Are Floaters and Flashes Dangerous?

You've likely experienced occasional visual "floaters" or flashes and may have wondered what they were and if they're a cause for concern. They look like tiny lines, shapes, shadows, or specks that appear to be drifting in the visual field. More often than not, seeing floaters is a normal occurrence. However, when floaters become more frequent and are accompanied by flashes of light, that can indicate a more serious problem.

Eye flashes resemble star-like specks or strands of light that either flash or flicker in one's field of vision. If you suddenly, or with increasing frequency, experience flashes or floaters, call Grove City Vision Center and schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor right away to rule out any serious eye conditions.

What Causes Floaters?

The vitreous in the eye is a clear gel that fills most of the eyeball. Within the vitreous are small lumps of protein that drift around and move with the motion of your eyes. When these tiny lumps of protein cast shadows on the retina, the shadows appear as floaters.

As we age, the vitreous shrinks, creating more strands of protein. This is why the appearance of floaters may increase with time. Floaters tend to be more prevalent in nearsighted people and diabetics.

What Causes Flashes?

Flashes result from the retinal nerve cells being moved or tugged on. As the vitreous shrinks over time, it can tug at the retina, causing you to "see stars" or bursts of light. The process of the vitreous separating from the retina is called "posterior vitreous detachment" (PVD) and usually isn't dangerous.

In about 16% of cases, PVD causes tiny tears in the retina that can lead to retinal detachment — a sight-threatening condition that causes irreversible blindness if left untreated.

When To Call Your Optometrist About Floaters

If you experience any of the following symptoms, promptly make an appointment with an eye doctor near you for emergency eye care:

• A sudden onset of floaters accompanied by flashes
• An increase of floaters accompanied by a darkening of one side of the visual field
• Shadows in the peripheral vision
• Any time flashes are seen

Please contact Grove City Vision Center in Grove City at (614) 875-8373 with any further questions, or to schedule an eye doctor's appointment.