Overview
Eye floaters are spots or shapes in your vision that resemble dark specks, strings, or cobwebs. They may appear to drift around when you move your eyes and can cast tiny shadows on your retina. Eye floaters are caused by age-related changes in the vitreous, a jelly-like substance inside the eye, as it liquifies and contracts. This process leads to the formation of clumps of collagen fibers, which create the shadows or floaters that you see. Floaters are usually harmless, but a sudden increase in floaters, along with flashes of light or changes in your vision, may warrant immediate medical attention, as they could be indicative of a more serious condition such as a retinal tear or detachment.
Understanding the disease
Symptoms
Symptoms of eye floaters may include:
- Small shapes in your vision that appear as dark specks or knobby, transparent strings of floating material
- Spots that move when you move your eyes, so when you try to look at them, they move quickly out of your line of vision
- Spots that are most noticeable when you look at a plain bright background, such as a blue sky or a white wall
- Small shapes or strings that eventually settle down and drift out of the line of vision
Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing eye floaters include age over 50 years, nearsightedness, eye injury, complications from cataract surgery, and diabetes complications that cause damage to the blood vessels of the retina (diabetic retinopathy). Other eye inflammation and diseases can also contribute to eye floaters.
Development
Eye floaters are caused by vitreous changes related to aging or from other diseases or conditions. As we age, the vitreous inside our eyes liquifies and contracts, leading to clumps of collagen fibers forming within the vitreous. These clumps cast shadows on the retina, which appear as floaters in our vision. Eye floaters can also be caused by certain eye surgeries, medications injected into the vitreous, or complications from cataract surgery.
Assessment and Diagnosis
Triage
You should see a doctor if you notice a sudden increase in eye floaters, have many more floaters than usual, experience flashes of light in the same eye as the floaters, or if a gray curtain or blurry area blocks part of your vision. These symptoms might indicate a retinal tear or detachment, which is a sight-threatening condition that requires immediate attention. Additionally, if your eye symptoms interfere with your daily activities or cause discomfort like eyestrain, headaches, or difficulty with night vision, you should visit an eye doctor for further evaluation and advice on corrective options.
Management and Treatment
Home Remedies
It is important to consult an eye specialist for proper evaluation and treatment of eye floaters.
Preparing for medical consultation
To prepare for an appointment for eye floaters, you should make a list of your symptoms, medications, and questions to ask your eye care specialist. Some basic questions to ask include: why do I see these eye floaters, will they always be there, what can I do to prevent more from occurring, are there treatments available, and are there any brochures or websites that you recommend. Additionally, you should be prepared to answer questions about when your eye floaters began, which eye has them, the frequency of your symptoms, any medical conditions you have, and if you have had any eye surgery. It's also a good idea to ensure you have adequate lighting and consider trying over-the-counter reading glasses if you don't already wear prescription eyeglasses.