Floaters are little “cobwebs” or specks that float about in your field of vision. They are small, dark, shadowy shapes that can look like spots, thread-like strands or squiggly lines. They move as your eyes move and seem to dart away when you try to look at them directly. They do not follow your eye movements precisely, and usually drift when your eyes stop moving. In most cases, floaters are part of the natural aging process and simply an annoyance. They can be distracting at first, but eventually tend to “settle” at the bottom of the eye, becoming less bothersome. They usually settle below the line of sight and do not go away completely, Most people have floaters and learn to ignore them; they are usually not noticed until they become numerous or more prominent. Floaters can become apparent when looking at something bright, such as white paper or a blue sky.

Floaters occur when the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills about 80 percent of the eye and helps it maintain a round shape, slowly shrinks. As the vitreous shrinks, it becomes somewhat stringy, and the strands can cast tiny shadows on the retina. These are floaters. Floaters are more likely to develop as we age and are more common in people who are very nearsighted, have diabetes, or who have had a cataract operation. There are other, more serious causes of floaters, including infection, inflammation (uveitis), haemorrhaging, retinal teats, and injury to the eye.

Sometimes a section of the vitreous pulls the fine fibres away from the retina all at once, rather than gradually, causing may new floaters or one large central floater to appear suddenly. This is called a vitreous detachment. In most cases is not sight-threatening and requires no treatment. A sudden increase in floaters, possible accompanied by light flashes or peripheral (side) vision loss, could indicate a retinal tear or retinal detachment. A retinal detachment is a serious condition and should always be considered an emergency. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent visual impairment or even blindness in the eye. Those who experience a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light in peripheral vision, or loss of a peripheral vision should have an eye care professional examine their eyes as soon as possible.

For people who have floaters that are simply annoying no treatment is recommended.