A patient sat across from me last week, looking a little frustrated. “Doc,” he said, “it’s like there’s a tiny bug, or maybe a cobweb, that I keep trying to blink away. But it’s not on my eye, it’s in my eye.” He’d been noticing it for a few weeks, especially when looking at his computer screen or the bright sky. What he was describing is something incredibly common, something we call eye floaters.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most of the time, these little drifting specks are a perfectly normal part of how our eyes change over time. They can be annoying, for sure, but they’re usually harmless. Let’s talk about what they are and, more importantly, when you should give us a call.
What Exactly Are These Squiggles in My Vision?
Think of the inside of your eye as being filled with a clear, jelly-like substance called the vitreous humor. When we’re young, this gel is smooth and firm. As we get older, it starts to become more liquid and can shrink a bit, pulling away from the back of the eye. This process is called a posterior vitreous detachment, and it’s a natural part of aging for most of us.
As the vitreous changes, little bits can clump together or solidify. These clumps float around inside your eye, and when light enters, they cast tiny shadows on your retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye). Those shadows are what you see as floaters.
They can look like all sorts of things, and what you see might be totally different from what someone else describes. You might notice:
- Tiny black or grey dots
- Squiggly or thread-like lines
- Shapes that look like rings or cobwebs
- Small, shadowy clouds that drift when you move your eyes
What Causes Eye Floaters and Am I at Risk?
The number one cause of eye floaters is simply getting older. Most people start noticing them between the ages of 50 and 70. However, some factors can make you more likely to develop them, or to get them earlier:
- Being nearsighted: If you have trouble seeing things far away.
- Previous eye injury or surgery: Any trauma to the eye can affect the vitreous.
- Eye inflammation: A history of conditions like uveitis.
- Certain health conditions: Uncontrolled diabetes can sometimes lead to bleeding in the eye (diabetic retinopathy), which can appear as floaters.
In very rare cases, floaters can be caused by eye tumors, but let me be clear—this is extremely uncommon. For the vast majority of people, it’s just a sign of the eye’s natural journey through life.
In the Clinic: How We Figure It Out
When you come to my office with concerns about floaters, the first thing we’ll do is simply talk. I’ll want to get a clear picture of what you’re experiencing. The more detail you can give me, the better.
| Questions I Might Ask About Your Eye Floaters | |
|---|---|
| About the Floaters Themselves | When did they start? What do they look like? How many are there? Have you also seen flashes of light? |
| About Your Vision | Is any part of your vision blurry or blocked, like a curtain is falling? Do you see any shadows in your side (peripheral) vision? |
| About Your Health History | Have you had any eye injuries or surgeries? Do you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or any autoimmune diseases? |
After our chat, I’ll perform a dilated eye exam. This involves using special drops to widen your pupils, which gives me a clear, wide-open view of the inside of your eye. It lets me see the floaters you’re describing and, crucially, allows me to check the health of your retina to make sure everything is okay back there.
When to Worry: Normal vs. Emergency
This is the question on everyone’s mind. How do you know if your floaters are just an annoyance or a sign of something serious? It really comes down to whether the symptoms are new and sudden.
| Usually Normal (Mention at Your Next Check-up) | Potential Emergency (Call Your Doctor Immediately) |
|---|---|
| You see one or two floaters that have been there for a while. | A sudden shower of new floaters appears all at once. |
| The floaters drift in and out of your vision without other symptoms. | You are also seeing flashes of light (photopsias), like a camera flash going off in your eye. |
| They are annoying but don’t seem to be getting worse. | You notice a dark shadow or “curtain” appearing in your peripheral (side) vision. |
| Your overall vision is clear. | You experience any sudden loss of vision. |
| These warning signs could indicate a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which needs immediate medical attention to prevent permanent vision loss. | |
What Are the Treatment Options?
For the vast majority of people, the best treatment is simply time and patience. I know that can be frustrating to hear! But over time, the floaters often settle down at the bottom of the eye, out of your line of sight. Your brain also gets very good at ignoring them.
In very rare and severe cases where floaters are so numerous that they significantly impair vision, a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy can be considered. This involves removing the vitreous gel (and the floaters within it) and replacing it with a salt solution. However, this is a major surgery with its own risks, like retinal detachment and cataracts, so we only recommend it when absolutely necessary.
There are no proven home remedies, eye drops, or medications that can get rid of floaters.
Take-Home Message
- They’re Usually Normal: Eye floaters are extremely common, especially as we age, and are typically not a cause for alarm.
- It’s About the Gel: They are caused by natural changes in the vitreous, the jelly-like substance that fills your eye.
- Know the Red Flags: A sudden explosion of new floaters, seeing flashes of light, or a dark curtain in your vision are signs of a potential emergency. Contact a doctor right away if you experience these.
- Treatment is Observation: For most people, no treatment is needed. Your brain will learn to ignore them over time.
- Regular Check-ups Matter: The best way to protect your vision is with regular, comprehensive eye exams.
Changes in your vision can feel unsettling, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. We’re here to help you understand what’s happening and make sure your eyes stay healthy for years to come.