Dear Dr. Gott: I am a 56-year-old male who has suffered from tinnitus for the past 15 years. Within the last year, I have noticed a lot of eye floaters, which seem to be worsening. My doctor says that my eyes are healthy. I don't wear glasses.

I live a healthful lifestyle. I don't smoke or drink. I have changed my eating habits and consume very little sugar and red meat. I do eat a lot of chicken, fish, juice and vegetables. Is there anything I can do to get rid of the eye floaters? What can I do to prevent more from occurring? Is there a dietary change I can make?

Reply: Floaters are small spots that occur around the field of vision. They typically appear as dots or cobwebs and drift when the eye moves. Floaters are caused by the shadows of debris floating freely within the vitreous of the eye.

As we age, the normally gel-like vitreous begins to liquefy, causing the centre to become watery. As bits of undissolved vitreous float around in the fluid, they can cross into the range of vision, causing the eye to see the shadow. Floaters are common and are generally harmless, but annoying.

If, however, you see a "shower" of floaters, which may be accompanied by flashes of light, you should see an ophthalmologist immediately. These symptoms are often a sign that the vitreous is pulling away from the retina or that the retina itself is detaching from the back of the eye. If this occurs, an eye surgeon must work quickly to repair to reattach the retina to prevent permanent vision loss.

The only treatment available is surgical removal of the vitreous, which is usually replaced with saline solution. Eye doctors consider this drastic treatment only when floaters severely hamper vision. If your floaters continue to worsen, see an ophthalmologist.

If everything checks out OK, you will just have to adjust to them unless the physician agrees that your vision is obstructed severely.

Dear Dr. Gott: I have an embarrassing problem and hope you can offer some advice. I seem to have a social anxiety that causes me to basically have an irrational fear of speaking to people out in public. The worst part is that my face turns red in many situations. I am 40 years old and have no other health problems. I eat well and exercise regularly. I don't want to be on medication. Is there any vitamin supplement I can try first?

Reply: Based on your statement of "fear of speaking to people out in public", I take this to mean fear of one-on-one or small-group conversations.

I must admit that this is a first for me, with fear of speaking in front of audiences being much more common.

There are several anti-anxiety nutrients that might be of assistance, including kava kava, valerian, St. John's wort in low doses and ashwagandha.

I commend you for considering alternative remedies, but I do not feel qualified enough to recommend any of the possibilities and recommend you speak with your primary-care physician to determine which one might be appropriate for you with the fewest side effects.

Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet' and 'Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook'.