Floaters
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Before going in to the details here it must be said that if you notice Floaters or Flashers you must consult your optician immediately.
Floaters are deposits of various sizes which reside in the Vitreous Humour pictured above. The Vitreous Humour is the fluid like gel that fills the eye.
Usually floaters are caused when the Vitreous Humour shrinks. This causes the Collagen in the Vitreous Humour to breakdown in to what we call Fibrils (Floaters) they tend to be few and linear in form.
However, floaters can be caused in many other ways such as Retinal Detachments, Posterior Vitreous Detachments, Retinal Tears, Cataract Operations or Trauma to the eye to name a few.
They can appear in various shapes and sizes. However, if you notice a sudden appearance of floaters you MUST consult your optician immediately as this could be the signs of a retinal detachment and could easily lead to blindness.
Normally there is no treatment for floaters. Procedures such as a Vitrectomy (a procedure to remove some or all of the Vitreous Humour from the eye) are not normally justified due to the complications and potential for causing blindness, bearing in mind most people live and get used to floaters as time goes by, In fact some have become so used to them that they just don’t notice them anymore.
To summarise floaters come in many different shapes, sizes and causes so needless to say the only person who can inform you of your particular condition is your optician. If for some reason you feel that your optician has not explained your situation clearly enough simply ask them to go over it again I am sure they will be happy to help.
Please feel free to leave comments. However, any concerns you have regarding floaters really must be directed to your optician. Obviously I cannot diagnose or offer advice on floaters over the internet apart from the fact that if you notice floaters contact your optician immediately.
Many Thanks
Mark Bowden
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August 11th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
thanks mark very informative blog about floaters
August 12th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Thanks for the floater information. I saw optician when first noticed and was reassured. Now no longer aware of them but they are still there if I concentrate and look for them! Great mails we receive from you, always informative without being scary.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:51 am
My optician said that if a floater is “in your way”, to move your eye to one side to allow the floater to move and then quickly move your eye back to normal position. It does seem to help.
August 16th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I sometimes have zig-zag flashing lasting a few minutes. Do your comments about floaters apply to these as well? Are these what you mean by “flashers”?
August 17th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
All this ruddy adivice : go see your doctor, check up on this , that, t’other, watch when you pee is it purple (ooops) you off
BUT..
100 needless visits won’t cancel a missed needed one.
I’ve had short sight and floaters i was told not to worry about since childhood. I NEVER KNEW SHORT SIGHT CAN PHYSICALLY BE ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAS THAT CAN TEAR AND DETACH MORE READILY UNDER THE RIGHT STREESS
9 years ago a blackboard fell on me sideways( Some anonamous git’s idea of a funny boobytrap)
A hospital casualty dept just laughed at my concerns- ididnt know if it were head or back causing what problems, I didnt have a broken back , they said, nor brain damage, take paracetamol and get an appointment with a traumaytologist
In fact I had impacted lumbar vertebra and a smmall fracture at the back of the neck, plus one torn and 2 detching retinas. Waiting for the appointment with the traumatologist, I didnt get to an oftalmologist until there were swarms of floaters a few days on.
Only just in time!
Treatment started imediately after diagnosis, 3 days with medication in exactly the same odd position 24hrs/day, then laser stitches, I was 3 months off work, long story.
Moral:
1.It’d be worse to go blind once than feel a stupid nana 100 times by a specialist telling you you’re worrying unneecessarily.
2. Gotta feeling that not only that one hospital at that moment got overworked doctors dont think to check up on retinal tears and detachments.
3. I had a nasty bang, Just in the right direction,
God bless you all
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Sir,
Thanks for information, It is really usefull
I am a 35 year old Healthy Indian (Except Flotters).
I just cant understand why these flotters come to me even if I used to follow Health Life Style. Sometimes i think that mt CRT Monitor is responsible for this… totaly confused why I conveived it, what wrong I did?
