Floaters And Flashes Of Light

What are floaters and flashes of light?

Floaters are small, dark shapes that look like tiny cobwebs. They can float across your field of vision but are difficult to pinpoint. When you try to look straight at them, floaters disappear or keep moving.

Flashes of light can typically accompany floaters. These flashes occur when tiny fibers pull on your retinal nerve cells.

While floaters and flashes of light are usually harmless, they can be a sign of a deeper eye problem, including retinal tear or detachment, so it’s important to see the specialists at Eye Surgeons Associates right away if you notice new flashes or floaters or a sudden increase in these small spots in your eye.

What causes floaters and flashes of light?

Floaters and flashes of light increase with age because your vitreous humor — a clear gel that fills about two-thirds of your eyeball — begins to thin out. This often creates stringy clumps of material that cast shadows in your retina and float around in your line of vision.

While floaters drift around when your eye is still, they float away when you try to look directly at them.

Small vitreous fibers can also pull on your retinal nerve cells, which causes quick flashes of light in your eyes. This phenomenon typically occurs in conjunction with floaters.

How are floaters and flashes of light treated?

The first step in treating floaters and flashes of light is a comprehensive eye exam. The team of physicians at Eye Surgeons Associates have years of experience in treating these uncomfortable eye problems, so they know flashers and floaters can sometimes be a sign of a deeper issue.

Flashers and floaters are harmless in most cases, but they’re occasionally a symptom of retinal tear or detachment. Call Eye Surgeons Associates right away if you experience a sudden onset of flashes or floaters, one-sided gradual shading, or a decline in your central vision.

If your flashes and floaters are nothing more than a nuisance, try to look up, down, left, and right until these floaters drift out of your line of vision.

In rare cases, floaters and flashes of light can affect your day-to-day life. If nonsurgical, at-home treatments no longer work, you may be a candidate for laser eye surgery. Talking to your ophthalmologist can help determine if this is the right option for you.

The physicians at Eye Surgeons Associates are experts in diagnosing and treating floaters and flashes of light. For more information, call Eye Surgeons Associates today.