Eye Floaters: 3 Signs You Should Seek Prompt Expert Care

Floaters are the odd squiggly lines and shapes that dance back and forth in your eyes, and are usually harmless. However, some conditions that come with floaters can be harmful, so you should know when they indicate other vision problems.

The lens and retina of your eyes play essential roles in capturing incoming light and making objects intelligible to your brain, but they couldn’t do it without the presence of the vitreous humor, which holds them in place. The whites of your eyes are actually a gel-like substance that maintains oxygen levels and absorbs shock from injury.

It comprises around 80% of your eye's total volume, and many vision issues affect this area. Floaters occur frequently in both eyes in this area, and while they’re often benign, they may indicate medical problems that require treatment. Let’s explore what these objects in your eyes are and examine when they’re signs of other vision issues.

Dr. Jeffrey Rapkin and the experienced Retina Consultants of Muncie team serve the residents of Muncie, Indiana, by caring for a range of medical vision issues, including illnesses with floaters as a symptom.

What are eye floaters?

If you’ve looked at something and noticed a shape floating across your field of vision like cobwebs, worm-like strands, rings, shadows, or black or grey dots, you’ve dealt with floaters (also called myodesopsias) at some point. Sometimes they stay in one place and move when you try to focus on them, or they just float in and out of view.

They show up more in lighter areas, so blue skies and white backgrounds are when they’re most noticeable. They’re little more than annoying unless they’re large enough to obscure what you’re looking at.

Do they pose a health threat?

A common cause of floaters results from scattered clumps of collagen forming in the vitreous humor and casting a transparent shadow. It’s generally harmless and is common as we age. It can also occur with conditions that irritate the eyes, such as uveitis, or after having eye surgery.

Other factors that affect the chances of seeing floaters include eye injury, nearsightedness (myopia), complications from cataract surgery, and, under most circumstances, it is not a threat to your health.

When are the signs they need to be treated?

Certain harmful eye conditions can have floaters as a symptom, such as when dealing with retinal tears or detachment. Other less common, but still harmful reasons that floaters happen include tumors and complications from diabetic retinopathy.

Diagnosing the possible causes for your floaters starts with understanding things like when they started appearing, how often they occur, whether they also come with flashes (which can happen with retinal tears and detachment), and other possible related retinal problems.

These signs indicate whether or not you need medical help with floaters:

Noticing a new group of floaters suddenly
Sudden vision changes
Flashes or shadows in your peripheral vision

To help with floaters, we offer comprehensive exams and specific treatment options to help if they become a hindrance. If you’re just starting to deal with floaters, make an appointment with Dr. Rapkin and the Retina Consultants of Muncie team today to find out the cause so we can help you manage it.