Eye floaters are something that all of us have to deal with. They are those tiny spots, specks, flecks and “squiggly lines” that drift aimlessly around in your field of vision. These types of floaters are considered ordinary and, while annoying, they usually do not cause alarm.
According to the National Eye Institute, floaters occur when the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills about 80% of the eye and helps it maintain a round shape, slowly shrinks. As the vitreous shrinks, it becomes somewhat stringy, and the strands can cast tiny shadows on the retina.
Floaters can be distracting at first, but they eventually tend to “settle” below the line of sight but do not go away completely.
Floaters are more likely to develop as we age and are more common in people who are very nearsighted, have diabetes, or have had a cataract operation. However, the NEI tells us that there are other, more serious causes of floaters, including infection, inflammation (uveitis), hemorrhaging, retinal tears, and injury to the eye. A retinal detachment is a serious condition and should always be considered an emergency. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent visual impairment within two or three days or even blindness in the eye.
If you experience a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light in peripheral vision, or a loss of peripheral vision you should have an eye care professional examine your eyes as soon as possible.
