Eye floaters and flashes: harmless, or a warning?
Almost everyone sees the occasional floater, those little specks, threads or cobwebs that drift across your vision and dart away when you try to look straight at them. Most of the time they are harmless. But occasionally they are a warning sign, and knowing the difference matters.
The usual, harmless kind
The inside of your eye is filled with a clear jelly. As we age, this jelly naturally becomes more watery and clumps a little, casting tiny shadows you see as floaters. They are most obvious against a bright wall or a clear sky. This is normal, and although they can be annoying, the brain usually learns to ignore them over time. No treatment is needed.
The warning signs that need same-day attention
Please be seen urgently, the same day, if you notice:
- A sudden shower of new floaters, many more than usual, appearing at once.
- Flashes of light, like lightning streaks at the edge of your vision.
- A dark shadow or curtain spreading across part of your sight.
These can be signs that the jelly is tugging on the retina, or that the retina has torn or begun to detach. A detachment is serious, and this is not something to wait and watch at home.
What the examination involves
An eye doctor widens your pupils with drops and examines the retina carefully. If all is well, you leave reassured. If a tear or a detachment is found, it needs prompt treatment. A tear found early can usually be sealed with laser.
New flashes, a shower of floaters, or a shadow in your vision: see an eye doctor the same day.