Although most flashes and floaters occur in people with healthy or merely nearsighted eyes, they can be symptoms of a serious problem including injury and retinal or posterior vitreous detachments.
Flashes in vision are caused by pressure on the retina—the bundle of nerves in the back of the eye where images are detected and transmitted to the brain, causing patients to experience flashing lights or lightning streaks in their vision.
The word “floaters” is a somewhat colloquial reference to spots that interrupt the field of vision, or simply appear within it as a nuisance often noticed under certain conditions such as when in a brightly lit space, or out on a sunny day. Floaters are spots, cobwebs, lines, and other shapes that appear in the field of view, float around and are annoying and bothersome and are sometimes accompanied by light flashes (lightening, sparks) in the center or periphery.
Over time, the vitreous gel that fills the void between the lens and retina of our eyeball, called the “vitreous body,” “vitreous humor,” or simply “the vitreous,” becomes more liquid and begins to clump up, becomes more noticeable as one looks out through their eye.
The clumps that form within the vitreous produce shadows that, when reflected on the retina, become visible to us.
Conditions that can cause floaters to appear in or fill up the field of vision include:
If this is your first time seeing or noticing floaters in your vision, please schedule an appointment at our offices within 1 week.
However, if the floaters are accompanied by flashes of light, that condition could indicate retinal problems, and you should schedule an appointment within the next 1-2 days. Simply tell our office what is occurring, and we will accommodate your visit. Early treatment of the condition is important to prevent further deterioration.
If you have previously noticed a bout of light flashes but are just now becoming apprised of their potential severity, don’t fret, as we can still do something about it, but please schedule your visit immediately.
Serious vision loss can occur if the retina or vitreous detach from the eye wall, so patients experiencing flashes and floaters should contact their doctor immediately so an examination can be performed.
One of our doctors will perform a full examination that involves safely dilating the eyes to ensure the retina is still intact and there is no threat to vision. Additionally, unique to New York Laser Vision, we will perform a highly specialized ultrasound of the eyes to diagnose the condition more properly and make sure everything is okay.
The exact treatment done for floaters will vary from patient to patient, it being tailored to the severity of the condition. The tests we conduct, mentioned above, will help us establish the correct course of treatment. Treatment typically includes:
For more information, please visit our article, “I Am Seeing Flying Spots – Am I Imagining Things?”
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