When is an Eye Floater More than Just a Nuisance?

Written by Dr. David Evans Last modified on August 6, 2018

Do you ever get the sense that there’s something in your eye, but when you try and focus on what it is, it simply drifts out of your field of vision? That’s what we call an eye floater.

Eye floaters typically are nothing more than a benign nuisance that interfere intermittently with your field of vision. As we age, tiny microscopic collagen fibers within the eye can clump together, break off and float around in the fluid in your eye, essentially causing small shadows to appear on your retina. More often than not, eye floaters are a non-issue. Sometimes, however, they can be indicative of a more serious concern requiring immediate medical attention. The question is, how do you differentiate the benign from the serious?

Ordinary floaters appear as small spots or flecks that drift across your field of vision. They are very common and may be more noticeable against bright backdrops like a white wall. (Chances are you’ve experienced floaters in your vision before.) A sudden increase in the number/frequency of eye floaters in your vision could indicate a problem requiring medical attention. Similarly, if your floaters are accompanied by flashes of light or any sort of vision loss, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, as this could signal retinal tearing. If not treated quickly, tearing could give way to detachment and permanent vision loss.

Glasses, contact lenses, LASIK, etc. do not treat or eliminate floaters. Moreover, eye doctors are often unwilling to treat floaters unless there is an indication of a serious threat to eye health. In cases of retinal detachment, a surgical specialist is required to repair the damage. There are various surgical options available. The sooner the surgery is performed, the better the chances of restoring vision.