Floaters and Flashes?

Understanding What They Are and When to Seek Help

What Are Floaters?

Floaters appear as small shapes in your vision that look like:

Spots, specks, or dots
Squiggly lines or threads
Cobwebs or rings

They may drift around as you move your eyes, especially when looking at a bright, plain background like a blue sky or white wall.

Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the eye's vitreous – the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the eye. While they seem like they are in front of the eye, they are actually floating inside the eye.

What Causes Floaters?

The most common cause is posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) – a normal, age-related change where the vitreous gel shrinks and pulls away from the retina.

You are more likely to get floaters if you:

Are short-sighted (myopic)
Have had eye surgery (like cataract surgery)
Have had eye inflammation (uveitis)
Have had trauma or injury to the eye

Most floaters are harmless and become less noticeable over time.

What Are Flashes?

Flashes look like:

Brief flashes of light
Streaks, like lightning or sparks
“Stars”, like when you bump your head

Flashes happen when the vitreous pulls or tugs on the retina, often during posterior vitreous detachment.

Occasional flashes can be normal as you age, but new or increasing flashes need urgent attention.

Flashes and Migraines

Some flashes are caused by migraines, not the eye itself. These may look like:

Zigzag lines
Wavy patterns
Visual distortions lasting 10–30 minutes

If a headache follows, it's a migraine headache. If there is no headache, it's called an ocular or ophthalmic migraine. These are usually not serious.

When to Seek Immediate Help

Contact an eye specialist urgently if you notice:

A sudden increase in floaters
New or worsening flashes of light
A shadow or curtain in your side (peripheral) vision
A grey veil across your vision
Loss of part of your vision

These could be signs of:

Retinal tear
Retinal detachment – a serious condition that can lead to vision loss and needs urgent treatment.

How Are Floaters and Flashes Treated?

In most cases, no treatment is needed. Your brain often learns to ignore floaters over time.

If floaters become very dense and affect vision significantly, vitrectomy surgery (removal of the vitreous gel) may be considered. However, this is rarely necessary and carries risks (e.g., cataract, infection, retinal detachment).

What You Can Do

Monitor symptoms – keep track of changes
Avoid rubbing the eyes
Get regular eye checks, especially if you are at risk (e.g., high myopia)
Wear sunglasses to reduce glare and visual discomfort