Floaters are dark spots or strands like cobwebs that appear to float in front of the eyes. This may seem a bit scary at first but floaters are quite common and usually harmless.
People who have had floaters for years find that the eye and brain learn to ignore them.
What Are Floaters And Spots?
Floaters
These are small, dark shapes that can look like spots, threads, squiggly lines, or cobwebs. They are created when tiny clumps form in the vitreous, the jelly-like fluid that fills the back of your eye. Floaters are common and usually don’t need treatment.
Spots
These can appear as specks of various shapes and sizes, threadlike strands, or cobwebs. They are often caused by small flecks of protein or other matter that became trapped when your eyes formed before birth.
What Is The Cause?
Eye floaters and spots are usually caused by normal aging, but they can also be caused by other conditions:
- Aging: As you age, the vitreous gel in your eyes liquifies and contracts, causing tiny strands to stick together and cast shadows on your retina. These shadows appear as floaters.
- Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD): This is a harmless process that occurs when the vitreous gel separates from the back of the eye. A large central floater is a common symptom of PVD.
- Retinal tear or detachment: These are more serious conditions that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated.
- Bleeding in the eye: Bleeding from conditions such as diabetic retinopathy can cause floaters.
- Infectious or inflammatory conditions: These can cause floaters.
Other causes of eye floaters include: Eye infections, Eye injuries, Uveitis (inflammation in the eye), Cataracts, and Glaucoma.
Floaters or spots often show up in people who are short sighted or when the gel in the eye shrinks as one ages. Sometimes the gel shrinks enough to collapse away from the light sensitive lining at the back of the eye, called the retina. When this happens floaters may appear as large ring shapes.
Floaters or spots ‘float’ in the jelly of the eye so when one moves the eye to try to look at the floater, it will move in the direction that the eye moves. They are most apparent when one looks at a plain light background like the sky or a white wall.
The number of floaters or spots in the eye can increase with age. A dramatic increase in floaters could be a sign of a more serious problem inside the eye such as retinal detachment. In this case it’s recommended that you contact your optometrist, especially if you see light flashes or lose peripheral vision.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment for eye floaters depends on the cause and how much they bother you:
Observation
If the floaters are caused by aging and don’t affect your vision, you probably don’t need treatment. Your brain can often learn to ignore them.
Surgery
If the floaters are affecting your vision, your eye doctor may suggest a vitrectomy to remove them. This surgery involves making a small incision to remove the vitreous and replace it with a solution to maintain the eye’s shape. Risks include bleeding, infection, retinal tears, and cataracts.
Laser treatment
Your eye doctor may suggest using a laser to break up the floaters and make them less noticeable. This is called vitreolysis. Risks include retinal damage if the laser is aimed incorrectly.