Floaters & Spots

What are floaters and spots?

Floaters (often called floating spots) are small, semi-transparent cobwebs, specks or squiggles that appear in your field of vision. They are actually small particles within the gel inside the eye that become noticeable when they fall within the line of sight. They move when you move your eyes, but tend to drift or lag behind your eye movements. They may also appear along with flashes of light.

Does everyone have floaters?

Almost everyone sees a few floaters at one time or another. They can occur more frequently and become more noticeable as you grow older. If you notice a sudden change in the number or size of floaters, you should contact your Doctor of Optometry right away, so you can be sure they are not the result of a more serious problem, such as retinal detachment.

What causes floaters?

The inner part of your eye is made up of a clear, jelly-like fluid known as the vitreous. Occasionally, small flecks of protein and other matter become trapped in the vitreous during the formation of the eye before birth and remain in the vitreous body. New floaters are caused by the deterioration of the eye fluid or its surrounding structures as we age, or by certain injuries or eye diseases.

Can these floaters cause blindness?

Most floaters are normal and rarely cause problems. But new or a sudden increase in floaters can be indications of more serious problems, such as a retinal hole, tear or detachment, and if you see them you should have a comprehensive optometric examination to determine the cause.

How are floaters detected?

As part of a comprehensive eye examination, your Doctor of Optometry will thoroughly evaluate the vitreous and retina of your eyes. Your Doctor of Optometry may use eye drops to dilate your pupils to make them larger. He or she will then look inside your eye with instruments called a biomicroscope and an ophthalomoscope to examine the health of the inside of your eyes. Your Doctor of Optometry will observe the floaters within your eye, as well as ensure that a retina problem has not occurred.

What do floaters look like?

Floaters are generally translucent specks of various shapes and sizes. They may also look like bugs, threadlike strands or cobwebs within the eye. Since they are within the eye, they move as the eye moves and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly.