As you age, you may notice ‘floaters’ and ‘flashes’ appear in your eye. This is a totally normal part of aging – the eye is an extremely complicated organ with a dozen components and millions of working parts and nerves. It’s to be expected our eyes will start to show some rust and experience some wear and tear.
While patients commonly mistake these phenomena as ‘seeing stars’, floaters and flashes are really just visual disturbances. These disturbances are usually harmless, but there may be something more serious going on that requires the attention of an eye doctor.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about those magical moments of seeing stars – also known as floaters and flashes.
What are eye floaters?
Floaters are small black or grey specks that appear in your vision. Most visible when you gaze upon a clear, bright background like the sky or a white wall, these floaters will scurry away and disappear when you try to focus on them.
Floaters occur due to age-related changes taking place in the vitreous. The vitreous is a jelly-like substance inside your eye that occupies the space between the lens and retina, which is responsible for helping the eye hold its shape. When you experience floaters, what’s happening is tiny pieces of collagen fibers are being scattered across the vitreous. These clumps cast shadows onto the retina, giving the appearance of floating matter in the eye.
What to do about eye floaters
In most cases, eye floaters are completely painless and harmless – just a normal aspect of acquiring wisdom over time. But in some cases, floaters could be a symptom of something much more serious that could impact your vision.
If you ever experience a sudden increase in floaters or your vision being blocked or made blurry, that’s when you need to see an eye doctor right away. You could be at risk of a retinal tear, which brings the risk of vision loss and is considered an eye emergency.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing to be done about eye floaters for now. They’re just something you’ll have to live with as you age. But in an case where you’ve suffered a retinal tear, prompt action and laser surgery can prevent a complete retinal detachment.
What are eye flashes?
Flashes are somewhat related to floaters, as they’re another type of visual disturbance that appears in the field of vision. But rather than chunks of black or grey, brief flashes will display as flickering lights or streaks.
Some people experience these flickering lights and flashes as part of a migraine, but if you don’t suffer from migraines, the flashes are likely being caused by the jelly-like vitreous. As we age and the vitreous begins to liquify, shrink and break down, it often tugs down on the retina. As the retina is pulled down, the nerve cells are stimulated, which is what causes the perceived flashing of light.
What to do about eye flashes
Like eye floaters, flashes are most typically a harmless feature of aging that currently have no cure. While annoying and distracting, there’s usually nothing to worry about and they are not usually accompanied by pain. But there are a few warning signs to watch for that could indicate a more serious condition and a trip to the optometrist.
If you notice a sudden increase in the number of flashes occurring or the appearance of floaters alongside flashes, it’s time to visit your optometrist immediately. And if you experience any type of vision loss, interference or blurriness, contact your eye doctor immediately.
If you’re over the age of 40, have suffered previous eye injuries, or are nearsighted, you’re at a higher risk of experiencing flashes. The majority of cases are harmless, in which case nothing can be done. But in more serious cases, your optometrist will be worried about retinal tears and even retinal detachment, which call for laser correction or more complicated surgeries.
Taking Action
Most of the time, eye floaters and flashes are nothing to worry about. But you need to allow your optometrist make that determination. Retinal tears and detachments are serious conditions that can threaten your eyesight forever, so if you begin to notice floaters and flashes in your vision, visit your optometrist as soon as possible.
Inner Harbour Optometry has two separate locations in downtown Victoria – one on Cook and one on Douglas Street. Visit one of our locations or book your eye appointment online. If you’re experiencing an eye emergency, call us right away.