The white spots (called “drusen”) are deposits of metabolism of the retinal cells. The metabolism weakens as a process of aging and macular cells become damaged. The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for central fine vision. The retina is the part of the back of the eye that one sees with.
Floaters are usually harmless specks suspended in the vitreous humour. Vitreous humour is a jelly-like substance that helps maintain the shape of the eyeball. If you have a sudden increase in floaters, this may indicate damage or disease, and should be investigated by an eye specialist.
Flashes of light in your vision come from inside your eye. They are not caused by lights or anything else outside of your body. Most flashes happen when the vitreous gel inside the eye shrinks or changes, pulling on the retina (the light sensitive lining of the eye).
Movement in the eye's vitreous gel
The vitreous gel that is in front of the retina can move around, sometimes pulling on the retina itself. As a result , the retina sends light signals to the brain, causing sparkles, stars, or flashes of light to appear in the field of vision.
Visual snow syndrome is a rare neurological condition that causes static-like dots to appear in your field of vision. It can also sometimes occur during times of stress and anxiety, but not for everyone.
Visual Signs of Anxiety
They include: Sudden blurred vision. Loss of sharpness in focusing, making objects appear hazy. This is common when someone is feeling dizzy.
Spots in your field of vision may be floaters, a common and normal part of aging. Sometimes, seeing spots can be a warning sign of a serious underlying condition that requires medical attention. Sudden black spots in your vision or white spots that appear as light flashes may not be floaters.
One lesser-known symptom of high blood pressure is the occurrence of flashing lights in the eyes, also called “floaters.” These small specks or spots appear to float across your field of vision and can be a sign that the condition is affecting the blood vessels in your eyes.
Stroke. Bleeding inside the brain can also cause flashes of light. Other stroke symptoms include numbness, weakness, slurred speech, or headache. This is a medical emergency.
It's important to see an ophthalmologist right away if you: Experience a sudden or significant increase in floaters or flashes. See flashes of light in the same eye that has floaters. Lose peripheral or side vision, or part of your vision appears dark or shaded.
Eye drops and ointments can usually treat pingueculas. If a pinguecula affects a person's vision or causes severe discomfort, they may require surgery to remove them. Laser treatment is becoming more common.
Some people experience flashes of light that appear as jagged lines or "heat waves" in both eyes, often lasting 10-20 minutes.
Seeing sparkles of light that resemble glitter, sometimes referred to as or "seeing stars," is a phenomenon known as photopsia . These and similar visual disturbances, like seeing bands of light, prisms, sparks, or flashes, are usually caused when temporary pressure is placed on the eye, such as when you sneeze hard.
The abnormal blood vessels associated with diabetic retinopathy stimulate the growth of scar tissue, which can pull the retina away from the back of the eye. This can cause spots floating in your vision, flashes of light or severe vision loss.
You may have recently been diagnosed with dry eye disease and are wondering if these floaters and flashes are a result of your diagnosis. Surprisingly, while both issues stem from aging, they are not interrelated.
Flashes appear when the vitreous gel fails to separate cleanly and then tugs and creates friction on portions of the retina. This tugging and friction can also result in a retinal tear. Fluid can enter through the tear and cause a retinal detachment.
White spots are a relatively common skin issue and are usually nothing to worry about. They may appear as small white bumps that protrude slightly from the surface of the skin around the eyes and mouth, or white lumps or growths on the hands, feet, or other parts of the body.
Very dry or very wet eyes; both can be a symptom, however, it can also be caused by other issues. Blurry vision; finding it hard to concentrate, or focus. Eye strain; discomfort or minor pain as a result of your eyes feeling tight and swollen. Eye floaters; tiny spots that swim across your vision.
What is Optic Neuropathy? Optic neuropathy occurs when the optic nerve – a group of nerve fibres that transfer visual information from the eye to the brain – becomes damaged in some way. This might occur due to blocked blood flow, inflammation (swelling), abnormalities caused by various conditions, or trauma.
If you're experiencing symptoms, an optician should be able to confirm whether you have a retinal tear or detachment. They can make an urgent referral to a hospital ophthalmologist for specialist assessment and treatment.