What are flashes of light?

Flashes of light are sometimes caused by mechanical stimulation of the retina, often referred to as "pulling", "forces", or "traction. Patients with successfully repaired retinal tears and detachments may have flashes for many months.

What are floaters?

Floaters are small pieces of material that form in the vitreous. Floaters are usually clumps of condensed protein or cells, seen as small specks or strands moving into your field of vision. They may have the appearance of a small insect or cobweb.

Floaters are most apparent when you are looking at a plain background such as a blank wall or blue sky.

How do flashes and floaters occur?

Flashes and floaters result from changes in the vitreous usually they come and go quickly. They are quite common and usually harmless.

What are the most common causes of flashes and floaters?

Most flashes and floaters are caused by age-related changes in the gel-like material, called vitreous, that fills the back of the eye. Some floaters are red blood cells or blood clots on the surface of the retina or floating in the vitreous. Such blood cells may occur with some retinal tears but do not necessarily indicate a tear. Occasionally, the vitreous can pull on a blood vessel on the surface of the retina and cause bleeding without causing a tear of the retina. Flashes can also be caused by posterior vitreous separation, retinal tears (breaks), and scarring on the surface of the retina.

What are the symptoms of flashes and floaters?

You see spots that look like little bugs, threads, or cobwebs. The spots usually shift away from your focus when you try to look at them and are most noticeable in bright light. Sometimes you also see flashing lights that happen when the eyes are either open or closed. It may be more noticeable in dim light or when you move your eyes.

Who is at risk?

Flashes and floaters are very common. Almost everyone experiences them at one time or another. They become more frequent as we age. In rare cases, a doctor's exam may reveal a more serious problem called a retinal tear or retinal hole, so it's important to get regular eye exams and inform your doctor if you're experiencing flashes or floaters.

How are they diagnosed?

Your eye doctor will put eyedrops in your eyes to dilate them and then examine the inside of your eyes using an ophthalmoscope. It helps to distinguish between harmless floaters and flashes and more serious retinal problems such as holes, tears or detachment.

What is the treatment for flashes and floaters?

Most floaters do not require treatment. However, sometimes floaters are a symptom of a tear in the retina. Retinal tears can be serious. Without treatment, fluid can leak through the tear and cause the retina to detach. Retinal detachment may require surgery.

The warning signs of a retinal tear or detachment include, suddenly seeing many new flashes of light or many new floaters,loss of peripheral vision, blurred or distorted vision, which occurs as the detachment gets worse. If you have these symptoms, call your doctor right away.

How long do the effects last?

Flashes and floaters not caused by a retinal tear or detachment are harmless. They may never go away completely, but they tend to become much less noticeable with time. However, if the floaters or flashes are caused by retinal tears or detachment, you could lose your vision if you don'tget treatment.

Since I have got floaters, what do I do with it?

Usually the appearance of new floaters or light flashes does not indicate any serious eye problem. However, the only way to ensure that the floaters or flashes are not symptomatic of a more serious problem is to have your retina examined. If, following the exam, you develop large numbers of new floaters that seem to get worse over time, we recommend that you have your eyes re-examined.

When floaters appear in your line of vision, move your eye around -- up and down as well as from side to side. This movement creates a swirling in the vitreous fluid and may cause the floater to move out of your field of vision.

How common are flashes and floaters?

Very common. Over 70% of the population experience these problems.

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