Eye floaters are as normal as your knees starting to hurt or developing wrinkles on your beautiful face. You guessed it. Eye floaters are just another thing to add to the list of aging. You may begin to notice them after age 50. They may come and go and usually are not anything to be concerned about, with some exceptions. So, let’s find out, are eye floaters normal?
What Are Eye Floaters and What Causes Them?
The eye floaters look like spots, squiggly lines, or cobwebs that float throughout our vision. If we attempt to focus on them, they float away. They appear more clearly if we are looking at a white surface or a clear blue sky.
The white gel-like substance in our eye, which is referred to as the vitreous, contains tiny flecks of protein or collagen. As we get older, these protein fibers shrink into shreds that clump together. The shadows they cast on the retina are the floaters.
Once you have floaters, they don’t leave completely, but you may notice them less and less. In most cases, they are nothing to worry about.
Who Is More at Risk to Develop Floaters?
The majority of people develop floaters when they become older, certain individuals are more likely to have floaters, including those who are:
- Nearsighted
- Diabetic
- Have had a procedure to remove cataracts
Sometimes there are more serious reasons for floaters.
They can include the following:
- Eye infections and injuries to the eye
- Uveitis (inflammation inside the eye)
- Hemorrhaging, or bleeding, within the eye
- Vitreous detachment, which occurs when the vitreous separates from the retina
- Retinal tear, which happens when vitreous detachment causes a tear in the retina
- Retinal detachment, which is when retina separates from the back of the eye
When to See Hecht Eye Institute in South Bay, CA
If you suddenly begin to see a shower or many more floaters all at once, it is time to have an appointment with Hecht Eye Institute immediately. If this is accompanied with light flashes and/or a dark curtain-like area in your side or central vision, it can be a symptom of a retinal tear or detachment which are both medical emergencies and can compromise your vision.
If you can’t see your own eye doctor, go to the E.R. promptly.
Contact Hecht Eye Institute at (310) 370-5648 for an eye floater evaluation if you have diabetes and are over 50 years of age.
Sources:
Eye floaters – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
Eye Floaters: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment (webmd.com)
