Eye floaters, or vision spots, are common, and many people experience them at some point. While they are generally harmless, they can be a source of frustration or concern.
Let’s explore the causes of eye floaters, their symptoms, and more specifically, astigmatism and eye floaters in contact lens wearers. We’ll also cover the treatment options available for floating white spots in vision and provide answers to some commonly asked questions related to eye floaters.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters are small, dark or translucent specks, lines, dots, strings, or cobweb-like shapes that appear in your field of vision and move as your eyes do. They are often most noticeable when looking at a plain or light-colored background, such as a clear sky or a white wall. Floaters are typically the result of clumps or strands of gel-like substance within the vitreous, the clear, jelly-like fluid inside your eye. These cast shadows on the retina, resulting in the vision spots you see.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
Understanding the underlying causes of eye floaters can help alleviate concerns. The most common reasons for the development of floaters include:
- Aging and Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)
As we age, the vitreous gel in the eye starts to become thicker and shrink. This process can lead to the formation of floaters as you become older. In some cases, the vitreous may pull away from the back of the eye, causing posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). This is a natural, harmless occurrence and is one of the most common causes of eye floaters. - Astigmatism and Eye Floaters
It has been suggested that people with intermediate to high levels of astigmatism may experience more frequent or noticeable floaters sooner than those without astigmatism. However, astigmatism does not directly cause floaters. - Eye Injury or Surgery
Injury to the eye or undergoing eye procedures such as cataract surgery or laser eye surgery (LASIK) can also lead to more floaters appearing. - Inflammation and Eye Conditions
Eye inflammation or eye infections can lead to the formation of dark floaters or floating white spots in vision. Conditions like uveitis that trigger inflammation can cause the vitreous to become more prone to clumping, resulting in floaters.
Symptoms of Eye Floaters and Spots
The most common symptoms of eye floaters include:
- Floating Specks: Small, dark, or translucent spots that drift across your vision.
- Cobwebs or Threads: Tiny string or cobweb-like structures that float in your visual field.
- Flashes of Light: Occasionally, flashes of light may accompany floaters.
Eye Floaters and Contact Lenses: What You Should Know
For individuals with eye floaters, wearing contact lenses, for example, contact lenses for astigmatism, or special designs like scleral lenses, can sometimes make them more noticeable. The lenses may amplify the contrast between the eye floaters and the surrounding visual field, making them appear more prominent due to having clearer, corrected vision.
However, when it comes to eye floaters and contact lenses, it’s worth noting that wearing lenses doesn’t directly cause floaters nor make them worse.
Treatment for Eye Floaters: When to Seek Help
Most eye floaters and accompanying flashes of light do not require treatment as they are harmless and don’t impact your vision significantly. However, it’s essential to differentiate between what you normally experience and a sudden and increased onset. This, along with a drop in vision or a dark shadow across your vision, could indicate something more serious, such as a retinal detachment or tear, which needs to be assessed and treated immediately to prevent vision loss.
Treatment Options
Laser treatment to break down floaters and make them less noticeable is possible, as is vitrectomy surgery to remove the vitreous gel from the eye. However, they are rarely performed as they carry risks, and there is no guarantee that they will make floaters disappear permanently or that new ones won’t appear in the future.
FAQ: Common Questions About Eye Floaters
Eye floaters or vision spots are lines, dots, or strings or cobweb-like shapes that appear in your vision and move with your eyes. They are caused by the shadow cast from clumps or strands of gel-like substance within the vitreous, which is the clear, jelly-like fluid inside your eye.
Astigmatism doesn’t directly cause eye floaters, but those with higher levels of astigmatism may be more likely to develop them earlier and more frequently.
Eye floaters can be caused by aging, PVD, eye injury or surgery, inflammation, and other eye conditions.
Yes, wearing contact lenses may make eye floaters more noticeable. The lenses can enhance the contrast, causing the floaters to appear more prominent.
If you suddenly experience an increase in eye floaters or flashes of light, sometimes along with a drop in vision and a dark shadow across your vision, seek immediate medical attention, as this may be a sign of a retinal detachment or another serious eye condition.