Everything You Need to Know About Flashes and Floaters
At Respectacle Company, we offer routine eye examinations at our Market Harborough practice. We also see many patients who are experiencing vision difficulties or have symptoms that require further investigation.
To help you better understand these issues, we thought it would be useful to create a series of blogs highlighting different eye conditions and their symptoms. This way, you will know what signs to look out for and what actions to take if you experience any of them.
In the first blog of this series, we will focus on flashes and floaters: what can cause them and their potential implications for your eye health.
What are floaters?
Floaters are small dark spots. They can also look similar to a strand of hair or a small cobweb and appear floating before our eyes. They are very common, especially as we age, and harmless in the majority. In most cases, floaters are caused by the natural shrinking of the vitreous gel (also known as vitreous humour), a clear, almost jelly-like substance within the eye which separates the lens and retina.
Floaters naturally move around, and you get used to them over time, so we tend to ignore them. They are more noticeable when looking at light-coloured surfaces or the sky on a bright day. Floaters are more common in people who are short-sighted and people who have had eye surgery, such as laser treatment or cataract procedures. There is also an increased likelihood of experiencing floaters if there’s a history of eye trauma or past infections.
Floaters are more noticeable when you look at the sky on a bright day
What should I be aware of with floaters?
Although floaters can be annoying, they are usually harmless and don’t require any treatment. However, you should be aware that if you have a sudden onset of floaters, either a larger one than usual or a shower of tiny ones, this could be a sign of something that needs further investigation.
A sudden increase in floaters can be a sign of a retinal detachment. This occurs when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye, leading to a blank spot or shadow over your field of vision which doesn’t go away or move. A detached retina is a serious eye condition and requires immediate medical attention.
Advanced OCT scans are available at Respectacle Company and can detect any issues.
Should I be concerned about flashing lights?
Flashes in the eye can be a sign of a posterior vitreous detachment. Like floaters, they are quite common, especially as we get older. When the vitreous gel in the eye shrinks, it may pull away from the retina. If this happens, it can cause flashes, which typically appear in the corners of your vision and manifest as sparkles or fireworks.
Flashes tend to come and go and can last for months. If you experience flashes this can be a sign of a retinal detachment, which often occurs together with a sudden increase of floaters.
What should I do if I experience flashes and floaters?
Should you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms, you must contact your optician for advice as soon as possible. If you are local to Market Harborough, you can contact the Respectacle team by calling 01858 433 577 between 9 am and 5 pm, Tuesday to Friday. We are also open from 9 am to 4 pm every Saturday.
If you have any concerns about your vision or eye health, contact the Respectacle team
However, if an immediate appointment isn’t available, you should seek medical attention from your nearest Accident and Emergency Department, your local hospital’s eye casualty, or call 111. They will advise about the appropriate pathway and treatment if needed.
Further reading:
What You Need to Know About Eye Emergencies and When to Act
