing trend (P<.001). In 2025, RSV ranged from 50 to 100 (median 70). States with a higher proportion of residents aged ≥40 years demonstrated higher RSV (P<.01). DI ranged from 34 to 341 (median 133), with the highest values observed in states with limited retina surgeon availability. Population age distribution was not significantly associated with DI. Retina surgeon density varied more than tenfold across states, ranging from 0.17 to 2.09 per 100,000 residents.

Conclusions:

This analysis demonstrates substantial geographic variability in public interest in vitreous floaters and floaters-directed interventions across the United States. Integrating Google Trends data with retina surgeon distribution provides a framework for evaluating relative demand for vitreoretinal care.