👁️ Eye Floaters: What They Are and What to Do
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are small shapes that drift across your field of vision. People describe them as:
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Specks or dots
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Thread-like strands
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Cobwebs
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Shadowy blobs
They’re most noticeable when looking at a bright, plain background (like a clear sky or white wall).
Why Do They Happen?
Inside your eye is a gel-like substance called the vitreous. As we age:
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The vitreous becomes more liquid.
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Tiny collagen fibers clump together.
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These clumps cast shadows on the retina.
That’s what you see as floaters.
This is especially common after age 40 and is usually part of normal aging.
Common Causes
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Normal aging changes (most common)
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Nearsightedness (myopia)
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Eye inflammation
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Eye injury
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After eye surgery (like cataract surgery)
A common related condition is posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) — when the vitreous pulls away from the retina. This often causes a sudden increase in floaters and sometimes flashes of light.
⚠️ When to See an Eye Doctor Immediately
Most floaters are harmless — but sometimes they signal something serious like a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which can threaten vision.
Seek urgent care if you notice:
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A sudden shower of new floaters
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Flashes of light
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A dark curtain or shadow in your side vision
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Sudden blurred or reduced vision
These symptoms require same-day evaluation.
What an Eye Doctor Will Do
An eye doctor will:
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Dilate your pupils
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Examine the retina carefully
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Look for tears, bleeding, or detachment
If it’s just normal vitreous changes, no treatment is needed.
Can Floaters Be Treated?
Most of the time:
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Your brain adapts and you notice them less over time.
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They don’t go away completely but become less bothersome.
In rare, severe cases:
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Vitrectomy surgery can remove floaters (but carries risks).
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Laser treatment exists but isn’t widely recommended for most people.
Doctors usually advise monitoring rather than treatment unless vision is significantly affected.
Bottom Line
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Occasional floaters are common and usually harmless.
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Sudden changes = get checked urgently.
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Most floaters don’t require treatment.
If you’d like, tell me your age and whether the floaters appeared suddenly or gradually — I can help you gauge how urgent it might be.