Your eyes may not age in the same way or at the exact same time. The vitreous might shrink in one eye a little faster than in the other. Often, you'll have floaters in one eye at a time. It can happen to both of your eyes but usually not at the same time.
Most eye floaters are caused by age-related changes that occur as the jelly-like substance (vitreous) inside your eyes liquifies and contracts. Scattered clumps of collagen fibers form within the vitreous and can cast tiny shadows on your retina. The shadows you see are called floaters.
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.
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).
Depending on the initial size, it can take some floaters anywhere from one to six months to disappear. However, some may never disappear completely. In addition to the recommended annual eye examination, you should contact an optometrist immediately if floaters show up in your field of vision.
Floaters can be really annoying and distracting but they do tend to go away on their own naturally – through gravity (eventually settling at the bottom of the 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.
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.
If you frequently experience stress you might wonder, can stress cause eye floaters? The simple answer is, stress alone is not responsible for eye floaters appearing. Eye floaters are caused by deterioration of the vitreous humor which often happens as people age.
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.
Can eye floaters happen in only one eye or both eyes at the same time? Your eyes may not age exactly the same or do everything at the exact same time. The vitreous might shrink in one eye a little faster than in the other. Often, eye floaters are found in one eye at a time.
Retinal Detachment
The retina can detach² spontaneously from its normal position, which can lead to blurry vision in one eye. Flashes and floaters are a common early symptom of a detaching retina, but this condition can happen spontaneously without symptoms.
The symptoms of dry eye disease can be frustrating and irritating. Apart from redness, blurry vision, and other signs, some individuals may also experience floaters. It turns out dry eye disease does not cause floaters.
For many, floaters may begin showing up between 50 and 70 years old. "Vitreous degeneration is accelerated by nearsightedness (myopia), inflammation, trauma and rare inherited abnormalities," adds Dr. Worrall. "Highly nearsighted patients tend to have more floaters than average."
Eye floaters are common, and they might be a nuisance, but they're usually not anything to worry about. If you have a lot of floaters that appear suddenly, or other eye symptoms along with eye floaters, seek medical care right away.
Most of the time floaters are harmless. However, they can be a symptom of a tear in the retina. (The retina is the layer in the back of the eye.) If you notice a sudden increase in floaters or if you see floaters along with flashes of light in your side vision, this may be a symptom of a retinal tear or detachment.
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.
“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.
High blood pressure and vision disturbance
Increased pressure in the eyes can damage the blood vessels and surrounding tissues over time, leading to various vision changes, including blurring, eye floaters and seeing double.
People who need glasses to see distance (nearsighted) are more likely to get floaters. They're also more common in adults older than age 50, as well as in people who've experienced eye trauma or inflammation inside the eye. The presence of a few long-standing floaters usually isn't a cause for concern.
You might think they've gone away, but that's not true. Floaters are permanent and stay in your eye. Sometimes, they can be a sign of a more serious eye conditions called retinal tears and retinal detachment.
Floaters and other visual disturbances.
Flashes of light or color, floaters and other visual disturbances can occur for a host of reasons, including as a side effect of a drug. Medications linked to visual disturbances include Benadryl (for allergies), Cardizem (heart disease), Elavil (depression) and Xanax (anxiety).