What are Eye Floaters
Eye floaters are specks of material that float around inside your eye. A jelly-like fluid (vitreous) fills the inside of your eye.
The vitreous is normally clear. It allows light to pass through to tissues at the back of the eye (retina). The retina contains the nerves needed for vision.
Your vitreous can start to shrink and become stringy as you age. Strands of material may start to float around inside the eye. They come from clumps of cells, blood, or other materials. These objects cast shadows on the retina and show up as floaters. Floaters may be more obvious when you look up at the sky or at a bright, blank background. They do not go away completely. In time, however, they may settle below your line of sight. Floaters can be annoying. They do not usually cause vision problems.
Sometimes floaters appear along with flashes. Flashes look like bright, quick streaks of light. They usually occur at the edge of your vision. Flashes result when your vitreous pulls on your retina. They also occur with age. However, they could be a warning sign of a detached retina. This is a serious condition that requires emergency treatment to prevent vision loss.
What are the causes?
For most people, eye floaters develop when the vitreous begins to shrink as a normal part of aging. More serious causes of floaters include:
- A torn retina.
- Injury.
- Bleeding inside the eye. Diabetes and other conditions can cause broken retinal blood vessels.
- A blood clot in the major vein of the retina or its branches (retinal vein occlusion).
- Retinal detachment.
- Vitreous detachment.
- Inflammation inside the eye (uveitis).
- Infection inside the eye.
What increases the risk?
You may have a higher risk for floaters if:
- You are older.
- You are nearsighted.
- You have diabetes.
- You have had cataracts removed.
What are the signs or symptoms?
Symptoms of floaters include seeing small, shadowy shapes move across your vision. They move as your eyes move. They drift out of your vision when you keep your eyes still. These shapes may look like:
- Specks.
- Dots.
- Circles.
- Squiggly lines.
- Thread.
Symptoms of flashes include seeing:
- Bursts of light.
- Flashing lights.
- Lightning streaks.
- What is commonly referred to as “stars.”
How is this diagnosed?
Your health care provider may diagnose floaters and flashes based on your symptoms. You may need to see an eye care specialist (optometristor ophthalmologist). The specialist will do an exam to determine whether your floaters are a normal part of aging or a warning sign of a more serious eye problem. The specialist may put drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide (dilate) and then use a special scope (slit lamp) to look inside your eye.
How is this treated?
No treatment is needed for floaters that occur normally with age. Sometimes floaters become severe enough to affect your vision. In rare cases, surgery to remove the vitreous and replace it with a saltwater solution (vitrectomy) may be considered.
Follow these instructions at home:
Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You have a sudden increase in floaters.
- You have floaters along with flashes.
- You have floaters along with any new eye symptoms.
Get help right away if:
- You have a sudden increase in floaters or flashes that interferes with your vision.
- Your vision suddenly changes.
