Floaters

You may have heard of eye floaters, but might not know what they are or what they look like. It can be hard to tell if you have ever had a floater before if you do not know what to look for. Though they are typically harmless and quite normal to experience, in some cases they can signify an eye issue. Thus, it is still helpful to know what they are and why they exist.

What Do Floaters Look Like?

Most people describe floaters as either straight or squiggly lines, though they can also look like spots or blobs. You may see just one at a time, or several, and they are usually either black or gray. They can also vary in width, with some appearing thin and others thicker. In fact, the look of floaters usually varies from person to person, and they even look different in one eye than the other. Note that floaters occur only when your eyes are open, so do not confuse them with flashes, which you may notice when your eyes are closed.

What Is the Significance of Floaters?

Now that you have an idea of what floaters tend to look like, you may be realizing that you have in fact seen them before. It is quite common to see floaters at some point in your life, which means that you do not need to worry. However, in some cases, they are a sign that you should get your eyes checked at the doctor to look for other possible issues.

The following are symptoms that your eye floaters may signify that something is wrong:

You suddenly see floaters much more often than before
You see a sudden shower of them, along with flashes of light
You begin to get cloudy vision or lose your side vision

If these problems occur, it is important to seek medical attention immediately since your retina could be detaching, eventually resulting in blindness.

When it comes to eye disorders, floaters are some of the least worrisome since they do not typically cause long-term issues. They occasionally signify a more serious problem that could end in blindness, but in such cases, they are merely a symptom, not the main issue. Once you find out some facts about floaters, you will likely see why they are considered so harmless.

Why Are Floaters Not Considered Serious?

Since only adults tend to have eye floaters, they are now considered a normal part of aging. It makes sense that as the eye ages, the gel between the lens and the retina, called the vitreous humor, tends to break down a bit. The result is several tiny strands or spots that seem to float around in the eye, moving as the eye moves so that you can never seem to get a good look at them.

For most people, they show up randomly and are not always visible. In fact, many people do not even notice them until they increase in number, or they look at bright objects. It is probably for this reason that when most people think of serious eye disorders, floaters do not come to mind, as they are not painful and can usually be ignored.

Who Gets Eye Floaters?

This issue usually begins when young adulthood is reached, as the vitreous humor in children and teenagers is still rather new and in particularly good shape. This means that as you get older, you have a higher chance of developing eye floaters. The following are also most at-risk for floaters:

Those who are nearsighted
People who have had an operation to get rid of cataracts
Those with diabetes
People with a history of severe eye injuries or infections

If you fall into any of these categories and are worried about eye disorders, floaters may be a concern for you. It may be prudent to see an eye doctor soon if you are truly worried. However, you will likely find that even if you develop floaters, you will not feel any pain or discomfort from them, and in fact will probably just get used to them.

The Appearance of Floaters

Learning About Eye Disorders: Eye Floaters