Flashes and Floaters

 

What are floaters?

Floaters can take on many shapes, sizes, and colors.  They are often described as specks, dots, circles, lines, or cobwebs in your field of vision.  Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous that fill your eye.  What you see are shadows of these. Floaters are most noticeable when looking at something plain, for example, a blank wall or the blue sky.

 

What are flashes?

Flashes are often described as flashing lights, lightning streaks, or sparkling stars in your field of vision.  You may see these flashes intermittently or consistently and they can last from minutes to months.  Flashes are caused when the vitreous rubs or pulls on your retina.

 

Who is more likely to develop floaters?

• Patients who are nearsighted (you need glasses to see far away)

• Patients who have had eye surgery (i.e.: cataract surgery)

• Patients who have a history of inflammation in the eye

 

Words to know:

Retina: layer of nerve cells lining the back wall inside the eye.  This layer senses light and sends signals to the brain so you can see.

Vitreous: Clear gel-like substance that fills the inside of your eye.

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD): when the vitreous pulls away from the back of the eye, often associated with floaters and flashes.

​

As we age our vitreous thickens and shrinks, during this process sometimes clumps or strands can form in the vitreous. Posterior vitreous detachments and floaters are often not serious as they are part of the normal aging process. They tend to fade or settle over time, or your brain may adapt to them, so they are less noticeable.  It is not typical that they require surgery or treatment. On occasion when the PVD pulls away from the retina it can lead to a tear or hole in the retina which requires treatment.

 

Symptoms to watch for:

• A sudden change or new floaters

• Increase in flashes

• A shadow that can appear in your peripheral vision (side vision)

• A grey curtain that covers part of your vision (as if someone pulled a blind down over your vision)

 

If you experience any of these symptoms you should call the office right away as there may be a problem that requires prompt attention.

 

Flashes and Migraines:

Some patients experience flashes of light that look jagged or like heat waves.  They can appear in one or both eyes and last up to 20 minutes.  These types of flashes are typical of a migraine aura, often caused by an oncoming migraine headache.  Sometimes these flashes will not be associated with a headache and this is called an ophthalmic migraine.