I noticed flotters 4 months ago and saught advice from 3 specialist doctors but none of them could convinced me, actually it is hard to accept the fact that now onwards they will live with me till rest of my life
Should I give up the hope that some day they will go away in the same way they came. I know there is no treatment for flotters, but still can’t Healhy Living, Healthy Diet, Physical Excercises etc. remove them
Is there any instance that flotters gone from someone’s life?
I would be obliged is I get a reply from you
Thanks & regards
January 17th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
ive had these floaters for years i thought they were normal but now theyre getting anoying so im going to go to the opticians plus have banged my head very hard once or twice when i was younger also never been to opticians in my life
January 28th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
i had my first eye floater last summer an its really annoying i now have about 3 i have now plucked up the courage to see someone about cause im scared it could be serious.ive read up about it and most serious cases it can be cancer,has this ever happened to anyone.can anyone tell me a good out come to make me feei better before i go get it checked
January 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Dear Loui
Thank you.
Please do not be concerned floaters can be quite common.
However, you have done the right thing by booking in with your optician. Im sure everything will be ok for you.
For anyone else reading this you must consult your optician if you notice floaters. Sure use the internet to find out more about your condition but the first port of call should be booking in with your optician.
Mark Bowden
February 18th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Hi to everybody who is experiencing floaters.I have just returned from my opticians for my eye test,i was quite concerned about my “arms not been long enough to read a paper.”So i am now officially long sighted,and suffering with “floaters”.
I have been re assured that it is quite common,and although in some cases it can be serious,im not that concerned,nor is my optition.
I cant believe that upto around midday today,i didnt know anybody else was suffering with floaters,or even that there was a clinical term for the ilness.Maybe that was my ignorance,because i stumbled on this great site after being quoted nearly £100 for a basic pair of glasses,before today i didnt have any reason to search for a spectacle website.
Im so pleased my search engine got me here,im no longer worried about my eyes,or the cost of new glasses (here you can get designer spex for the same price as basic glasses at your local optician)and online advise from other people who understand your anxieties.
Sorry if this is a long post,but im so pleased i no longer have the worries of pre eye test times.I would urge anyone to get an appointment for an eye test if they have any worries,then bring your prescription to this site,save pounds and have a weight lifted from your shoulders.
Thank you for taking the time to read this(my first novel)!!
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I am a 73 year male, Years ago I had a floater in the left eye which over time faded until it went unnoticed.
However on Monday of this week I suddenly got some floaters in my right eye, also I get in the dark quick flashes to the right side.
I went to the Doctor who could not find anything a miss, I came away not feeling to happy, so I went to the optishioins who gave my eyes a good examination, he could not find anything wrong.He said that in time the problem should improve.
I might add I only wear Glasses for reading.
Question how long would you say I will have to put up with the problem before it deminishes
regards
John
May 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Hi,
I am 39, and first noticed 1 small black floater last August (at the time I had began to suffer with Blepharitis & Dry Eye i.e feeling of something in your eye, and sore eyes on waking).
Since that time, I have developed numerous floaters in both eyes, some clear, some black, all different shapes which swirl around my eyes all day especially in bright light.
My reading vision and sight test is excellent though (can read the bottom line of the chart), which is one thing I suppose - and shows they don’t really affect your sight as such.
Anyway, the original floater was diagnosed by my Optician - but with the vast increase of them, I was referred to the eye department of my local hospital.
A thorough detailed examination was conducted, whereby I was told that my retinas were healthy, and that the floaters were just “age related and one of those things”, and that in time your brain will just learn to ignore them.
I was also advised to do this regular test, which I would suggest to anyone suffering from this condition. It is a test to make sure that your retinas are not detaching, which if they are you MUST IMMEDIATELY GET TO A HOSPITAL ….
Look at a white blank wall, cover one eye, make sure you can see the whole wall with that eye, no black curtain at either edge, do the same with your other eye, again make sure no black curtain at either side. (if you can see a black edge, get to your Hospital!). Apart from that, I was told, no they can’t be cured, vitamins don’t help and that your sight (if your retinas remain healthy), will not be affected by these floaters. (which is true in my experience).
