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What Do Those Floater Shapes Mean?
You may experience slightly different symptoms depending on the way your floaters develop. This list describes the most common shapes.
Keep in mind that a sudden increase in floaters, a decrease in vision, and flashing lights can be signs of a retinal detachment. Call your optometrist immediately if you notice any signs that concern you.
Sooner or later, most of us will develop floaters. As their name implies, these wispy, string-like fibers “float” across your field of vision. Although they are usually harmless, in some cases, floaters can be a sign of a serious vision condition.
How Do I Know if I Have Floaters?
Floaters have several common characteristics:
What Causes Floaters?
Your eye is filled with a gel-like substance called the vitreous that gives the eye its shape. As you age, the vitreous begins to shrink slightly, which can cause the gel to clump together and form floaters. Light cannot pass through these clumps. If you have floaters, what you actually see is the shadow the clumps create on your retina.
Who Gets Floaters?
Since floaters are typically age-related, you will probably begin to experience them after age 40. You may be more likely to develop floaters if you are nearsighted or have diabetic retinopathy, a condition that affects the blood vessels in the retina and can lead to vision loss. Floaters can also form if you injure your eye or have had cataract surgery complications.
Two Conditions That Can Increase Floaters
A sudden increase in floaters is often caused by one of these conditions:
When Should I See My Optometrist?
Make an appointment with your eye doctor if floaters interfere with your vision or if you are not sure if you’re experiencing floaters or another eye issue. It's not always easy to tell the difference between a vitreous detachment and a retinal detachment, since both cause light flashes and an increase in floaters. Call your eye doctor as soon as possible if you experience these symptoms. He or she will provide a comprehensive examination that will help him determine the cause of your problem.
Are you concerned about your floaters, or is it time for your next eye examination? Call us and schedule an appointment for a comprehensive vision exam.
National Eye Institute: Facts About Floaters, 10/09
Everyday Health: The Facts About Floaters and Flashes
Mayo Clinic: Eye Floaters, 1/17/15
All About Vision: Eye Floaters, Flashes and Spots, 1/16
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