Flashes and Floaters
Flashes (bursts of light) and floaters (bubbles or specks that drift across the visual field) are typically harmless, and they occur when the vitreous inside your eye comes loose and tugs at your retina. Although flashes and floaters are common, especially as patients get older, they can indicate a retinal tear. If left untreated, a tear could lead to complete retinal detachment and blindness in that eye. If you notice a sudden increase or appearance of flashes and floaters, you should schedule a retina exam as soon as possible.
Symptoms Develop Suddenly & MOST DISAPPEAR IMMEDIATELY
Floating Spots in Your Field of Vision
As you shift your eyesight, floaters appear as spots, specks, circles, or “cobwebs” which block your field of vision.
Sudden Flashes in Your Vision Can Be Alarming
Many describe the experience as seeing flashing lights, streaks of lightning, or “seeing stars.”Who most commonly experiences flashes and floaters in their vision?
Age-Related Flashes& FLOATERS ARE COMMON
Although you can experience flashes and floaters at any age, your chances of seeing them increase as you get older. Aging causes the gel inside of your eyes to shrink, forming clumps. These clumps project shadows onto the retina and cause floaters. Alternatively, shrinkage causes tugging on the retina, which you experience as flashes. However, these can also be symptoms of a more serious retinal disease.
Causes
Aging
Age-related floaters and flashers occur as the jelly inside of your eye shrinks away from the retina, creating clumps or pulling on your retina. More than 50 percent of patients over the age of 70 experience floaters.
Diabetes
Weak capillaries in the blood can leak blood and create clots in the vitreous. These clots cast shadows on the retina.
Retinal Detachment
Usually presenting itself as a sudden onset of flashes, floaters, or vision loss, retinal detachment occurs when the retina is pulled away from the back wall of your eye. Delaying treatment can result in permanent vision loss.
Prevention
Attend Regular Eye Exams
Your doctor can diagnose your symptoms and address serious issues during a routine eye exam, reducing your chances of total vision loss.
Stay in Good Overall Health
As diabetes has been linked to floaters, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you control your glucose levels and reduce your risk of diabetes.
Protect your eyes
As some floaters are caused by trauma, you should be careful to avoid impacts with your eyes. Wear protective goggles when working or participating in contact sports. To avoid cataracts, wear sunglasses and avoid prolonged sun exposure.
Treatment
Just Wait
If your doctor determines that your symptoms are not being caused by retinal disease, you may wait and find that the spots become less noticeable or disappear entirely. Often, surgery poses a higher risk of complication compared to the inconvenience of floaters and flashes.
Retinal Detachment Treatment
Thanks to modern technology, 90 percent of retinal detachment cases can be successfully treated with laser treatment or cryopexy to reattach the retina to the back wall of the eye.
Call us immediately if you experience sudden, heavy flashes and floaters.
Although 90 percent of patients with flashes and floaters are not bothered or affected by them, you should consult your doctor immediately if you have a sudden increase in floaters and flashes or if you experience sudden vision loss, as these can be signs of serious, vision-threatening retinal disease. These can be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.
