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Eye Conditions
Floaters & Flashes
Signs & Symptoms
• Floaters are specks, dots, cobwebs, or wavy lines that seem to fall within the line of sight. They rarely affect eyesight. They are more visible against a plain or dark background.
• Flashes are streaks of light that “flash” across the field of vision. They can occur when the eyes are closed or in extreme darkness.
Causes
With aging, the middle portion of the eye, called the vitreous, becomes less solid and more liquid. This allows particles (floaters), which have always been in the eye, to begin to move around. Flashes can occur when the vitreous shrinks and pulls on the retina of the eye. This is common. On rare occasions, when the vitreous detaches from the retina, it can rip or tear the retina. This may lead to a detached retina. The retina peels away from the eye wall causing sight loss.
Risk Factors for Floaters and Flashes
• Eye diseases or injuries.
• A tear in the retina. Aging and cataract surgery increase the risk for this.
• High blood pressure.
• Migraine headaches.
• Nearsightedness.
Treatment
Self-care is enough to treat floaters and flashes unless they are due to another medical condition.
Questions to Ask
Question
01
Do you have any of these signs of a detached retina?
• A floater appears suddenly.
• A large red floater disturbs vision.
• It looks like a curtain is over your field of vision.
• The number of floaters and/or light flashes keep increasing.
Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.
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Question
02
With floaters or flashes, do you have any of these problems?
• A loss of side vision.
• Bleeding in the eye.
• The floaters don’t move as you look at them.
Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.
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Question
03
With floaters or flashes, do you have a history of migraine headaches or high blood pressure? Or, do the floaters or flashes last 10 to 20 minutes in both eyes?
You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.
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Self-Care / Prevention
• Move your eyes up and down (not side to side) several times.
• Don’t focus on or stare at plain, light backgrounds, such as a blank pastel wall or the light blue sky.
• You may notice flashes less if you avoid moving suddenly, don’t bend over, and don’t get up quickly from sitting or lying down.
Download an offline pdf file.
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