I do know how you all feel, I have gone from trouble free, fab vision, to this irritating problem. But, there is nothing to be done except work around them, and keep going to your Dr if you’ve any concerns … I agree with everyone who says, don’t self diagnose, PLEASE GET PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU DECIDE YOU JUST HAVE HARMLESS FLOATERS - YOUR VISION IS PRECIOUS AND CAN NOT BE RESTORED ONCE GONE.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I have had a floater now for about six weeks and didn’t know what it was until I went to the optician.
Had an eye test today and she said yes you have a floater but was really very unhelpful in explaining exactly what it was, what causes it and if anything can be done about it. Her main interest seemed to be in selling me a pair of varifocals which I personally don’t think I need.
In view of my having had eye surgery in the past I do think this should have been looked at more thoroughly and am going to make an appointment to see my doctor.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I must thank you for all the information on floaters I first noticed mine on holiday two months ago and really beleived there was a hair in my eyes I had not even heard of floaters until my doctor explained but is there really anything to help ? lots of sales on the Website but do they help. good luck to everyone
Julie
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I Have noticed ”floaters” in my right eye off and on for a few years, but very tiny and went within a few hours, Last week they seem to get worse and have stayed ‘put’ so I went to the local A & E Dept. Eye was examined by a ‘Casualty Doctor who thinks it is ”age related” but has referred me to the Eye clinic tomorrow. which I am happy about. and hopefully will have a good examination with my eye been dilated. Fingers crossed
Veronica.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I have had floaters for a few years now, im 23 this year and I have been using computers every day of my life (not sure if this could be a cause) but I cant see how they can say its age related when Im not that old.
February 21st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Ive had eye floaters since i was about 5 and i am 18 now … so how can it be age related? im so confused, my brain eventually tuned them out though but it was often fun to play with them and chase them and i still do sometimes when im bored. They dont obstruct my vision or anything so i dont think it is a cause for concern.
March 14th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
i always understood black floaters was a sign of high bloos preasure but there no mention of that on your web site would love to know if this is true or false info yours gratfully ann
March 31st, 2009 at 10:33 am
FLOATERS
A really excelent article, written in a manner that is easily understood without feeling you have been patronised.
Thanks a lot.
BJT
March 31st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
NOT ABOUT GLOATERS!! bu Snooker gloasses.
I sent my prescription to you on the 25th of March following emails to which no one answered until recently.
I still await a reply to that of the 25th. I sm wondering if anyone will read this?
Noel G Nelson.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Yes good advice.I had floaters and thought little about them but luckily I visited opticians -was told to give it a week or so then see doctor.phoned Moorfields ,told to come in,they found detached retinas in both eyes and did immediate laser treatment. Told me I nearly left it too late and in future never ignore symptoms -they should know.Sight is so precious and it came home to me then-very scary.So dont hesitate-get it checked by pros.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I discovered floaters in one eye and, on visiting the optician, discovered a cateract had formed from an eye injury I suffered over 60 years before!!!
I’ve since had cateracts removed from both eyes and my vision is better than I can ever remember.
Don’t delay if YOU have floaters, it could make all the difference and if you require cateract removal, take it from me, it’s far less traumatic than a visit to the dentist!!
Thank you, Mark, for making folk aware of it.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Hi, so you have moved now to Merseyside! I am coming to Merseyside in June to visit my sister in Liverpool. We will be going out a lot and we may come your way. Would it be OK if I called in to see you on the off chance?
I liked the article about the floaters. A friend of mine had this trouble just recently and she did nothing about ti for a few days not knowing the seriousness of it. Turned out she had a detached retina and had to have an operation on her eye which was quite painful and some laser treatment too. It is fine now so this might put someone’s mind at rest if they read it!
