Are Eye Floaters Normal?
- Atanas Bogoev M.D. and Maria Bogoeva
- Oct 26, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 28
Everyone sees eye floaters at some point in their lives. You will either notice them temporarily or experience them all the time. It's normal to think something is wrong with your eyes when you first see them. Floaters do seem alarming at first, but in most situations, they are nothing but harmless floating specs. So, just because you see them, doesn't always mean you have a problem.
Before you panic, read our guide and learn more about what eye floaters really are. In our guide, we share why and when eye floaters appear, and what warning signs to look out for. Read on.
Eye Floaters
What Are Eye Floaters?
Just like the name suggests, eye floaters are specks, dark dots, squiggly lines, or cobweb-like strands floating across your vision. They look like tiny dust particles you can't ignore. A fun fact about eye floaters, they drift and evade your focus when you fixate on them. You will notice them more when looking at a well-lit backdrop, a clear blue sky, or a bright white wall.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
The cause of eye floaters is simpler than you would think. Specks of protein (collagen) or other materials may form in the clear gel-like substance inside your eyeball (vitreous humor), and they appear to you as floaters. It's all about the particles casting shadows on the retina. These shadows are the eye foaters you see.
The vitreous humor can become more liquid as part of the aging process, which is why seniors and older adults experience floaters more often than children and young adults.
Apart from aging, nearsightedness and migraines also contribute to seeing floaters in eyes. Some of the rare but serious conditions causing floaters are hemorrhages, retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, eye infections, surgery complications, and more.
We will talk about them in more detail later in this article.
Are Floaters in the Eye Normal?
Eye floaters are extremely common. More than you would think. Most people will experience them during their lifetime. Eyesight floaters are more pronounced as we get older, often appearing in individuals over the age of 50.
In many cases, eye floaters are just a normal part of aging. The specs are harmless and don't need any treatment. Yet, in some situations, if you've had floaters for a long time, you should consult an eye specialist.
When to Seek Medical Attention?
It's time to seek an ophthalmologist's opinion for your eye floaters when:
You suddenly see an increase in eye floaters
You notice flashes of light along with the floaters
The eye floaters compromise your vision
A sudden onset of new floaters in the eyes or a change in their appearance may be a warning sign. An increase in floaters is a potential symptom of retinal detachment or bleeding in the eye. Both conditions are classified as medical emergencies, urging a visit to the ophthalmologist.
The combination of flashes of light and eye floaters can potentially be a sign of retinal traction, tear, or detachment. All conditions leading to vision loss. If you notice flashes, seek prompt medical evaluation by an eye care specialist.
Last but not least, if floaters affect your life quality or compromise your vision, go for a medical exam.
Can Ophthalmologists See Floaters in Patients' Eyes?
Ophthalmologists see floaters in patients' eyes during eye exams. Eye doctors use special instruments and lights to inspect the interior of the eye during dilated pupil exams. Here's how it works.
Doctors administer eye drops that dilate the pupils, so more light enters the eye and provides a larger view of the inside. Then they use a slit lamp, a binocular microscope with an intense light source, to examine the anterior and posterior segments, which makes eye floaters clearly visible.
Indirect ophthalmoscopy is also a technique for eye doctors to observe eye floaters as they cast shadows on the retina. In some cases, ophthalmologists may use OCT. That's a non-invasive imaging technique to obtain high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retina and vitreous.
Eye Conditions with Floaters
Eye floaters are often harmless, but they can also be a symptom of deeper issues, especially when it comes to pre-existing eye conditions.
Seeing floaters may stem from:
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)
PVD is a common age-related condition where the gel-like vitreous inside the eye shrinks and pulls away from the retina. People with PVD see eye floaters because the vitreous tugs on the retina.
Retinal Tears and Detachment
Eye floaters can also be a sign of a torn retina. When the retina tears or detaches, it causes bleeding in the eye. The bleeding presents as eye floaters along with flashes of light.
Vitreous Hemorrhage
When blood vessels in the retina leak, blood mixes with the vitreous humor. That triggers the sudden onset of floaters in the vision field.
Diabetic Retinopathy
People with diabetes are at risk of developing a complication called diabetic retinopathy. A condition in which abnormal blood vessels in the retina bleed into the vitreous, causing eye floaters.
Uveitis
Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, the uvea. The release of inflammatory cells into the vitreous results in spots or specs floating around in your vision.
Cataracts
While cataracts primarily cause clouding of the eye's lens, severe cataracts have secondary symptoms. One of the prominent symptoms is floaters in the eyes.
Infections and Inflammation
Eye infections and inflammatory diseases may contribute to the onset of floating specs as well.
Surgery Complications and Medications
Some medications and interventions have the potential to result in harm to the retina. It may manifest as retinal tears with the presence of air bubbles in the vitreous humor, giving rise to the visibility of eye floaters.
NOT all floaters indicate these conditions! Eye floaters mainly occur as a normal part of aging.
RELATED: Early Signs of Eye Problems
Eye Floaters Treatment
Eye floaters treatment is different for each case. It depends mostly on the cause and severity of the symptoms. In most situations, no treatment is necessary, as floaters tend to be harmless.
Consultation with an eye doctor is key to making the right decision. Furthermore, if your eye floaters are out of control, you need to be aware of the risks and limitations of the treatment options.
Sometimes ophthalmologists may prescribe medication to alleviate the floaters. But this is NOT a common approach, and the effectiveness is debated. Instead, if floaters are a result of a medical condition, like diabetes or inflammation, addressing the root cause is likely to reduce or eliminate them.
Laser Floater Treatment (LFT) or laser vitreolysis uses laser technology to target and break down eye floaters in the vitreous. LFT is less invasive than vitrectomy and is best for cases of bothersome floaters. The treatment may require multiple sessions for better results. Despite the reduced risks, there are some concerns with inducing traction on the retina through the movement of the vitreous during the laser therapy, and potentially causing small retinal breaks. Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the vitreous humor and its replacement with a clear saline solution. This is only an option for severe cases of floaters, where they significantly impair vision or quality of life. The procedure carries intraoperative and postoperative risks and is usually a last resort.
Regular eye check-ups are the best way to monitor your eye health and catch issues early.
For more information about eye health, read our blog for patients!
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✅ Medically reviewed by Atanas Bogoev, MD.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Maria Bogoeva is a medical writer with over 11 years of experience in copywriting and content strategy. She’s the founder of Ophthalmology24, where she leads the creation of clear, practical, and medically accurate content for ophthalmologists and patients. Her mission: make ophthalmology education more accessible and engaging worldwide.
Atanas Bogoev M.D. is a consultant ophthalmologist, eye surgeon, and co-founder of Ophthalmology24. Atanas has trained internationally, attending courses at Harvard Medical School, Oftalmo University, and completing observerships such as the GAASS program in Toronto. He combines surgical experience with a passion for education, translating surgical best practices and clinical learning into accessible resources.