Floaters and Flashes

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Floaters

Eye floaters are small spots in your vision that appear as black or gray specks, strings, or cobweb-like shapes. They drift as you move your eyes and seem to dart away when you try to focus on them.

Causes of Floaters:

  • Age-related changes: As the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes becomes more liquid with age, microscopic fibers clump together, casting tiny shadows on the retina.

  • Rare causes: Inflammation, bleeding within the eye, or retinal tears.

When to See a Doctor:

  • Sudden increase in floaters

  • Accompanied by flashes of light

  • Loss of peripheral vision

These symptoms could indicate a retinal tear or detachment, which is an emergency requiring

immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of Eye Floaters:

  • Dark specks or transparent, string-like material in your vision

  • Moving spots that shift with your eye movements

  • Most visible against bright, plain backgrounds (e.g., blue sky or white walls)

  • Spots that eventually settle and drift out of sight

Do Floaters Require Treatment?

Most eye floaters don't need treatment. While they can be frustrating, many people learn to ignore them over time.

Treatment Options for Severe Floaters:

1. Laser Therapy:

  • An ophthalmologist uses a laser to break up floaters, making them less noticeable.

  • Risks: Possible retinal damage if the laser is misdirected. This is considered experimental and isn’t widely used.

2. Vitrectomy:

  • A surgical procedure where the vitreous gel is removed and replaced with a solution.

  • Risks: Bleeding, retinal tears, and recurrence of floaters over time.

Flashes

Eye flashes appear as streaks of light or lightning-like flashes in your vision. They occur when the vitreous gel inside the eye rubs or pulls on the retina.

Common Causes of Eye Flashes:

  • Aging: The vitreous gel shrinks and pulls away from the retina (posterior vitreous detachment).

    • Other Causes:

    • Head trauma

    • Eye inflammation

    • Exposure to certain chemicals

    • Eye surgeries (e.g., cataract removal)

    • Myopia (nearsightedness)

Symptoms of Eye Flashes:

  • Sudden, brief flashes of light, often described as seeing "stars"

  • Jagged lines that last 10-20 minutes

  • Migraine-related flashes: Longer-lasting, with shapes and colors, often accompanied by headaches

  • Vitreous separation flashes: Shorter, without defined shapes, and typically not accompanied by pain

When to Seek Medical Attention:

  • New or unexplained flashes of light

  • Flashes accompanied by a sudden increase in floaters

  • Flashes paired with peripheral vision loss (possible sign of retinal detachment)

Are Flashes Always a Concern?

While flashes can be a normal part of aging, especially during vigorous activity, they may also signal more serious conditions like retinal detachment. Always consult an eye specialist if flashes occur unexpectedly.

Risk Factors for Retinal Detachment:

  • Severe nearsightedness (myopia)

  • Previous eye surgery (e.g., cataracts)

  • Eye or head trauma

  • Family history of retinal detachment

  • Eye inflammation

For more detailed information on floaters and flashes click here.