Eye floaters often appear as spots or flashes in front of the eye when it fact there is nothing there. This is because the actual cause of the floater lies inside the eye itself. Floaters happen naturally as a person gets older when the vitreous gel inside the eye starts to shrink or thicken. This can form clumps or strands in the eye which you see as floaters.
So how serious are these floaters and what can be done about them? If the shrinking gel pulls away from the wall of the eye, it can cause the retina to tear which is a problem. Sometimes this can cause a small amount of bleeding in the eye which also presents itself as floaters.
A torn retina can lead to retinal detachment so it is a condition that should always be taken seriously. If you see sudden flashes of light or if any mew floater appears suddenly, you should see your eye doctor right away to rule out a torn retina.
It’s also important to see your eye doctor if you notice any other symptoms such as loss of vision to the side or any vision loss in one eye. If a torn retina is not treated, it can lead to retina becoming detached from the back of the eye. Since floaters can be a symptom of this, it’s important to have them looked at right away.
Other floaters are harmless and will usually fade over time. While they may be slightly annoying and they can make you nervous if you don’t know what they are, they won’t actually cause any harm. However, you should always have floaters checked out, even if you’ve had them for years, to be sure they are harmless and not a symptom of a torn retina.