She was told that she could have gone blind in that eye if she had not gone to the optician when she did. Regards, Daphne
April 1st, 2009 at 10:51 am
hi interesting and easy 2 understand xept what is transmissability? also do u mean that 4 night driving antireflect may increase glare?[dont worry my last 2 pairs from u didnt have as i found previously this seemed 2 b the cse] thanks 4 ur honesty regards tony
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:55 am
Hi Daphne - definitely come and see us !
As we say in the article, floaters are quite common, but you have to be aware of any changes, or sudden awareness of them - alwats consult your optician straight away if something changes, you just cannot be too careful with your eyes.
Your optician is happy to see 1000 “false alarms” to save a single sight.
remember that !
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Couldn’t find ‘viatrous’ in the dictionary when reading about floaters. I have two marks that move across the page when I read . [in certain conditions and I can ignore them] Optitions can’t find them but say oh it must be floaters. When I was a young man about 18 [now 77] I had a small piece of copper lodged in my eye which was removed under anasthetic I have always believed what I am seeing is the scar shadow. any views?
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 am
This is a very useful sight and glad I came across it as I thought I was the only one to suffer from these.
One thing I wanted to ask was does anyone else get headaches with the floaters??? I started to get headaches and then the floaters came along, I’ve gone to the optician and she couldn’t see any problems with my eyes and there was no retinal tear. I’ve had these headaches on and off for 3 weeks now and it’s starting to get annoying.
Regards Jo
April 8th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Colin - apologies for the typo; I meant vitrous (the humour of the eye)
April 8th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
done it again……….vitreous
April 20th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I recently had a kick in the face at football and since then I have had a floater in my left eye. It is driving me mad as it’s almost in the centre of vision. Everytime It appears my eyes try to focus on it giving me headaches, I went to the optician and they say theres nothing they can do about it
Do they dissapear or move position in the eye over time? (if it would move a bit it wouldnt be so bad) I really hope so 
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
When I first had symptoms of floaters people must have thought I was the mad woman of Shiloh. I was waving my arms around trying to waft away the damn fly that wouldn’t leave me alone. When it turned into a spider web formation I finally told my optician who laughrd and then explained.
Now I don’t know if I’m being dive bombed by flies or not in the summer but hey, now I know about floaters WHO THE HELL CARES?
June 14th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
6 months ago, I discovered I was able to see star burst in the light. I went to eye doctor, but he wasn’t able to understand what problem I have.So I started to live with it, now after 6 months I have started getting floaters. I’m 24 years old, so what age has anything to do with it guy of my age. I’m a healthy person.Floaters are large in my left eye and very few in my right eye. I read some where, it happens because of UV light rays. So now I have started wearing UV protected sun glasses, when ever I go out. There are so many products that are on the internet,ebooks that claims to remove floaters, but don’t know whether they are geniune. I some times had a very light pain in my left eye. The pain was so light, I wasn’t able to detect. I read some where on the internet, the person wrote I had a severe eye pain, the next day I started to see floaters. So I thought, from now on. I will try to notice if I get pain. I think, it’s now psychological issue, I think the pain is there or might not be in my effected left eye, but still I think I can feel it. You know it’s all psychological feelings. You starts getting it. It’s like you tell a kid, there lives a monster the next door, he would start getting afraid and after few nights, would even tell you, how he felt the monster and few noises of it.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:20 am
I have had floaters since I was around 10. Very scared at that age went to doctors. Told they would disintegrate after a while. I am now 43 and they haven’t gone yet! Also suffer from ocular migrane, which is a pain sometimes. What is really scaring me at the moment is my latest eye related “problem”. Against light, be it sky or monitor, I can see a many specs bouncing around my sight inwhat I can only describe as brownian motion. They don’t act or move like floaters and the many eye doctors I have been to see cannot see any physical problems with my eyes. I still have 20-20 vision. Any one else had this? Is it a problem connected with the previously mentioned ocular migrane?
June 24th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Umar - if you get star bursts/flashing lights followed by floaters - that can be a sign of a detached retina, especially if you have had a recent injury. So you need to make an urgent appointment with your eye doctor/optometrist
June 24th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Gary - one possible explanation for your description could be that your own blood corpuscles in very thin cappiliaries on the retina are casting a shadow on the retina in bright light - which is what you can see.
