What causes eye floaters?
The inside of your eye is filled with a gel-like substance called the vitreous. As you age, the vitreous gradually becomes more liquid and its microscopic fibers can clump together. These clumps cast shadows on the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye), which you perceive as floaters.
Common causes include:
- Normal aging (the most common cause)
- Nearsightedness (myopia)
- A posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the vitreous separates from the retina
- Eye injury or trauma
- Inflammation inside the eye (uveitis)
- Bleeding inside the eye
- Complications from diabetes
- Less commonly, a retinal tear or retinal detachment
Are eye floaters dangerous?
Most floaters are harmless and become less noticeable over time as your brain adapts to them. However, a sudden change in floaters can signal a serious eye problem.
What should you do if you notice eye floaters?
If the floaters are few and haven’t changed:
- Monitor them over time.
- Schedule a routine eye examination, especially if you’ve never had them evaluated.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- A sudden shower of new floaters.
- Flashes of light in one or both eyes.
- A dark curtain or shadow moving across your vision.
- Sudden loss of peripheral or central vision.
- Floaters after an eye injury.
These symptoms may indicate a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which requires prompt treatment to help preserve vision.
Can eye floaters be treated?
In most cases, no treatment is necessary. If floaters significantly interfere with vision, an eye specialist may discuss treatment options, including:
- Laser vitreolysis, which uses a laser to break up certain floaters (appropriate only for selected patients).
- Vitrectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the vitreous gel. This is generally reserved for severe cases because it carries risks such as retinal detachment, infection, and cataract formation.
Bottom line
Most eye floaters are a normal part of aging and are not a cause for concern. However, a sudden increase in floaters—especially when accompanied by flashes of light or vision loss—is an eye emergency and should be evaluated by an eye doctor as soon as possible. Regular comprehensive eye exams can help detect retinal problems and other eye diseases before they become more serious.
