Do you see those tiny dark specks floating in front of your eyes right now? They’re called eye floaters. But more importantly, you’re probably wondering, “Are they serious? And why do we have them in the first place?” Well, let’s just say there’s a lot more to them than you think. Here’s the 411 on eye floaters.
What are eye floaters?
Eye floaters are tiny black or gray specks that appear in your field of vision. They’re especially noticeable when you look at something bright, such as white paper, a blue sky or a white computer screen. Although they can be slightly annoying at times, eye floaters are very common and usually don’t interfere with your sight.
Symptoms
Eye floaters move as the eyes move. You’ll also notice that eye floaters never seem to stay still when you try to focus on them directly. They can appear in a variety of sizes and shapes, such as:
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Causes
All of us have a vitreous humor, a clear gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the eyeball. As we age, the vitreous liquefies and becomes shred-like, which can cause a change in the amount of light that hits the retina. When this happens, we start to experience the symptoms of eye floaters. Of course, the degree of eye floaters produced varies from person to person.
Risk Factors
You may be at a higher risk for eye floaters if you’re age 50 and older, nearsighted, diabetic, or have ever experienced eye trauma or complications from cataract surgery.
READ: Diabetes & Your Eyes: What You Need To Know
When to See Your Eye Doctor
Eye floaters are normal and generally harmless. It’s important, however, to seek medical attention if you experience any of the following:
Getting Rid of Eye Floaters
Currently, there are no safe and proven methods to cure eye floaters. Although some health professionals believe that certain herbs, vitamins, iodine-containing products and lifestyle changes can be effective in reducing eye floaters, none of these have been clinically proven. YAG laser has been advocated by some, but again, there is no evidence that this is safe or effective. The vitreous itself can also be surgically removed by a procedure called vitrectomy. It’s important to note, however, that surgery should not be performed in patients with normal eye floaters.
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