You’ve likely experienced occasional visual “floaters” or flashes and may have wondered what they were and if they’re a cause for concern. They look like tiny lines, shapes, shadows, or specks that appear to be drifting in your visual field. More often than not, seeing floaters is a normal occurrence and does not indicate a problem with ocular or visual health. However, when floaters in the eye become more frequent and are accompanied by flashes in the eye, that can indicate a more serious problem.
Can Your Eye Doctor See Floaters?
Eye floaters resemble star-like specks or strands of light that either flash or flicker in your field of vision. They can either be a single burst in one visual zone or multiple flashes throughout a wider area. Flashes in the eye can sometimes be missed as they most often appear in the side or peripheral vision.
If you suddenly, or with increasing frequency, experience flashes or eye floaters, contact Eyes On Group in Worcester and schedule an eye exam with Dr. Feucht right away to rule out any serious eye problems.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
The vitreous in the eye is a clear gel that fills most of the eyeball and resembles raw egg white. Within the vitreous are small lumps of protein that drift around and move with the motion of your eyes. When these tiny lumps of protein cast shadows on the retina — the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye — the shadows appear as floaters in the eye.
As we age, the vitreous shrinks, creating more strands of protein. This is why the appearance of eye floaters may increase with time. Floaters tend to be more prevalent in nearsighted people and diabetics and occur more frequently following cataract surgery or eye injuries.
If seeing eye floaters becomes bothersome, try moving your eyes up and down or side to side to gently relocate the floaters away from your visual field.
What Causes Flashes in the Eye?
Flashes in the eye result from the retinal nerve cells being moved or tugged on. As the vitreous shrinks over time, it can tug at the retina, causing you to “see stars” or bursts of light. The process of the vitreous separating from the retina is called “posterior vitreous detachment” (PVD) and usually isn’t dangerous.
In about 16% of cases, PVD causes tiny tears in the retina that can lead to retinal detachment — a sight-threatening condition that causes irreversible blindness if left untreated. Other possible causes of flashes in the eye include eye trauma or migraine headaches.
When to Call Your Optometrist About Floaters or Flashes in the Eye
If you experience any of the following symptoms, promptly make an appointment with an eye doctor for emergency eye care:
Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore:
- A sudden onset of eye floaters accompanied by flashes in the eye (which can be any shape or size)
- An increase of eye floaters accompanied by a darkening of one side of the visual field
- Shadows in the peripheral vision
- Any time flashes in the eye are seen
In many cases, seeing eye floaters is no cause for concern; however, the above symptoms could indicate retinal detachment — which, if left untreated, could cause a permanent loss of sight or even blindness.
If the receptionist hears that floaters in the eye or flashes in the eye are your main concern, they will try to fit you in for an appointment within 24 hours. Expect your pupils to be dilated during your eye exam, allowing the doctor to examine the peripheral retina closely and diagnose or rule out a retinal tear or other serious condition.
Please contact Eyes On Group in Worcester at 1-877-866-8566 with any further questions or to schedule an eye exam.