Eye Floaters (Myodesopsias)

Eye floaters are shapes or dots that seem like they’re passing across your vision when you look at a clear sky, a blank piece of paper or a white wall. Myodesopsias is the medical name for floaters. You might also notice flashes of light at the same time. These flashes are called photopsia.

Eye floaters happen when bits of the gel-like fluid inside your eye (the vitreous or vitreous humor) solidify. The solidified pieces float around inside your vitreous humor. That’s where they get their name. As floaters move inside your eye, they pass in front of your macula and cast a shadow over it. That shadow is what you notice. Think about floaters as bits of dust on a camera lens.

Everyone sees eye floaters differently. They may look like:

• Squiggly lines
• Spots
• Spider webs
• Thread-like strands
• Small, shadowy shapes
• Black or dark spots

If you have eye floaters, they’re always in your eyes. But you’re more likely to notice them when you’re looking at something blank and bright. You’ll probably be more likely to notice them if you start thinking about them, too. For example, as you’re reading this, you might notice the floaters in your eyes.

Blinking won’t make them go away. And if you move your eyes, the floaters will move with you.

What causes eye floaters?

Natural aging is the most common cause of eye floaters. The vitreous in your eye naturally shrinks, moves and changes consistency as you get older. This makes it more likely for floaters to develop.

Eye floaters are usually nothing to worry about. But they can sometimes be a symptom of serious issues that need to be diagnosed and treated right away, including:

• Detached retinas
• Bleeding inside your eye, like from diabetes-related retinopathy
• Inflammation from a condition like uveitis
• Tumors

Visit an eye doctor if you suddenly notice a lot of floaters, especially if you have other symptoms like vision changes, flashes or dark areas in your vision.

Eye floater treatment

Most of the time, you won’t need any treatment for eye floaters. Your eye doctor will give you an eye exam and check for issues inside your eyes. You won’t need to do anything if the floaters are forming naturally from aging. The floaters can be annoying. But they’ll eventually drift out of your vision. Then, you should be able to stop noticing and thinking about them.

Your eye doctor will suggest treatments if an injury or eye condition caused the floaters. You may need a vitrectomy. This is surgery to replace your natural vitreous with an artificial substitute. Your eye doctor may do this to treat issues like detached retinas. It’s rare to need a vitrectomy to treat aging-related floaters. But your eye doctor may suggest it if the floaters are affecting your vision.

When should floaters be treated by an eye doctor or healthcare provider?

Visit an eye doctor right away if you suddenly notice lots of floaters or flashes in your eyes. Especially if your vision changes or gets worse all at once. Floaters are usually nothing to worry about. But an eye exam is the only way to tell what’s causing them.

Ask your eye doctor how often you should have eye exams. Regular checkups are the best way to catch and manage eye issues before they can cause symptoms or damage.