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Floaters and spots in your vision are usually harmless, but if they occur suddenly, you should seek medical attention.
Lots of people see floaters or black spots in their vision. If you have had floaters for some time, there is generally no need to worry. But if you encounter a sudden increase in floaters, or begin to see flashes in your vision, you should see an eye specialist straight away.
They are caused by an irregularity in the vitreous ‘gel’ that fills your eye. The irregularity casts a shadow onto your retina, blocking small areas of your vision, which you perceive as floaters. Floaters occur naturally as the vitreous gel within your eye thickens or shrinks with age, causing clumps or strands to form. In most cases, floaters are completely harmless, if a little irritating.
In some cases, the shrinking vitreous gel can pull on the retina (the focusing surface at the back of your eye). If this occurs, it can cause a tear in the retina or even detach the retina. This is usually accompanied by a sudden increase in floaters, and sometimes flashes in your vision as well. If you encounter any of these symptoms see an eye specialist immediately.
The flashing lights that we are concerned about are off to the side and only last a second or so. They are usually most noticeable at night, but you may also see them during the day. They are called Moore’s lightening streaks.
As the vitreous ‘gel’ within your eye shrinks, it may pull on the retina (the focusing surface at the back of your eye) and this can cause these flashes of light in your vision to occur.
A retinal tear or detached retina is a serious and potentially sight-threatening condition. It’s therefore essential to seek medical attention as quickly as possible if you encounter flashes in your vision, particularly if they are accompanied by a sudden increase in floaters.
Most floaters are harmless, and don’t require any treatment. However, if you suffer from floaters that seriously affect your vision, they can be removed with a vitrectomy – surgery to remove some or all of the vitreous humour from the eye. Retinal detachment, on the other hand, is a serious condition, and retinal detachment surgery should be carried out as a matter of urgency by a skilled surgeon.
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Learn more about treating eye floaters and flashes from authoritative sources.
Dots and lines (floaters) or flashes of light in your vision are common. They’re not usually serious.
If you sometimes see:
- Floaters – such as small dark dots, squiggly lines, rings or cobwebs
- Flashes of light in your vision, it’s not usually a sign of anything serious
especially if:
- You’ve had them for a long time
- They’re not getting worse
- Your vision is not affected
Flashes may eventually stop, and floaters often become less noticeable as you get used to them.
What Are Floaters?
Floaters look like small specks, dots, circles, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision. While they seem to be in front of your eye, they are floating inside. Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous that fills your eye. What you see are the shadows these clumps cast on your retina.
What Are Flashes?
Flashes can look like flashing lights or lightning streaks in your field of vision. Some people compare them to seeing “stars” after being hit on the head. You might see flashes on and off for weeks, or even months. Flashes happen when the vitreous rubs or pulls on your retina.
Flashes and floaters are more common in older people, people who are short-sighted and in people who have had eye surgery.
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