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Flashes and Floaters

Read below to learn more about what floaters and flashes of light are, what may be causing them, and what the treatment may involve.

Floaters

What are floaters?

Floaters are tiny clumps of clear gel or cell debris in the vitreous humor created from the buildup of proteins and collagen fibers. While floaters are a natural part of the eye’s aging process, individuals with diabetes, a family history of floaters, or who have experienced eye injury might be more susceptible to them.

Eye floaters are most noticeable when looking at something bright, a blue sky, or a blank wall. They appear as small dark specks or clouds moving in your field of vision. While these objects appear to look like little circles, lines, or threads in front of your eye, they are actually floating inside the eye.

When floaters are present, you are actually seeing shadows that floaters cast on the retina – which is the nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and allows you to see.

What causes floaters?

When individuals reach middle age, the vitreous gel may start to thicken or shrink, forming clumps or strands inside the eye. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of floaters.

Posterior vitreous detachment is more common for people who:

are nearsighted;
have undergone cataract operations;
have had YAG laser surgery of the eye;
have had inflammation inside the eye.

The appearance of floaters may be alarming, especially if they develop suddenly. You should see an ophthalmologist immediately if you suddenly develop new floaters, especially if you are over 45 years old.

Chart Illustrating Floaters Casting Shadows on the retina

Are floaters ever serious?

The retina can tear if the shrinking vitreous gel tugs on the wall of the eye resulting in a retinal break or hole. This can sometimes result in a small amount of bleeding in the eye that may appear as new floaters. A torn retina is always a serious problem since it can lead to a retinal detachment. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if:

even one new floaters appears suddenly;
you see sudden flashes of light.

If you notice other symptoms like the loss of side vision, return to your ophthalmologist.

What can be done about floaters?

Floaters can get in the way of clear vision, which may be quite annoying, especially if you are trying to read. You can try moving your eyes, looking up and then down to move the floaters out of the way. While some floaters may remain in your vision, many of them will fade over time and become less bothersome. Even if you have had some floaters for years, you should have an eye examination immediately if you notice new ones.

In cases where eye floaters interfere with your vision to the extent that it impacts daily life, laser treatment or surgery are options as well as an adjustment in dietary habits and an increase in daily hydration.

Flashing Lights

What causes flashing lights?

When the vitreous gel rubs or pulls on the retina, you may see what looks like flashing lights or lightning streaks. You may have experienced this same sensation if you have ever been hit in the eye and seen “stars”. Flashing lights can also appear due to chronic migraines, optic neuritis, and even from pressure changes in the eye due to severe coughing. Flashes of light can appear off and on for several weeks or months depending upon the root cause.

As we grow older, it is more common to experience flashes. High blood pressure and diabetes can be contributing factors. If you notice the sudden appearance of light flashes, you should visit your ophthalmologist immediately to see if the retina is torn.

Flashes and migraine

Some people experience flashes of light that appear as jagged lines or “heat waves” in both eyes, often lasting 10-20 minutes. These types of flashes are usually caused by a spasm of blood vessels in the brain – also known as a migraine or hemicrania. Jagged lines or “heat waves” can also occur without a headache. In this case, the light flashes are called an ophthalmic migraine, or migraine without a headache. If the migraine persists for an excessive period of time, seek medical treatment in the event that a vasospasm has occurred – which can lead to other neurological/physiological complications.

While not all floaters and flashes are serious, you should always have a medical eye exam by an ophthalmologist to make sure there has been no damage to your retina.