Eye floaters are surprisingly common, affecting about 7 out of 10 people. They can show up at any time but for a lot of people they become noticeable after looking at something bright, such as the sun. Blinking often causes them to disappear but if you still notice them, eye floaters are usually harmless.
Eye floaters are very common. As a matter of fact, 7 out of 10 people will experience them at some time in their lives. Eye floaters are an ordinary part of the aging process because the clear substance inside the eye (vitreous gel) changes with age. When the vitreous gel shrinks or thickens, particles form in the gel.
If you notice a sudden increase in eye floaters, contact an eye specialist immediately — especially if you also see light flashes or lose your vision. These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.
Most people have floaters that come and go, and they often don't need treatment. But sometimes floaters can be a sign of a more serious eye condition. So if you notice new floaters that appear suddenly and don't go away, it's important to tell your eye doctor.
“If you have floaters plus flashes and a loss of side vision, it's an urgent matter and you need to see an eye specialist or go to the emergency room immediately,” Dr. Newman said.
Floaters look like small specks, dots, circles, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision. While they seem to be in front of your eye, they are floating inside. Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous that fills your eye.
The vitreous gel usually then melts or liquefies over the next several weeks to months. The floaters often subside starting within a few days, and all but a few settle to the bottom of the eye and disappear within a 6-month period. Some residual floaters can be seen for life.
Can eye floaters fluctuate from day to day or throughout the day? Yes, they can vary in different light conditions and can appear more prominent against light backgrounds. Some people notice floaters more when they are tired or at the end of the day.
As long as eye floaters are not impairing your vision and are just a nuisance, you have no need to be concerned. However, if eye floaters are brought on suddenly accompanied by flashes of light, blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, and an increase in the number of floaters, seek immediate medical attention.
Your eye care provider will usually diagnose eye floaters during an eye exam. First, your provider will dilate your eyes so they can get a clear look at the inside of your eye. This allows the provider to see the floaters you have and check on your retina.
They're usually caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eyes changes. Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment. This is serious and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated. Floaters and flashes can also happen for no obvious reason.
A large number of floaters can signal a hole or tear in the retina, which can lead to retinal detachment. Because there is no way to assess the extent of damage based on symptoms alone, the only way to know for sure is to see an ophthalmologist.
It usually takes about a month, but sometimes it can take up to six months. Floaters will gradually get smaller and less noticeable as the weeks and months go by, but usually they never disappear completely.
Normal floaters usually don't change much. Over the years, you may accumulate more floaters. By contrast, floaters in retinal detachment are often sudden and new. They can look like one piece of large web or strand, or there can be thousands of tiny little floaters.
For some, eye floaters can disappear within a few weeks. For others, it's a matter of months. This depends on the type and severity of the floaters. In some cases, underlying conditions such as a torn retina or diabetic retinopathy can cause eye floaters to feel more apparent or longer lasting.
Options may include surgery to remove the vitreous or a laser to disrupt the floaters, although both procedures are rarely done. Surgery to remove the vitreous. An ophthalmologist who is a specialist in retina and vitreous surgery removes the vitreous through a small incision (vitrectomy).
Eye floaters are more evident when you look at something bright. When your eye is exposed to bright light, your pupils contract and the aperture lessens, thus making floaters more apparent.
For many people, eye floaters do not necessarily go away over time, but they do become less noticeable. They slowly sink within your vitreous and eventually settle at the bottom of your eye.
There are no natural, at-home treatments that are capable of entirely doing away with floaters. If the issue is severe and persistent, surgery may be needed.
“Floaters can be distressing for some,” he said. He tells people to wait three months after having an examination to be sure they're safe. “That's about how long it takes the brain to adjust.” Once the brain gets used to the presence of floaters, they are typically not as annoying and don't affect your vision.
Despite the fact that stress itself cannot cause eye floaters it can certainly make a pre-existing condition worse. Experiencing the above symptoms in conjunction to eye floaters you already see will make it seem like your eye floaters have increased.
Those black spots, squiggly lines and drifting cobweb shapes in your visual field are called floaters. Some patients are concerned about these moving specks, but they're usually harmless.
Floaters are usually harmless and do not cause any problems. However, in some rare cases, they can be a sign of a more serious condition such as retinal detachment and glaucoma.