Understanding What They Are and When to Seek Help
Floaters appear as small shapes in your vision that look like:
They may drift around as you move your eyes, especially when looking at a bright, plain background like a blue sky or white wall.
Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the eye's vitreous – the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the eye. While they seem like they are in front of the eye, they are actually floating inside the eye.
The most common cause is posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) – a normal, age-related change where the vitreous gel shrinks and pulls away from the retina.
You are more likely to get floaters if you:
Most floaters are harmless and become less noticeable over time.
Flashes look like:
Flashes happen when the vitreous pulls or tugs on the retina, often during posterior vitreous detachment.
Occasional flashes can be normal as you age, but new or increasing flashes need urgent attention.
Some flashes are caused by migraines, not the eye itself. These may look like:
If a headache follows, it's a migraine headache. If there is no headache, it's called an ocular or ophthalmic migraine. These are usually not serious.
Contact an eye specialist urgently if you notice:
These could be signs of:
In most cases, no treatment is needed. Your brain often learns to ignore floaters over time.
If floaters become very dense and affect vision significantly, vitrectomy surgery (removal of the vitreous gel) may be considered. However, this is rarely necessary and carries risks (e.g., cataract, infection, retinal detachment).