The Fraser Eye Care Center Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
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Eye floaters appear as tiny specks in the field of vision, and are for the most part benign. However, in rare cases floaters can progress from a normal visual disturbance to signs of a serious eye condition if they appear suddenly, increase in frequency, or appear with flashes of light (flashers).1 The experienced ophthalmologists and optometrists at Fraser Eye Care in Detroit, Michigan can quickly diagnose the cause of visual floaters and perform proper treatment.
Eye floaters (also known as posterior vitreous detachments, PVD) are little “cobwebs” or specks that float about in your field of vision. They can take on many different forms including dark spots, bugs, strands, or squiggly lines that drift with or without eye moving.
Initially, eye floaters are alarming (due to their presentation and appearance) but over time most floaters will settle down and only become evident when looking at something bright, such as white paper or a blue sky.
The middle of the eye is filled with a jelly-like substance called the vitreous, which protects the retina and helps maintain the round shape of the eye. As part of the eye’s natural aging process, collagen fibers or other cells can clump together in the vitreous, appearing as floaters in the field of vision. Floaters may also be caused by debris in the vitreous.
In most cases, floaters are a normal part of the eye’s aging process. While everybody sees floaters occasionally, they become more common once a person reaches middle age. People who have extreme myopia (nearsightedness) and diabetes may also be more likely to see floaters, as are people who have suffered an eye injury or trauma.
In the vast majority of cases, floaters are harmless visual disturbances. Still, it is possible that a sudden onset of or increase in floaters may be a sign of a more serious eye condition. If you have concerns about floaters in your field of vision, your eye doctor can perform a dilated examination of your eyes to determine the cause of your floaters.
Floaters rarely require treatment. However, in cases where floaters are so dense that they affect vision, your eye doctor may perform a vitrectomy. This is an in-office, microsurgical procedure where the vitreous in the middle of the eye is removed and replaced.2
If you experience a sudden increase in floaters or experience flashes of light at the same time as floaters, you should see your eye doctor as soon as possible. Though rare, floaters may signal a serious eye condition, such as:
The most serious conditions that may be signaled by a sudden increase in floaters are retinal tears and retinal detachment. A retinal detachment is a medical emergency that occurs when the retina pulls loose from underlying tissues. This prevents the retina from functioning properly and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly.
If you suspect you have a retinal detachment, go to the emergency room or contact Fraser Eye Care immediately.
The Fraser Eye Care Center Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
