Flashes and Floaters Treatment

The eye is filled with a gel-like substance called the vitreous.  The vitreous is a meshwork of fibrils which hold together pockets of fluid.   It is loosely attached to the surface of the retina. The gel is clear, and light passes through the vitreous to focus onto the retina.   

What are floaters?

As a normal part of aging, the structure of the vitreous changes and clumps may form. These clumps appear as floaters across your vision. Floaters can look like little insects, stars, threads or cobwebs.    They move when you try to look at them and are most noticeable in bright light. They are more evident when looking at a solid, light-colored background, such as a white wall or a blue sky.    

 Floaters are very common and, in most cases, are merely an intermittent nuisance and do not require any treatment.  Mostly, the floaters can be shifted out of the line of vision simply by moving the eyes.    Occasionally floaters can be very dense and interfere with the vision, and may require surgical removal. This is very rare, and is recommended only when the benefit of surgery warrants the risk.    

What are flashes?  

The vitreous gel also shrinks as an aging process. This may cause traction on the retina which manifests as flashes of light in the peripheral vision.  Closing the eyes will not make them go away. You may not be able to tell in which eye the flashes happened. They are usually more visible in dark environments such as at night or in a darkened room. The flashes can be an indication that the gel is separating from the retina. This is called a posterior vitreous detachment and may be accompanied by increased floaters or one large floater. In 90% of patients, this is a benign process, but in approximately 10% of cases, the patient can go on to develop a retinal tear which can lead to a retinal detachment. If a tear develops, the patient may require surgical intervention.   

When should I call my doctor?

If you have sudden onset of new flashes of light, a new large floater, a shower of lots of floaters or a red floater, the appearance of a dark shadow or a curtain in any aspect of your vision,

 you should contact the ophthalmologist immediately. The doctor will perform a dilated eye examination to determine the cause of the new symptoms.