Flashes and Floaters

Seeing spots, circles, lines or cobwebs floating in your direct line of vision? What about bright flashes of light? Flashes and floaters appear more frequently as you age. Unfortunately, you can’t prevent them, but generally, they are not serious. An exam at Eye Foundation Hospital will identify any issues or reassure you that your sight is healthy.

Floaters are protein fiber debris in the vitreous jelly — a clear, gel-like substance inside the eye. The older we get, the more this vitreous gel liquefies, causing floaters to become more common.

Anything that stimulates your retina can cause flashes. Light flashes also originate from the visual centers in your brain, similar to what happens before a migraine headache.

Flashes and floaters are rarely serious. However, if you see an unexpected burst of light, loss of side vision, red floaters or if you experience eye pain with floaters, contact Eye Foundation hospital immediately. You may have a retinal tear or detachment requiring immediate medical attention.

If you have this condition, you may see one or more of the following:

• Spots, dark specks or knobby, transparent strings of floating material.
• Spots that move when you move your eyes – when you look at them, they move out of your visual field.
• Noticeable spots when you look at a plain, bright background.

Causes

Risk factors for this eye condition include:

• An eye inflammation triggered by infection or inflammatory diseases
• Eye bleeding from an injury, along with blood vessel problems
• Torn retina
• Being 50+ years old
• Nearsightedness
• Eye injury or trauma
• Complications after cataract surgery
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Family history of flashes or floaters

Diagnosis

Comprehensive Eye Exam
Our eye specialists accurately diagnose floaters and flashes by thoroughly examining your eyes while dilated.

Treatments

Vitrectomy: If floaters are seriously interfering with your vision, your doctor may recommend a vitrectomy. In this surgery, your ophthalmologist removes the vitreous substance through a tiny incision, then replaces it with a salt solution so that your eye maintains its shape.