Floaters are a common sight issue for many people. Eye Floaters are spots and thread-like lines that obscure your vision. They can look like small, dark, shadowy shapes that can look like spots, squiggly lines that seem to dart and move when you try to look at them directly. Usually, floaters are most noticeable when your eyes are not moving or during a bright, clear day.
What causes floaters?
The most common causes are age-related when the vitreous inside your eyes shrinks. Vitreous is a gel-like substance that fills about 80% of the eye and helps maintain it’s round shape. The lines and spots you see aren’t the object itself, but rather the shadow that is cast on the retina.
While they can be an annoyance, most floaters can eventually settle out of the line of sight. However, they do not go away completely. Along with the normal aging process, they are more common in nearsighted people, people who have diabetes, or people who have had a cataract operation.
What are treatment options for floaters?
Most people living with eye floaters usually learn to ignore them. Thankfully, floaters do not threaten your vision health and require no treatment. The shrinking vitreous can tug at the retina and pull away from it, which isn’t cause for alarm and won’t harm your vision. However, if you notice a sudden increase in floaters, light flashes, and peripheral vision loss, these symptoms could indicate a retinal detachment or tear. A retinal detachment should be treated right away. An untreated retinal detachment could lead to visual impairment or blindness within a few days.
Schedule an exam
The best way to stay on top of your vision health is by seeing your eye doctor every 1-2 years, or as recommended. Vision acuity and other issues can occur with the normal aging process, and a comprehensive eye exam can detect many eye-related problems early. If you’re concerned about specific symptoms or haven’t seen an eye doctor recently, our doctors can clear things up.