Eye Floaters

Eye floaters are the tiny specks or flecks that move around in your field of vision. They may appear as black or grey spots, strings or cobwebs, and are especially noticeable when you look at something bright, such as the sky during the day. Ordinary floaters are common and usually do not indicate any serious disorder.

Eye floaters become more common as you age, when the gel-like consistency of the vitreous fluid inside the eye thins down, becoming more watery. Some gel particles may remain undissolved and float around, taking on many shapes and sizes. Shadows of these over the retina cause eye floaters. Other eye disorders, such as inflammation or bleeding in the eye or tearing of the retina can also cause eye floaters. Floaters can also be a symptom in eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, blocking of blood vessels to the retina or swelling of the middle layer of the eye (uveitis).

Witnessing floaters occasionally is not alarming. However, floaters which appear as showers and are accompanied by flashes of light are not supposed to be ignored and must be evaluated by an ophthalmologist (eye specialist), as this can indicate that the retina is becoming dislodged from the inner lining of the back of the eye.

When to seek expert advise

Floaters usually aren’t a cause for concern, but if they appear suddenly as a shower, you must get your symptoms evaluated by an eye doctor. Sudden flashes of light, loss of vision at the sides, or too many floaters could indicate retinal detachment and must be assessed by an ophthalmologist (eye specialist).

You can be assured of receiving multidisciplinary care at The Aga Khan University Hospital for diagnosis and treatment of your eye floaters. You can safely and privately discuss your symptoms and gain advice from our expert team of ophthalmologists at the Eye and ENT Service Line and receive personalized treatment and care.

Imagery