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| Matter floating inside the eye moves into
the line of sight and appears as specks floating
in front of our eyes. |
Overview
Floaters (also called “spots”) are tiny clumps
of gel or other semi-transparent matter that drift
freely inside the vitreous, the jelly-like fluid that
fills the inside of your eyes. In most cases, they are
more bothersome than harmful – appearing as specks of
varying shapes and sizes, or as strands, crystals,
cobwebs or as fuzzy clouds that float about and may dart
away when you attempt to look at them directly.
Floaters result from several causes: In childhood and
early adulthood, most are pieces of blood vessels that
were left suspended in the vitreous during fetal
development, or small flecks of protein trapped during
the formation of your eye. They may also result from
specks of pigment on the muscle fibers attached to the
iris, or particles caught in the tear layer in front of
the eye.
More often, however, they result from the natural
aging process, as the vitreous fluid deteriorates and
crystal-like clumps form, a process that usually begins
in your mid 40s. You may notice them more readily when
looking at something bright, such as the sky or a white
wall.
Floaters can affect anyone and are usually harmless,
but tend to be more noticeable and frequent in people
who are nearsighted, have undergone cataract surgery, or
have injured or inflammed the eye. If you notice a
sudden increase in floaters, see your eyecare provider,
because they could indicate a more serious problem such
as diabetic retinopathy, retinal hemorrhaging or the
first signs of a detached retina.
Flashes, which appear as lightning streaks,
shooting stars, fleeting white pinpoints or blasts of
light, are false bursts of light produced by optic
nerves of the retina. Most adults experience flashes
after age 50, as the vitreous thickens as part of the
normal aging process and begins to alternately pull away
from and rub against the light-sensitive retina. They
also appear in those prone to migraine headaches,
sometimes right before the onset of a migraine, and can
also result from head trauma or by blood vessel spasms
in the brain. As with floaters, flashes should be
checked by an eyecare provider to ensure they’re not the
early sign of a more serious problem.
Symptoms
If you have floaters or flashes, you may notice:
- Spots, strands or shadowy shapes that appears to
float or move
- Flashes of light that appear as streaks of
jagged lines
- A migraine or headache may follow
Prevention
There is no way to prevent floaters or flashes, but
if they occur suddenly or frequently, see your eyecare
provider.
Treatment
Floaters and flashes are usually harmless and fade over
time. When everyday floaters are bothering you, try
looking up and down and from side-to-side. This stirs
the vitreous fluid in your eyes, moving floaters away
from your line of vision. Flashes caused by the vitreous
separating from the retina are a normal part of aging
and should subside in a few weeks or months.
There is no safe, reliable treatment to control or
eliminate floaters or flashes. If you notice a sudden or
dramatic increase in floaters or flashes that last more
than 20 minutes, seek immediate medical attention, as
this may indicate that you have retinal damage and left
untreated, permanent vision loss may result. Surgery may
repair damage if caught early.
In the rare case that vision is almost entirely
clouded by floaters and floaters, a vitrectomy may be
performed. In this procedure, the vitreous is replaced
by clear saline solution to improve vision clarity. This
is not usually recommended due to the high risk of total
blindness associated with the procedure. |
