Eye floaters are a common visual phenomenon that many people notice but often misunderstand. They can appear as tiny spots, threads, squiggly lines, or cobweb-like shapes drifting across your vision. Floaters become especially noticeable against bright backgrounds, such as a clear sky or a white wall, and they seem to move as your eyes move, often darting away when you try to focus on them. Some floaters stay in one place, while others drift around, and in some cases, people may also notice flashes of light, Healthline notes.
In fact, eye floaters are tiny bits of protein called collagen that float in the gel at the back of your eye, called the vitreous. As you get older, these fibers shrink and clump together, casting small shadows on your retina, or the floaters that you see.
If floaters or flashes appear suddenly or increase a lot, it’s important to see an eye doctor.
These phenomena are most common at people aged 50 to 75, nearsighted people, or those who has had cataract surgery. While they are harmless most of the time, it’s important to know when to check with a doctor.
In case the floaters and flashes are accompanied by vision loss it can be a sign of more serious conditions such as eye infections, inflammation (uveitis), retinal tears or detachment, vitreous haemorrhage, or migraines.
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