Eye floaters: What are eye floaters, why they appear, and when to worry. Discover the causes, remedies, and possible treatments for "floaters."
Have you ever noticed small filaments or dots floating in your field of vision, especially when looking at bright surfaces like the sky or a white screen? You're not alone. These phenomena, known as eye floaters or vitreous floaters, are very common and, in most cases, harmless.
What are eye floaters (eye floaters)?
Eye floaters, also called eye floaters, appear as transparent or dark particles that appear to move slowly within the eye, following your gaze. They can be thread-like or pinpoint-shaped, resembling small spiderwebs or worms.
These floaters arise from densities in the vitreous, the jelly-like substance that fills the interior of the eye between the lens and the retina. The densities cast shadows on the retina, which the brain interprets as floating images.
Who is more likely to see floaters?
Myopic people are up to 3.5 times more likely to notice floaters than people with normal vision. Age is also a determining factor: with aging, the structure of the vitreous body tends to naturally degenerate, facilitating the formation of these particles.
Other possible causes include:
Ocular surgeries (e.g., cataracts or capsulotomy)
Ocular trauma or contusions
Vitreous detachment
Visual stress or eye strain
When to consult an eye doctor
In most cases, floaters are harmless. However, it is important to pay attention to some warning signs:
Sudden appearance of numerous floaters
Increased volume or density of the floaters
Presence of flashes of light (photopsia)
Fixed floaters or floaters that do not disappear with eye movement
These symptoms may indicate more serious problems such as retinal detachment or more serious eye diseases, including rare cases of intraocular tumors.
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