What to do if you start seeing eye floaters are small spots, threads, cobwebs, or shadows that seem to drift across your vision. They’re often caused by normal changes in the eye’s vitreous gel,ers
Eye floaters are small spots, threads, cobwebs, or shadows that seem to drift across your vision. They’re often caused by normal changes in the eye’s vitreous gel, particularly with aging, and many are harmless.
But new or suddenly increasing floaters can sometimes signal a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which can threaten vision.
🚨 Get urgent eye care if you notice:
-
A sudden shower of new floaters
-
Flashes of light, especially in peripheral vision
-
A dark curtain, veil, or shadow moving across your vision
-
A sudden missing area or significant reduction in vision
-
New floaters after an eye injury or eye surgery
These symptoms warrant same-day emergency eye evaluation. A retinal tear can sometimes be treated before it progresses to retinal detachment.
If the floaters are mild and longstanding
If you’ve had a few stable floaters for a long time and your vision hasn’t changed, they’re often benign. Still, mention persistent floaters during a routine eye examination, particularly if you’re older, very nearsighted, have diabetes, or have previously had retinal problems.
Don’t try to treat floaters with eye drops, supplements, or home remedies. Most harmless floaters don’t require treatment, while significant persistent floaters can occasionally be treated by an ophthalmologist after an appropriate examination.
Most important: if a floater appeared suddenly today—especially together with flashes or a curtain-like shadow—don’t wait to see whether it goes away. Get your eyes examined urgently.
