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Floaters are a common eye symtom that occur as the eye ages. They are small specks that pass across your field of vision, sometimes directly in front of your central vision or in your peripheral vision. If you've ever seen "bugs", specks, faint strings or flashes of light in your field of vision, you've experienced Floaters and Flashes.

Floaters are small clumps of cells inside the vitreous humor, the transparent gel filling the eyeball in front of the retina. Floaters are inside your eye, so they move with your eyes when you try to see them. What you are actually seeing is the shadow cast by a floater onto the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye. Spots or floaters may appear as small specks, strands, webs or other shapes, and they vary in size. Most people have floaters in their eyes.

Generally these phenomena are harmless. Floaters, however, that appear suddenly as a cloud of dark spots or a spider web, especially when accompaomed spots or a spider web, especially when accompained by flashes of light, may signal a torn or detached retina.

This is a serious eye problem and can lead to vision loss.

  

Basic eye Structure


Spots and floaters are usually harmless, but flashes of light may indicate a problem. If you're suddenly seeing spots, floaters, or flashes, get an eye exam to make sure nothing's wrong.


Most floaters are age-related. The vitreous humor thickens and clumps as we age, and floaters result from the clumped vitreous gel. Other spots are caused by little bits of protein trapped within the eye during pregnancy. Trauma to the eye or breakdown of the vitreous humor may also cause spots and floaters. Many floaters remain in the eye for long periods of time before they gradually disappear.

Usually floaters are the result of changes in the vitreous gel which fulles the large middle portion of the eye. The vitreous is a clear, helly-like material which changes with age. During childhood it is solid like gelation. As we age, the vitreous beings to liquefy.

  

The Vitreous gel partially separated from the retina

Somethimes when the vitreous ages and becomes liquid, a sudden collapse of the gel occurs. This collapse or vitreous separation causes mircoscopic particles to "float" within the eye, casting tiny shadows on the retina. We see these as specks or webs depending on their shape.

 


A tear in the retina
  

Occasionally floaters signal a more serious eye problem, such as retinal tear. The retina is a very fragile membrane that lines the inside of the eye, coming in direct contact with the vitreous. The vitreous and retina attach to each other in places.

As the vitreous seprates, it can pull on the retina at these attachments and cause it to break or tear, espcially if the retina has weak spots.

When a tear is present, fluid from the vitreous leaks under the retina and sperates it from the underlying layer in the eye. When this happens, the retina ceases to work, resulting in the loss of vision.

  • Floaters are the specks, "bugs", and threads that dart in and out of your field of vision.
  • Floaters occur as the eye ages, and while annoying, are usually harmless.
  • Floaters that appear suddenly or are accompaned by flashes of light can signal a retinal tear or detachment.
  • Early diagnosis of retinal tears and detachments can lead to early treatment and may prevent vision loss.
  • The thickened, clumping vitreous humor shrinks and tugs on the light-sensitive retina, causing flashes. These flashes can occur after a blow or trauma to the head, frequently called "seeing stars."

An eye exam is your best assurance:

Not everyone who has floaters develops a retinal tear. About 1 in 10 who experience a shower of floaters and flashes of light will have a tear. The sudden appearance of a cobweb type floater by itseld is only rarely associated with a torn retina, but still needs to be evaluated. Early detection and treatment of retinal tears can prevent vision loss.

Spots and floaters cannot be removed from the eye, but many fade over time. Most spots and floaters are harmless but annoying when they temporarily enter the field of vision. However, suddenly seeing new floaters, or floaters accompanied by flashes of light or peripheral vision loss, may indicate a retinal detachment. See your eyecare practitioner immediately, as vision loss can result from a detached retina.

 

Source(s): All above information is based on material (information, images) provided by Swastik Opticians, authorized dealers (Jitesh Monhindra, Owner) and an article written by Gretchyn Bailey, allaboutvision.com. All rights reserved by respective owners.

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Disclaimer: Any information displayed here is just for educational purposes, and may not be taken as an expert advice and should not be applied in life without consulting your eye doctor/specialist. We here by take no responsiblity of the accuracy of the above content as they have been taken from various sources.

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