Have you ever glanced up at a bright sky or looked at a blank wall and suddenly noticed little squiggly lines or tiny specks drifting through your field of vision? “Eye floaters” are very common, and most people experience them at some point in their lives. While they are typically harmless, they can be unsettling, especially if they seem to pop up out of nowhere. In this blog, we share everything you need to know about eye floaters, including when to be concerned about floaters in your vision.
What are eye floaters?
Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous—the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the inside of your eye. As light enters your eye, these clumps cast shadows on your retina, which you see as shapes like dots, squiggles, cobwebs, or threads drifting around when you move your eyes.
Eye floaters may be more noticeable when you’re looking at a bright background like a sunny sky or a white screen, and they often seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly. Floaters are generally more common as people age, especially after age 50.
What causes floaters in the eyes?
Floaters can appear for a few different reasons:
- Natural aging: Over time, the vitreous gel inside your eye begins to shrink and become more liquid, forming tiny fibers that cast shadows.
- Nearsightedness: People who are nearsighted tend to develop floaters earlier or more frequently.
- Eye trauma or surgery: Floaters may develop after certain surgeries or eye injuries.
- Inflammation: Conditions that cause inflammation inside the eye, like uveitis, can also lead to floaters.
- Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD): A common condition where the vitreous pulls away from the retina as part of the aging process.
Will eye floaters go away?
Eye floaters usually don’t disappear completely, but they often become less noticeable over time. As your brain adjusts, it learns to filter them out, and they may seem to fade or drift out of your direct line of sight.
In rare cases where floaters are especially large or bothersome, treatment options such as laser therapy or vitrectomy may be considered. However, these treatment options are typically reserved for more severe cases and come with risks.
Are eye floaters dangerous?
In most cases, floaters are a normal part of aging and not something to worry about. However, there are times when they can signal a more serious issue, especially if they appear suddenly or are accompanied by other symptoms.
Call our eye doctors in Waterville right away if you experience:
- A sudden increase in the number of floaters you see
- Flashes of light in your vision
- A dark shadow or curtain effect in your peripheral vision
- Vision loss or changes in your central vision
These could be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which is a medical emergency and needs immediate attention to protect your vision.
Schedule an appointment today
If you’re seeing floaters and not sure whether they’re normal or something more serious, we can help put your mind at ease. At Newport Eye Care, we offer thorough, personalized eye exams in Waterville, Maine, and can catch early signs of serious eye conditions before permanent eye damage occurs. Call us or schedule your eye exam online today!
