Eye floaters are the tiny specks or spiderweb shapes that sometimes appear in your vision. They're more noticeable when you're looking at a bright, white surface and after looking at a bright light. While eye floaters can sometimes be annoying, they're typically harmless. However, it can be a sign of a medical emergency known as retinal detachment if you suddenly start seeing a great number of them. To learn more about what causes eye floaters and when you should see an eye doctor about them, read on.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters occur when tiny particles in your eye prevent light from reaching your retina, which causes small dark spots in your vision. The tiny particles are located in your vitreous, which is the fluid-filled sac that makes up most of your eye. When some of the fluid leaves the vitreous, it shrinks and causes some of the fibers in the vitreous to clump together and form opaque particles. The retina is the portion in the back of your eye that turns the light that reaches your eye into the electrical signals sent to your brain, and the opaque particles block that light.
While eye floaters can appear at any age, they're most common in seniors. People lose vitreous fluid as they age, which makes the tiny particles more likely to form.
When Should You See an Eye Doctor About Floaters?
While eye floaters are normally harmless, you should immediately call your eye doctor if the number of floaters you see suddenly increases. This is often accompanied by seeing flashes of light, and it can be a sign that your retina is detaching from the back of your eye. If it's not treated, this can lead to permanent vision loss — when detached, it loses access to its normal blood flow. If you notice these symptoms, it's important to call your eye doctor and seek treatment as soon as possible in order to preserve your vision.
It's also a good idea to schedule an eye exam if you see eye floaters and you're not yet a senior. Eye floaters can also be a sign of uveitis, which is a type of inflammation in your eye. An eye exam will reveal whether or not your eye floaters are harmless or are caused by inflammation.
Overall, eye floaters can be annoying but are normally harmless. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should seek emergency medical attention if the number of floaters you see suddenly increases, as this could be a sign of retinal detachment. If you're concerned about whether or not your eye floaters are normal, it's a good idea to schedule an eye exam to have your eye health examined in detail.
For more information, contact an eye doctor in your area.
Share20 September 2021
Hi there, I am Sophie Moye. I would like to help you learn what to expect during your yearly eye exam. Whether you have perfect vision or need corrective lenses, you must have an eye exam performed on a regular basis. The eye exam also identifies health problems that show symptoms through your eye condition. Furthermore, your eye doctor can create a vision baseline that can be used to gauge loss or improvement in the future. I hope to discuss the tools and techniques used to complete the eye exam. I will also discuss symptoms that eye doctors look for during the exams. My site will cover all of the health conditions that can be diagnosed using an eye exam. Thank you for your time.
