Understanding floaters

Those little squiggles in your vision.

Floaters are those drifting specks, lines, or cobwebs you see especially against plain backgrounds. Usually harmless — but sometimes a warning sign. Here's how to tell the difference.

What's happening

Your eye's gel is changing.

Most of your eye is filled with a clear gel called vitreous. With age, parts of this gel liquefy and tiny fibers clump together, casting shadows on your retina — that's what you see as floaters.

Almost everyone develops floaters eventually, especially after age 50. They're usually harmless. But a sudden burst of new floaters, flashes, or a shadow can mean the gel is tugging on the retina — and that needs urgent care.

What helps

Here's the plan —
and why it works.

Most cases

Reassurance + monitoring

Long-standing floaters without new symptoms need no treatment. Your brain adapts.

Prevention

Watch for warning signs

New floaters, flashes, or a shadow = call immediately. Early retinal tear repair prevents detachment.

Rare option

YAG laser vitreolysis

Breaks up large, bothersome floaters. Good candidates are rare but can have excellent results.

Severe

Vitrectomy surgery

Surgical removal of vitreous gel. Reserved for floaters that truly impair vision.

Call us TODAY if

You see a sudden shower of new floaters, repeated flashes of light, a dark shadow or curtain across your vision, or sudden vision loss. These can signal a retinal tear or detachment — an emergency.

Common questions

Honest answers to common questions.

Are floaters dangerous?+

Usually no. Long-standing floaters that come and go are typically harmless age-related changes. It's the *new, sudden* floaters — especially with flashes of light — that need urgent evaluation.

Will they go away?+

They don't vanish, but your brain learns to ignore them over weeks to months. Most people stop noticing them unless they look at plain backgrounds.

Can floaters be removed?+

For severely bothersome floaters, vitrectomy (removes the vitreous gel) or YAG laser vitreolysis can help. These carry risks, so they're reserved for cases where floaters truly impair daily function.

What about flashes of light?+

Flashes mean the vitreous is tugging on your retina. Occasional quick flashes are usually harmless, but frequent flashes — especially with new floaters — mean we need to check for a retinal tear right away.

Does screen time cause floaters?+

No, but bright white backgrounds make existing floaters more visible. They were likely there before, you just notice them now.