Almost everyone has seen them: little specks, threads or cobwebs drifting across your vision, most noticeable against a blue sky or a white page. These are floaters. Most are harmless. A few are a sign of something that needs attention right away.
What floaters are
The National Eye Institute (NEI) explains that floaters move as your eyes move, so when you try to look straight at one it seems to dart away. When your eyes stop moving, floaters keep drifting. NEI notes that almost everyone develops floaters as they get older, as the gel inside the eye changes.
When floaters are a warning sign
Floaters can be a sign of a retinal tear or detachment, which NEI describes as a possible medical emergency. Go to your eye doctor or the emergency room right away if you notice:
- A lot of new floaters that appear suddenly, sometimes with flashes of light
- A dark shadow, like a curtain, or a blurry area in your side or central vision
NEI also advises telling your eye doctor about any new floaters that appear suddenly and do not go away, even without other symptoms.
How floaters are checked
Your eye doctor checks for floaters and their cause during a dilated eye exam. Drops widen the pupils so the doctor can see the retina and the gel inside the eye. If the retina is healthy, most floaters need no treatment, and many become less noticeable over time as the brain learns to ignore them.
Who is at higher risk
NEI says you are at higher risk for floaters if you are very nearsighted, have diabetes, or have had cataract surgery. Less often, floaters come from more serious causes such as eye infections, injuries, inflammation inside the eye (uveitis) or bleeding in the eye.
Simple guidance
Old, familiar floaters that have not changed are usually not urgent. New floaters, a sudden increase, flashes or a curtain over your vision are reasons to call the same day.
Questions? Call our Westlake Village office at (805) 230-2126.
I would much rather examine ten patients with harmless floaters than miss one retinal tear. If something new appears, call.
Source: Floaters (National Eye Institute (NIH)). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.