Eye floaters are a common visual phenomenon. These small specks or strands appear to drift across one’s vision, often becoming more noticeable against bright, plain backgrounds like a clear sky or a white wall. While a minor annoyance, understanding their nature is important.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells that form within the vitreous humor, the clear, jelly-like substance filling the space between the lens and the retina. As these microscopic particles drift within the vitreous, they cast shadows onto the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Individuals perceive these shadows as various shapes, such as small spots, threads, squiggly lines, or even cobwebs, across their field of vision. These internal visual experiences are known as entoptic phenomena, originating within the eye itself rather than from external light sources.
Prevalence and Typical Occurrences
Most people experience eye floaters at some point in their lives. Research indicates that approximately 7 out of 10 individuals will encounter floaters. Their prevalence increases with age, with nearly 76% of people over 60 reporting them. By age 65, almost 75% of individuals develop a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), a common cause of floaters. While more common in older adults, younger individuals can also experience floaters, particularly those with nearsightedness.
Causes and Risk Factors
The primary cause of eye floaters is age-related changes within the vitreous humor, a process known as vitreous syneresis. As people age, the gel-like vitreous naturally liquefies and shrinks, causing collagen fibers within it to clump together. These clumps then cast shadows on the retina, which are perceived as floaters. Often, this process leads to a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the vitreous gel separates from the retina, creating new floaters and sometimes flashes of light.
Other factors can also contribute to floaters. Eye inflammation, such as uveitis, can lead to the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the vitreous. Eye injuries or trauma may introduce debris or blood into the vitreous, resulting in floaters. Certain medical conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, where damaged blood vessels can leak blood into the eye, can also cause floaters. Nearsightedness is another risk factor, as it can accelerate the vitreous aging process.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While most eye floaters are harmless, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical evaluation by an eye care professional. A sudden increase in the number or size of floaters can signal a serious underlying condition. The appearance of flashes of light, known as photopsias, especially with new floaters, is concerning. These flashes can occur if the vitreous gel pulls on the retina, potentially indicating a retinal tear or detachment.
Other red flag symptoms include a gray curtain or shadow obscuring part of your vision, or a loss of peripheral vision. These can be signs of a retinal detachment, a condition where the retina pulls away from the back of the eye and requires prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. If any of these acute changes occur, seek urgent medical attention for timely diagnosis and intervention.