What Causes Eye Floaters?
Medically reviewed by Johnstone M. Kim, MD
Eye floaters are tiny specks in your field of vision that may look like black spots or squiggly lines. What causes eye floaters? Floaters in the eye typically develop when the jelly-like substance that fills the back of your eye liquifies and clumps together. This process naturally happens as you age.
You typically do not need to worry about eye floaters unless you notice a sudden increase in these specks and see flashes of light. These signs might indicate a more severe cause of eye floaters, retinal detachment. The retina is located at the back of your eye. Read on to learn about eye floaters, including causes and when to worry.
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What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are basically specks that float around in your field of vision. These specks can appear as cobwebs, spots, squiggly lines, or threads. Eye floaters crop up when the vitreous, or the jelly-like substance that fills the back of your eye, begins to liquefy. This process usually happens over time.
What Are the Symptoms?
Some people notice floaters very easily. They might be because of your personality, job, or simply how visually aware you are. Others hardly ever notice them.
Eye floaters might look like:
Bubbles
Clumps
Specks
Spots
Threads
Eye floaters generally do not cause pain or discomfort, but some might affect reading. People often head to an ophthalmologist (eye specialist), saying they are swatting at an insect that's not really there or seeing a speck in their vision.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are part of the aging process. As you age, the vitreous begins to stick together, casting shadows on the retina, a layer of tissue located at the back of your eyeball. The retina converts what you see into electrical signals to your brain. These shadows are eye floaters.
Other causes of eye floaters include:
Retinal detachment: This happens when the retina moves out of its normal position, releasing a little flash. Retinal detachment can cause a sudden increase in eye floaters. If untreated, this eye condition can lead to blindness.
Uveitis: This is inflammation of the eye, which typically occurs when you have an eye infection. Uveitis damages the uvea, or the middle layer of your eye. Symptoms include blurry vision, eye pain, and light sensitivity.
Vitreous detachment: This gel-like fluid in your eye can become detached. As you age, the fibers slowly pull away from the retina. These strands can cast shadows that appear as several eye floaters.
Risk Factors
Anyone can develop eye floaters, but some people have a higher risk than others. Risk factors include:
Near-sightedness
Pregnancy and hormone changes
Surgery to treat cataracts, or clouding of your eye's lens
Trauma to the head or eye (e.g., a sports injury or a car accident)
When To Contact a Healthcare Provider
Small floaters that come and go over time with no other eye symptoms are not usually abnormal or cause for alarm. If you notice a sudden onset of eye floaters, visit an ophthalmologist for further evaluation. Eye floaters that occur with flashing lights or a "curtain" coming down on your vision could be an early sign of retinal detachment.
What's the Treatment for Eye Floaters?
There's usually no real treatment for most eye floaters. There's the possibility of a retinal surgery to remove the jelly with lasers, essentially eliminating eye floaters. Surgery comes with risks, however, and is not generally necessary or worthwhile.
It's important to have an eye exam. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends a baseline screening at age 40 or earlier if you have eye disease risk factors. Depending on your risk factors, the AAO advises regular eye exams every few years after that.
You are more at risk for eye problems if you have:
A family history of eye disease
Diabetes
If you are unsure what course of treatment is best for you, talk to an ophthalmologist. They can see eye floaters and determine exactly what may be causing them.
Related: What Is an Eye Freckle (Nevus)?
A Quick Review
Eye floaters can be a normal part of the aging process. However, these specks in the field of vision, which may appear as cobwebs, spots, squiggly lines, or threads, can sometimes be caused by other severe eye conditions, such as retinal detachment, uveitis, or vitreous detachment.
Sometimes, you may not notice eye floaters, while for others, symptoms will be more obvious. Floaters are generally not painful but may be distracting or irritating. If eye floaters affect your vision, discuss your symptoms with an ophthalmologist to determine whether you need treatment.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I worry about eye floaters?
Eye floaters are typically not something to worry about. Contact an ophthalmologist right away, however, if you notice a sudden increase in floaters. These specks might be a sign of a more severe eye condition if you also see flashes of light or have vision loss.
2. How long do floaters in the eye last?
Eye floaters may never go away completely, but they might become smaller and less severe. Some floaters can go away within three months.
3. What are the possible complications of floaters?
Most eye floaters do not cause complications. Some people, in contrast, have floaters that signal a severe eye condition like:
Bleeding in the eye
Eye injuries
Retinal detachment or tear
Uveitis
Vitreous detachment
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