Floaters, Flashes, and When to Worry
Jordyn Tull & Elizabeth Chiu, Optometry StudentS
Do you ever notice strange shapes floating around in your vision on a sunny day or on a white background? How about sudden flashes of light in the periphery of your vision? Here’s why you may be seeing those weird shapes and when to get them checked out!
Floaters
Floaters are very common and can gradually increase as you get older. Though they are more frequent in older individuals, they can be seen at any age, especially those with a high minus prescription or individuals with underlying ocular health issues. Floaters appear when the vitreous humor–the jelly that fills the back portion of the eye– changes in composition. As you age, the vitreous becomes more liquid rather than gel-like and forms clumps, which cast shadows on the retina, appearing in the vision as floaters.¹ Floaters can take on several appearances: small black dots, clearish circular blobs, long squiggly blobs, or look cobweb-like. Sometimes one eye may have more floaters than the other. If you notice new floaters, it’s best to get it checked out!
Flashes of light
Flashes may look like light bulbs or flickering lights going off in either your central or side vision, or can appear similar to heat waves or a stream of light in your vision. There are multiple causes for flashes. One cause is due to the shrinking of vitreous and it pulling on the retina. Bright flashes can appear and fade quickly, once or continuously in various directions, or never again after its first appearance. Flashes may also persist and look hazy. This could be due to one of several migraines that have ocular side effects.
When to worry
If you are noticing any changes in your vision, this is the time to book an eye exam as soon as possible. Things to look out for: many new floaters appearing suddenly, floaters blocking your vision, and a curtain or veil blocking your vision. Any of these symptoms could indicate something changing with the health of the retina at the back of the eye. If you are noticing any flashes in your vision, this may also indicate changes in your ocular health. If you have any concerns regarding your eyes, book an appointment with one of our optometrists! It is crucial to get these changes assessed as soon as possible because in some cases, they can be indicative of conditions that cause irreversible changes to your vision.
Your optometrist will use dilation drops to perform a thorough retinal health assessment. If retinal holes, tear or detachment is observed, they will refer you to an ophthalmologist for treatment.
To learn more about the potential conditions that floaters and flashes of light are associated with, check out the following links:
Please remember: If you are experiencing an ocular emergency outside of our business hours, please proceed directly to the emergency room at WRHN at Queen's Blvd (formally St. Mary’s Hospital).
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