Specialty Eye Care
Floaters and Flashes
Most floaters are harmless age related changes in the vitreous gel inside the eye. A sudden increase in floaters, new flashing lights, or a shadow in the peripheral vision can indicate a retinal tear and needs examining urgently.
In short
Long standing floaters are usually fine. A sudden shower with flashes is urgent.
The eye is filled with a clear gel called the vitreous. With age the gel liquefies and shrinks, and the collagen fibres within it clump together, casting shadows on the retina that appear as drifting specks, threads and cobwebs. This is normal, extremely common, and generally harmless.
The important distinction is between gradual and sudden. Floaters that have been present for years and have not changed are usually nothing to worry about. A sudden shower of new floaters, particularly alongside flashing lights, indicates that the vitreous is actively pulling away from the retina, and that traction can tear the retina.
A retinal tear is treatable, straightforwardly, if it is caught before the retina detaches. Once detachment occurs the situation becomes surgical and the visual outcome is far less certain. That gap is why sudden onset floaters warrant prompt examination rather than a wait and see approach.
What to expect
- Widefield retinal imaging
- Captures over 80 percent of the retina in a single image, including the peripheral areas where tears occur.
- Dilated peripheral examination
- Where a tear is suspected, dilation gives the fullest possible view of the far retinal periphery.
- Same day assessment for sudden onset
- New floaters with flashes are treated as urgent. Call the office rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
What this does not do
- Existing harmless floaters cannot be removed by any routine treatment, and most people gradually stop noticing them.
- Retinal tears requiring laser or surgical repair are referred to a retinal specialist, promptly.
Questions and answers
When should I worry about floaters?
A sudden increase in the number of floaters, new flashing lights in your peripheral vision, or a dark curtain or shadow moving across your field of view. Any of those needs examining the same day. Long standing stable floaters that have not changed are usually harmless.
What causes flashing lights?
Mechanical traction on the retina as the vitreous gel pulls away from it. The retina interprets any stimulation as light, so pulling produces perceived flashes even in a dark room.
Will my floaters go away?
They generally do not disappear, but they settle lower in the eye over time and the brain learns to ignore them. Most people find them substantially less intrusive after several months.
Are floaters more likely with a high prescription?
Yes. High myopia means a longer eye and earlier vitreous change, and it also carries a higher baseline risk of retinal tears and detachment. Anyone highly myopic should take new floaters and flashes particularly seriously.
Talk to someone about floaters and flashes
Appointments are scheduled two per hour, so there is time to answer questions properly. Call (480) 706-3937 or request a time online.