Have you ever had black or gray spots appear in your field of vision? If so, you have probably experienced eye floaters.
Floaters are common and can happen to anyone. But what causes eye floaters? How do you treat them? Are they dangerous? These questions and more are answered below.
What are Eye Floaters?
Floaters are small accumulations of debris in the back of your eyes. Most floaters are made up of harmless cells or tiny pieces of collagen.
The posterior section of your eye is filled with a viscous fluid called vitreous humor. The clumps of debris in this area float around in the vitreous creating small dark shapes that can cast shadows on your retina.
These shadows become visible as gray or black spots in someone’s vision. They are most visible when looking at white backdrops, clear skies, or screens with light backgrounds.
Because the floaters are in a thick liquid, they aren’t stuck in one spot. They move around and appear in different spots in your vision. As you move your eyes they can move in and out of focus.
Types of Floaters
Floaters can take on different shapes. While we often refer to floaters as spots, they are more commonly seen as strands.
There are multiple varieties of floaters a person can have. People won’t necessarily have just one variety. You can see more than one type of floater at the same time.
Spots or Flecks
When a small amount of debris forms into floaters you will often see just spots or flecks. They can be fleeting and come and go frequently.
You can have one spot or multiple at any given point in time.
Cobwebs or Strands
Cobwebs and strands are the most common types of floaters. These are long and thin and look like cobwebs or single strands–just as their names imply.
These floaters can appear across your entire vision or in small sections. If you have strands it is common to see multiple strands in different areas.
Clouds
Cloud-shaped floaters are not as common as spots, flecks, threads, or cobwebs. They are like other types of eye floaters and just happen to clump together in larger masses as opposed to smaller specks or longer, thinner strands.
Rings
Ring floaters are different from all other shapes of floaters. Rings appear white instead of black or gray. They are also caused by a different issue in the back of the eye.
Rings appear when the vitreous humor starts to pull away from the retina. This is called a posterior vitreous detachment or PVD. This can create a few different problems that all result in a ring-shaped floater in your vision.
This type of floater has the largest impact on your overall vision. Other floaters can be easier to ignore.
Rings are also tied to more potential problems. Other eye floaters are often harmless, while ring floaters can be an indicator of a serious eye issue.
Causes of Eye Floaters
There are multiple ways floaters can find themselves in your line of vision. Most ways are by chance, but some are influenced by lifestyle.
Age
Age is the most common cause of eye floaters. As our eyes get older the vitreous humor changes and creates an environment where floaters are more likely to form.
People over the age of 50 are at an increased risk of having floaters. Especially if they are nearsighted.
Age is not the only factor, individuals younger than 50 can still experience floaters.
Infection
Infections often go hand in hand with inflammation. Inflammation of the eye can cause floaters because it impacts the vitreous humor.
Floaters caused by an eye infection will probably never go away, even though the infection will. They will often become less noticeable and settle outside of your line of vision.
Infection is one of the leading ways that young people acquire eye floaters. Injuries are another.
Injury
Injuries are another common cause of inflammation. Similar to infections, they can cause floaters because of swelling. Other injuries, such as scratches, penetration, or exposure to chemicals can also cause floaters, even if they don’t cause inflammation.
There are a few serious injuries that will cause a lot of floaters in a short period of time. This is why it is important to see a doctor if you have unexpected or abundant floaters. These eye injuries can also be painless, making floaters one of the main noticeable symptoms.
Eye Procedures
Some eye procedures can cause changes to the vitreous. Floaters will develop as a side effect. This happens the most often when something is injected into your eye or if you have cataract surgery.
Diseases
Some diseases cause changes in the eyes that increase the risk of floaters. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common diseases that cause floaters.
Both are associated with blood vessel damage in the eyes. Blood vessel damage can impact vitreous and promote collagen strands to form into floaters.
Are Floaters Dangerous?
Most of the time, floaters are harmless. Sometimes however, floaters are a symptom of a serious issue. If your floaters are accompanied by flashes of light, curtains or veils this could be a sign of a more serious issue. If these symptoms are present, seek care for a dilated eye exam to rule out a retinal tear or detachment.
In general, it is a good idea to let your doctor know if you have been seeing floaters so they can decide if they are serious or benign.
Treatment Options
While floaters will not go away, the majority of individuals find that floaters become less noticeable with time. Professional treatment will not be necessary in most cases.
Laser Treatment for Eye Floaters
If you have floaters that are impairing your vision or lowering your quality of life you might be a candidate for a laser treatment.
This treatment is non-invasive, quick, and performed in the office by an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon). The laser breaks up large floaters into smaller, less noticeable ones.
Vitrectomy for Eye Floaters
The most serious cases of floaters can be taken care of with a vitrectomy. This procedure will remove the vitreous humor and debris from your eye. An ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) performs this procedure.
There is a high success rate for this procedure. More than 90 percent of people report fewer floaters and better vision because of it.
Preventing Floaters
While eye floaters are not preventable, you can prevent certain health conditions (ie diabetes), which increase your risk of floaters. Eating healthy and living an active lifestyle are foundational in preventing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Eye Exams
Comprehensive eye exams are important for preventing multiple eye health issues. Eye exams can diagnose problems, help you prevent eye diseases, and even indicate non-eye-related diseases sooner than symptoms might.
Eye exams are recommended every two years if you have no other health problems and annually if you have vision problems, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
If you have been experiencing floaters you should schedule an eye exam to rule out any serious issues.
