Floaters and Flashes

Small grayish specks or clouds moving in your field of vision as you look at a white wall or a clear blue sky are known as floaters. Most people have floaters, but most do not notice them until they become numerous or more prominent.

In most cases, having floaters is a part of the natural aging process. Floaters look like cobwebs, squiggly lines, or floating bugs. They appear to be in front of the eye, but are actually floating inside. As we get older, the vitreous humor (the clear fluid that fills the inside of the eye) tends to shrink and detach from the retina, forming clumps within the eye. What you see are the shadows these clumps cast on the retina.

The appearance of flashing lights comes from the pulling of the vitreous gel on the retina at the time of vitreous separation. Flashes look like twinkles or curved lightning streaks in the peripheral vision. They are most visible when the eye quickly moves left and right in a dark environment. Floaters can be very bothersome, most often affecting reading. Try looking up and then down to move the floaters out of the way. Most floaters will eventually go away, but this process may take several months to occur.

When to be concerned

When floaters or flashes first appear, it may be a signal that a tear of the retina has occurred. This is a serious problem and can lead to retinal detachment and blindness. If this happens, we recommend a complete and thorough exam of the retina. If the floaters increase in size or frequency, or if a dark curtain begins to form over the center of your vision, call our office immediately.