If your floaters significantly change or increase, that can be an indicator of eye damage - and also if you see visual disturbance (such as flashing lights) that are completely different to your “migrane” - you should have that checked by an eye doctor/optometrist.
June 26th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Thanks Mark - I have regular eye exams with the pictures. I saw an eye specialist half way through last year and he could not find anything wrong. He must have tried every machine in his room because I was there for quite a while.
July 20th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Could photocopying my face (to be funny) (not so funny on reflection), even with eyes closed, caused my floaters? Why are they see through?
And why has noone mention the YAG laser treatment? I’ve heard its helped a lot of people cure their floaters. Theres a guy here in london who does it…
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:27 am
photocopying your face is not recommended - but has not been known to cause floaters
July 31st, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Iam suffering floaters since 2000 and it causes me Migraine on the right eye and I can see little floaters on the left eye but it is not like the right one.
So I want to know if there is a relationship between Floaters and Migraine. And I want to know if you being seen any patient before suffering from Floaters and Migraine together. And finally I would like to know if I can have the treatment by laser safely.
August 17th, 2009 at 7:21 am
My floater is right in my line of sight, looking at my oct scan it is right infront of the fovea? And only a few mm away. I thought floaters drifted about, but this is black and doesn’t move. My eyes also ache but think this is because of me chasing it all the time. Hopefully one day a virectomy will be a risk free procedure
August 27th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Mahdi - There is no link between floaters and migraine. Migraine often gives a visual disturbance but not black spots like floaters.
Laser seems to be a very safe procedure but like any procedure it can never be 100% guaranteed, but floaters do not add to the risk.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
JJ - A vitrectomy is an extremely risky procedure which would not be advised if your only issue is floaters
September 16th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Hi I’m 17. as far as I know I’ve never suffered any significant head trauma. I do wear strong lenses in my glasses and I’m a frequent PC user, TV viewer and I’ve seen a few floaters in my vision. not sure if its the same one or not. it just drifts back and forth occasionally. Especially if I’m looking at the sky. I’m a bit nervous about these things and I’m considering seeing an Optician. Should I worry? I’m concerned about it being something serious. I’ve undergone 4 surgical procedures for my leg in the last 18 months to correct a birth defect could that be related?
September 25th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Keiron - it is highly unlikey to be connected with your surgery, and is almost certainly nothing to be concerned about. If it changes significantly, or you experience blurred vision, headaches or any change in symptom - then I would advise to see your optician.
If you are concerned however - it is always a good idea to consult and get your eyes tested……………it can’t hurt
October 20th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I’m a 62 yr old male and a golfer. I had problems with floaters whilst on the golf course on occasional mornings and couldn’t see to hit the ball. I went to the GP and had tests at the local hospital but none of them provided an answer until recently it happened again on the golf course. I apologised to my playing partners and one of them said,” I’ve had a similar problem in the past. It’s a form of migraine. Have you got anything sweet with you?” The only thing I had was a bottle of juice so I tried a swig of that and was soon elated to feel the floaters disappearing - the answer, it seems, had been lack of breakfast and low blood sugar levels. I advise any sufferers to try a sweet drink to see if it works for them.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
I am concerned about my good friend who just got partly blind with floater. He is 44 and unable to read the book, watching Tv or to drive the car. He is depression at the moment, I want to helping out as been reading some information about floaters, most said it is harmless and unlikely cause to be blind. He felt that his life is on hold while waiting for appointment at hospital, He sound like his vision is getting worse, is that true he could be permanet vision problem or will it be fade away?
His descride about lot of floater in center of his eyes mean he had great difficulty with visual. Will it ever to solve the problem and back to normal even if he get a lot less floaters?
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
David - your friend needs to go and see his doctor. Substantial changes in vision acuity is always a concern even for floaters.