Floaters are small, shadowy shapes that drift across your field of vision. These visual disturbances appear as dots, threads, cobweb-like strands, or ring-shaped spots that seem to float in front of your eye.
Despite this appearance, floaters are actually located within the eye itself, not in front of it. Floaters are suspended within the vitreous humor, which is the clear, gel-like substance that fills the back chamber of your eye.
As your eye moves, the floaters move with it, creating the drifting sensation you perceive. Floaters develop when small clumps form in the vitreous humor, typically due to age-related changes to the vitreous.
These clumps cast shadows on your retina, which you perceive as floaters. You’ll typically notice floaters most prominently when looking at bright backgrounds such as a blue sky, a white wall, or a blank page.
Flashes present as brief, bright bursts of light in your vision. Unlike the persistent nature of floaters, flashes typically appear and disappear quickly.
They may resemble lightning streaks, camera flashes, or shooting stars in your peripheral vision. Flashes occur when the vitreous gel inside your eye pulls on or rubs against your retina.
As with floaters, flashes often become more common as you age due to the natural changes in the vitreous. However, sudden onset or an increase in flashes warrants immediate medical attention, as they may signal a more serious condition requiring prompt treatment.
Flashes and floaters can be caused by various factors, including:
The most common cause of floaters and flashes is age-related changes to the vitreous humor. As you age, the vitreous begins to liquefy and shrink, pulling away from the retina.
This natural process, known as posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), typically occurs in people over 50 and is a normal part of aging. During PVD, the collagen fibers in the vitreous clump together, forming the shadows you perceive as floaters.
The tugging on the retina during this process can cause flashes of light. While PVD itself is not typically sight-threatening, it can occasionally lead to complications such as retinal tears.
People with nearsightedness have a higher risk of developing floaters. In myopic eyes, the elongated shape of the eyeball can create additional stress on the vitreous and retina, potentially leading to earlier vitreous changes and an increased likelihood of floaters.
Individuals who have undergone cataract surgery or YAG laser treatment may experience an increased incidence of floaters. These procedures can sometimes disturb the vitreous or the retina.
Inflammation in the eye, known as uveitis, can release inflammatory debris into the vitreous, appearing as floaters. Unlike age-related floaters, those caused by inflammation may be accompanied by eye pain, redness, and light sensitivity.
While most floaters and flashes are harmless, certain scenarios warrant immediate medical attention:
A sudden increase in the number or size of floaters, especially when accompanied by light flashes or a shadow in your peripheral vision, may indicate a retinal tear or detachment.
These conditions occur when the vitreous pulls away from the retina with enough force to create a tear, allowing fluid to accumulate beneath the retina and potentially detach it from the underlying tissue.
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. The detached portion of the retina quickly loses its blood supply and will begin to lose function if not promptly reattached. Signs that may indicate a retinal tear or detachment include:
A vitreous hemorrhage occurs when blood leaks into the vitreous humor. This can result from various conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears, or trauma.
Symptoms include the sudden appearance of floaters, which may appear as small dots or smoke-like wisps, and vision may become blurry or develop a reddish tint. Minor hemorrhages may cause only a few floaters, while significant bleeding can substantially reduce vision.
If you experience signs of a retinal tear or detachment, or vitreous hemorrhage, seek emergency medical care and immediately contact your eye doctor at the Retina Institute of Illinois. Prompt treatment is key to preserving your vision.
Treatment recommendations for floaters and flashes depend on their cause, severity, and impact on your vision and quality of life. For typical, age-related floaters that don’t significantly impact vision, treatment isn’t necessary.
Over time, your brain often adapts to the presence of floaters, and they become less noticeable as time passes, even though the floaters themselves remain present. For individuals with floaters that significantly impact vision or quality of life or are a result of retinal tears or detachment, your eye doctor will discuss treatment options with you that may include surgical intervention.
Have you been experiencing flashes and floaters? Schedule an appointment at the Retina Center of Illinois today!
