Floaters

What are floaters?

When you're looking at the sky or a blank wall, you might notice little shapes floating in front of you. They're not entirely clear, almost like dust particles stuck on a camera lens. You try to blink them away, but they remain. These shapes move with you when you look somewhere else.

You are experiencing eye floaters when this occurs.

What are the symptoms of eye floaters? 

Eye floaters can be described in a variety of ways. Some people believe they see spiders, medusas, amoebas, or clouds. Your imagination plays a role in how you imagine a floater to appear. If you have floaters, you may notice:

• Lines that are squiggly.

• Spots.

• Shapes resembling spiders.

• Strands that look like threads.

• Shadowy shapes in small sizes.

• Spots that are black or very dark.

Floaters are a very normal finding and most people have them and learn to ignore them.  However, a sudden onset of floaters with flashes can be an indication of something more serious.  It is considered an emergency and it is imperative that you contact our office immediately.  We will dilate your eyes so we can get an in-depth view of the back of your eye to make sure there is nothing serious such as a tear in the retina or a retinal detachment.  If a tear or detachment is present, we will refer to the appropriate retinal specialist.

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