What Are Floaters?
The retina is a photosensitive layer of receptors located at the back of your eye. In front of the retina is a gel called vitreous.
The vitreous gel fills the majority of the space inside your eye. Floaters are spots in your field of vision that can appear as small specks, lines, circles, cobwebs, or smoke.
Sometimes, people assume these floaters are gnats or bugs flying in front of their faces. However, floaters are spots floating inside your eye and tend to move with your eye movement.
Floaters are tiny clumps inside the vitreous gel that cast a shadow on your retina. They are often more apparent when looking at a light background, such as a sheet of paper or the sky.
There are various causes for floaters, and they are very common. As you age, the vitreous gel begins to shrink.
Due to this, you will likely experience floaters as you age. In some cases, floaters are harmless, and your brain will learn to ignore them over time.
However, many new or large floaters can indicate a possible retinal detachment. If you notice new floaters that look like they are raining inside your eye or large cobweb floaters, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor right away.
What Are Flashes?
Flashes of light often occur when the vitreous gel tugs or pulls on the retina. Some people describe flashes as lightning bolts or shooting stars.
Like with floaters, flashes can also occur during aging as the vitreous gel shrinks and changes. Seeing flashes of light infrequently may be a normal symptom of aging in your eye.
However, flashes can also indicate a possible retinal detachment, especially when paired with new or large floaters. When the retina becomes detached from the back wall of the eye, it can cause permanent vision loss.
Immediate symptoms of retinal detachment are an increase in floaters and consistent flashes. In addition to these symptoms, some people report changes in peripheral vision.
If it looks like someone is pulling a curtain, shade, or veil over your vision, this could signify a possible retinal detachment. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is essential to visit your eye doctor urgently to preserve your vision.
How Do Eye Doctors Treat Flashes and Floaters?
Flashes of light often occur when the vitreous gel tugs or pulls on the retina. Some people describe flashes as lightning bolts or shooting stars.
Like with floaters, flashes can also occur during aging as the vitreous gel shrinks and changes. Seeing flashes of light infrequently may be a normal symptom of aging in your eye.
However, flashes can also indicate a possible retinal detachment, especially when paired with new or large floaters. When the retina becomes detached from the back wall of the eye, it can cause permanent vision loss.
Immediate symptoms of retinal detachment are an increase in floaters and consistent flashes. In addition to these symptoms, some people report changes in peripheral vision.
If it looks like someone is pulling a curtain, shade, or veil over your vision, this could signify a possible retinal detachment. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is essential to visit your eye doctor urgently to preserve your vision.