Floaters/Flashing Lights Assessment
What are Eye Floaters?
Causes
You have a clear, jelly-like substance known as vitreous humor inside the hollow space in the middle of your eyeball. Vitreous ages and liquefies, becoming less firm and displaying strands of a protein called collagen. When the eye moves, these strands swirl gently.
Floaters may be the results of a number of things including:
- Cataract surgery
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Eye disease
- Eye injury
You should only seek eye floaters treatment if they start to affect your vision. If this is the case, you should consult an optometrist or visit your GP. They will be able to check your eyes to see if you require further treatment or tests.
Eye conditions related to floaters in the eye
-Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)
As the eye ages, it is common for the posterior vitreous to detach from the posterior capsule, causing posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). Around 75% of people over 65 suffer from PVD.
Eye floaters and flashing lights can occur as a result of PVD
-Retinal tears and vitreous hemorrhage
In approximately half of all people, the vitreous humour has separated from the retina by the time they are 60. Most people aren’t even aware that this happens, and it usually doesn’t cause any problems.
It has been reported that, in a few cases of PVD, the vitreous humor can pull on the retina and cause the tiny blood vessels on the surface to burst and bleed into the vitreous. It is possible to see the red blood cells as tiny black dots or as smoke.
PVD can result in strong adhesions between the vitreous humor and retina in rare cases. These points of attachment can lead to tears in the retina as the vitreous pulls away. Retinal tears can be associated with bleeding (seen as a ‘shower’ of dots or flies), an increase in floaters in the eye and, flashes of bright, white light in your vision that look a little like lightning streaks.
If you have these symptoms you need to see your eye specialist and have those retinal tears excluded, if there is a tear present it needs urgent retinal laser surgery.
-Retinal Detachment
If you have retinal tears, urgent treatment is needed as tears can lead to retinal detachment. When the retina separates from the wall at the back of the eye, retinal detachment occurs. This can lead to damaging your sight. Urgent surgery or retinal laser treatment is required to rectify retinal detachments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eye floaters are shapes or shadows that drift across a person’s vision. They can appear as small dots, squiggly lines, or irregular strands, and are usually more noticeable when looking at a plain background, such as a clear sky or a white wall.
Floaters are generally harmless and often become less noticeable over time. However, in some cases, they may signal serious eye conditions, especially when accompanied by flashes of light or a sudden increase in their frequency. If these symptoms occur, it is essential to seek a professional eye examination to rule out any underlying issues.
Most eye floaters are caused by age-related changes in the eye. As people age, the jelly-like substance inside the eye, known as the vitreous, begins to liquefy and shrink. This process can lead to the formation of clumps of collagen fibers within the vitreous. When these clumps move, they can cast tiny shadows on the retina, which appear as floaters in your vision. Other potential causes of eye floaters include:
Eye Injury: Trauma to the eye can lead to the formation of floaters.
Inflammation: Conditions like uveitis can cause inflammation in the eye, leading to floaters.
Retinal Tears or Detachment: In some cases, floaters may indicate more serious issues like retinal tears or detachment, which require immediate medical attention.
Other Eye Conditions: Diabetes and other systemic conditions can also contribute to the development of floaters. While floaters are often harmless, it’s essential to consult an eye care professional if you notice a sudden increase in floaters or if they are accompanied by flashes of light or a loss of peripheral vision.
Eye floaters can appear in various shapes and sizes, including small specks, string-like strands, or cobweb-like patterns. They drift across your field of vision, often moving when you try to look directly at them. Floaters are typically painless and may not significantly interfere with your overall vision, though they can be distracting at times. See your GP or optician immediately.