Are They Actually Floating?

Eye floaters are fairly common vision phenomena. They’re caused by miniature clusters of cells caught inside the clear fluid that fills the inside of your eye, called the vitreous. Despite their name, eye floaters aren’t actually floating in front of your eye. They’re inside. What you are seeing when eye floaters appear is the shadow they cast on your retina.

Eye flashes are similar to eye floaters. They occur when the vitreous rubs or pulls against the retina. This causes a slightly different reaction, appearing as flashes or lightning streaks.

Should I Be Worried?

Since eye floaters and flashes are fairly common — according to EverydayHealth.com 7 out of every 10 people report having experienced eye floaters and flashes — you shouldn’t be alarmed if you notice them every once in a while. However, the sudden appearance of frequent eye floaters and flashes could indicate serious vision problems. An increased number of eye floaters and flashes is often an indication that the vitreous is pulling away from the retina. The retina is then at risk of tearing or completely detaching from the back of the eye, and could ultimately lead to a detached retina.

Some symptoms of a more serious condition include:

  1. A noticeably large eye floater, or a shower of eye floaters
  2. Inexplicable, sudden and frequent flashes of light in the eye
  3. Sudden and obvious loss of peripheral vision

There is no specific treatment for eye floaters and flashes, but some medications will help. If the presence of eye floaters and flashes is an indication of future retinal tears, laser therapy or surgery may be necessary to repair the retina. If you’re experiencing a lot of eye floaters and flashes, or big clumps of clouds in your vision, speak with your ophthalmologist about your treatment options.