Eye Floaters

Floaters

If you live in the Belleville, Trenton or Brighton areas and are looking for an excellent optometrist, Dr. Coward & Associates is an excellent family resource for optometry services.

What Are Floaters?

Sometimes, you may notice specks or cobweb-like shapes that appear to reside directly on the front of your eye’s surface. These are commonly known as floaters. They move when you direct your eyes to look at them, yet refuse to stay within your field of vision, and can be quite annoying.

While floaters may seem to be on the outside of the eye, they are actually tiny shadows inside the eye on the retina. As one ages, the vitreous material inside the eyes can begin to break down and takes on a softer, more liquid consistency. Barely visible, microscopic fibers inside the vitreous can bind together and cast shadows on the retina creating the appearance of floaters.

Risk Factors

People who are 50 years old or older are at an increased risk of developing floaters. Other factors that can increase the risk include:

Individuals that are nearsighted
Those that have experienced eye trauma
Complications from cataract surgery
Diabetes-related Retinopathy
Generalized inflammation

In addition to age-related changes in the vitreous, these conditions can also result in floaters:

Bleeding
Inflammation located at the back of the eye
Tears in the retina
Certain medications
Eye surgery

When Should I Consult an Eye Doctor about Floaters?

Floaters are usually harmless. However, if any of the following symptoms appear, you should contact your optometrist right away:

A noticeable increase in the appearance of floaters
New floaters that appear all at once
Flashes of light in the same eye as floaters appear
Inadequate peripheral vision

While these symptoms are usually not painful, they could be caused by a retinal tear. In cases where the retina detaches, blindness can occur. Therefore, immediate optometry attention is important.