Floaters

While floaters can be harmless, they can be a symptom of a more serious eye condition, such as retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage, particularly if you suddenly experience a shower of new floaters, flashes of light, or a loss of peripheral vision. If you experience these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention from an ophthalmologist as soon as possible so they can assess the cause, and if you are a candidate to get them removed. 

Floaters in the eye are tiny specks or spots that appear in your field of vision. They may appear as small, dark, shadowy shapes, or as transparent, threadlike strands that drift across your vision. Floaters are typically most noticeable when you are looking at a plain, light-colored background, such as a white wall or a blue sky.

Floaters are caused by small, semi-transparent clumps of gel or cells in the vitreous, the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the eye. As we age, the vitreous can shrink and become more liquid, causing the clumps to cast shadows on the retina, which we perceive as floaters.