Key Takeaways
- Eye floaters are shadowy spots or lines caused by changes inside the eye’s gel-like vitreous.
- Many floaters fade naturally as your brain learns to filter them out.
- Some floaters are stable and long-lasting, especially with age or nearsightedness.
- If you experience a sudden surge of floaters accompanied by flashes of light, you should visit your eye doctor immediately.
- In rare cases, specialist procedures like laser vitreolysis or vitrectomy can be considered when floaters significantly affect vision.
What Eye Floaters Actually Are
Eye floaters are squiggly lines or grey dots that ‘float’ across your vision. They appear when tiny clumps form inside the vitreous, the clear, gel-like substance that fills the inside of your eye. Almost everyone sees floaters at some point.
Floaters are usually harmless, but in some cases they can signal an issue that requires attention. If you notice a sudden increase in floaters, and especially if they’re accompanied by eye flashes, you should visit us at Stonebridge Eyecare immediately, so that we can properly assess the health of your eyes.
Do Eye Floaters Go Away on Their Own?
When They Fade Over Time
In most cases, floaters become less noticeable over time. In some cases, the vitreous shifts, moving floaters out of your direct line of sight. In other cases, your brain simply learns to ignore floaters, so that they no longer grab your attention (though they’re technically still there).
When They Stick Around
Some floaters don’t fade. They stay visible, especially when you’re looking at a plain, bright surface like a blue sky or a white wall. Floaters tend to be more persistent if you’re nearsighted, if you’ve had an eye injury, or if they developed later in life as part of normal vitreous changes. Stable floaters that don’t change are generally not a concern, but they’re worth tracking.
Nearsightedness can also play a role. Myopia stretches the back of the eye, which can make floaters appear earlier and linger longer than they might in people with normal vision.
What Can Make Eye Floaters Worse
You might notice that floaters are more noticeable on days when you haven’t slept well, when you’ve been staring at screens for hours, or when you haven’t had enough water. That’s because both dehydration and fatigue can affect how clearly you perceive them. Smoking and high stress levels have also been associated with changes in eye health that can make floaters more prominent.
The bigger red flag is a sudden increase in the number of floaters you see, especially if they appear quickly over a short period of time. This kind of change is different from the gradual floaters that come with aging, and it’s the kind of thing that’s worth getting checked out promptly.
Treatment Options for Persistent Floaters
While most floaters resolve or fade with time, sometimes they’re distracting enough that more active intervention is worth exploring. These treatments aren’t first-line care, and they’re typically handled by a retinal specialist after a referral. Here’s what they involve.
Laser Treatment
A procedure called laser vitreolysis uses a focused beam of light to break up the clumps that cause floaters. This makes the clumps smaller, so that they interfere less with your vision. Results vary from person to person, depending on the size, location, and type of floater. A retinal specialist can assess whether this option is a fit based on the size, location, and type of your floaters.
Vitrectomy Surgery
In more significant cases, a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy removes the vitreous from the eye entirely, and the floaters go with it. The vitreous is then replaced with a clear solution. This option is typically considered when floaters are dense enough to noticeably affect daily vision.
Like any surgical procedure, it carries risks, so it’s reserved for cases where the impact on vision quality is significant and ongoing. A vitreoretinal surgeon would be the one to assess whether it’s appropriate.
When to See an Eye Doctor About Floaters
Most floaters don’t need urgent care. However, a few different signs can point to a more serious issue. These include:
- A sudden wave of new floaters appearing all at once
- Flashes of light, especially in your peripheral vision
- A shadow, curtain, or dark area creeping into your vision
- Any loss of central or side vision
A sudden burst of floaters and flashes is often caused by a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eye separates from the retina as part of normal aging. PVDs are typically harmless on their own, but they can occasionally cause a retinal tear in the process, which is why any sudden change warrants a prompt assessment.
These can all be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which constitutes a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.
At Stonebridge Eyecare in Saskatoon, we offer thorough eye exams to help assess floaters, catch any underlying changes early, and refer you to a specialist if anything warrants further investigation. If something in your vision doesn’t feel right, don’t wait.
Book an appointment today and get the answers you need.
