There’s a dark spot floating in front of your eye, but when you try to look directly at it, it scoots away. What the heck? These little shadows are known as floaters, and like gray hair and laugh lines, they’re just a natural—if annoying—part of aging. Below, eye doctors explain why.
Meet the experts: James Kelly, M.D., owner of Kelly Vision and director of Refractive Surgery for Northwell Health and Kenneth Taubenslag, M.D., vitreoretinal surgeon at the Friedenwald Eye Institute at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
What are eye floaters?
Beginning as early as your 20s or 30s, eye floaters can start sneaking their way into your field of sight, says Kenneth Taubenslag, M.D., vitreoretinal surgeon at the Friedenwald Eye Institute at the University of Maryland Medical Center. They are perceived as small, shadowed shapes “often described as spots, threads, cobwebs, or squiggly lines,” adds James Kelly, M.D., owner of Kelly Vision and director of Refractive Surgery for Northwell Health. Nope, you were never imagining them. But why did they suddenly appear?
Eye floater causes
Eye floaters are caused by tiny clumps or strands of collagen suspended in the gel-like substance that fills the eye called the vitreous, Dr. Kelly explains, which results in actual shadows being cast on the retina. They can appear to move with your eyes or become more noticeable when looking at bright objects, like a clear blue sky or a computer screen, adds Dr. Taubenslag. In the first few decades of life, the vitreous is transparent, he says. The collagen clumps develop with age as it shrinks and liquifies.
Are eye floaters normal?
For most people, floaters are completely normal and part of the eye aging process, says Dr. Kelly. They’re especially common if you’re nearsighted, have had eye surgery, or have inflammation in the eye (as a result of an infection or an autoimmune condition, for example), he adds.
If you have had bleeding in your eye due to injury, diabetes, or high blood pressure, tiny blood cells can also appear as floaters, says Dr. Taubenslag.
When to see a doctor about eye floaters
“You should see an eye doctor immediately if you notice a sudden burst of new floaters, flashes of light, or loss of side vision or a curtain-like shadow in your vision,” says Dr. Kelly. “These can be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which is an emergency and needs to be treated as soon as possible to preserve your vision.”
Can eye floaters be prevented?
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent floaters entirely, say Dr. Kelly and Dr. Taubenslag. “However, protecting your eyes from trauma, managing chronic conditions like diabetes, and getting regular eye exams can help reduce the risk of complications,” Dr. Kelly says. If floaters become highly bothersome, he adds, professional laser treatments may be considered in select cases.
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