As people age, many start seeing what look like little "cobwebs" or specks that float about in their field of vision. They are small, dark, shadowy shapes that can look like spots, thread-like strands or squiggly lines. They move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly. They do not follow your eye movements precisely, and usually drift when your eyes stop moving.
Floaters occur when the vitreous humor, a gel-like substance that fills about 80 percent of the eye, slowly shrinks and becomes somewhat stringy. The resulting stringy strands can cast tiny shadows on the retina.
Most apparent when looking at something bright, such as white paper or a blue sky, floaters are a nuisance that the majority of people learn to ignore. On rare occasions, floaters can be so dense and numerous that they significantly affect vision. In these cases, a vitrectomy, a surgical procedure that removes floaters from the vitreous humor, may be needed.
If you start seeing flashes, in addition, to floaters, there may be cause for concern. A sudden increase in floaters, accompanied by light flashes or peripheral (side) vision loss, could be a symptom of something more serious such as a retinal detachment. A retinal detachment occurs when any part of the retina, the eye's light-sensitive tissue, is lifted or pulled from its normal position at the back wall of the eye.
Questions about floaters and flashes? Members can contact Nurseline any time of the day or night to speak to a registered nurse or to hear the audio file (1717) on Floaters and Flashes.
Pathways to Well Being Call VITAL WorkLife at 800.383.1908 or access resources through your VITAL WorkLife App
