SymptomEyes & vision
Floaters: Spots in Your Vision and When to Worry
Floaters are small specks, dots, threads or cobwebs that drift across your vision, most noticeable against a bright sky or white wall. They are shadows cast on the retina by clumps in the eye's vitreous gel, and most are a harmless part of aging. A sudden increase in floaters, especially with flashes of light or a dark curtain or shadow in your vision, can signal a retinal tear or detachment and needs a same-day eye exam.
Also called: Eye floaters, spots in vision, specks in vision, cobwebs in vision
At a glance
- What they are
- Shadows from clumps or strands in the vitreous gel inside the eye.
- Most common cause
- Age-related liquefaction of the vitreous and posterior vitreous detachment.
- Danger signs
- A sudden shower of new floaters, flashes, a curtain or shadow, or vision loss.
- What to do
- Same-day dilated eye exam for any sudden change.
- Treatment
- Usually none; long-standing floaters often become less noticeable.
When to get help
Call 911 or go to the ER
- A dark curtain, shadow or veil spreading across part of your vision
- Sudden loss of vision in one eye
- Floaters after a blow to the eye or head with blurred vision
See a doctor within a day or two
- A sudden shower of new floaters, like pepper or soot, even without other symptoms (same-day eye exam)
- New flashes of light at the edge of vision, especially with new floaters
- New floaters with eye pain, redness or light sensitivity
- New floaters in someone very nearsighted, after cataract surgery, or with diabetes
Book a routine appointment
- A gradual increase in floaters over months
- Floaters that interfere with reading or driving
Usually safe to manage at home
- A few long-standing floaters that have not changed, with normal vision
What floaters look like
People describe floaters as:
- dots, specks or circles
- threads, squiggly lines or strands
- cobwebs or a ring (a Weiss ring after the gel separates)
- a translucent "fly" that moves when the eye moves
They follow your eye movements but lag behind and drift when you try to look straight at them. They are most visible against plain bright backgrounds, such as blue sky, a computer screen or a white page.
Why floaters happen
The space inside the eye between the lens and retina is filled with a clear gel called the vitreous. With age, the gel slowly liquefies and its collagen fibers clump. These clumps cast shadows on the retina, which you see as floaters.
Around age 50 to 70, the vitreous commonly pulls away from the back of the eye. This is called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). It often causes a sudden new large floater and brief flashes of light. PVD is normal and usually harmless, but in about 1 in 7 people with symptoms, the pulling gel tears the retina.
Causes of floaters
Harmless causes
- Age-related vitreous changes: the most common cause.
- Nearsightedness (myopia): the vitreous changes earlier in longer eyeballs, so floaters are common in younger nearsighted people.
- After cataract surgery: PVD is more likely afterward.
Serious causes
- Retinal tear: a sudden shower of floaters and flashes. Tears can be sealed with laser if caught early.
- Retinal detachment: floaters and flashes followed by a curtain or shadow spreading across vision. It needs surgery, usually within days.
- Vitreous hemorrhage: bleeding into the gel, seen as many dark spots, a red haze or cobwebs. Causes include diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears and vein blockages.
- Uveitis: inflammation inside the eye, with floaters, blurred vision, pain, redness or light sensitivity.
- Eye infections and injury.
Floaters vs flashes vs migraine aura
| Symptom | What it is | Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Floaters | Shadows from vitreous clumps | Sudden increase needs same-day exam |
| Flashes | Brief light streaks from the gel tugging the retina, often at the edge of vision | New flashes need same-day exam |
| Migraine aura | Shimmering zigzag lines spreading over 5 to 60 minutes, often in both eyes, then fading | Usually not an eye problem; see a doctor if new or unusual |
| Curtain or shadow | Detached retina blocking vision | Emergency |
How floaters are checked
An optometrist or ophthalmologist will put drops in your eyes to widen the pupils (dilate them) and examine the vitreous and the whole retina, including the far edges, with special lenses. Dilation blurs vision for a few hours, so arrange not to drive. Ultrasound of the eye is used if blood blocks the view. If no tear is found after a new PVD, you may be asked to return in 4 to 6 weeks, because tears can still develop.
What to do about floaters
Most floaters need no treatment. Over weeks to months the brain learns to ignore them, and they may settle out of the line of sight. Moving your eyes up and down can shift a floater temporarily.
For the rare person whose floaters seriously impair vision, options are discussed on our page about eye floaters as a condition, including vitrectomy and laser.
Frequently asked questions
When should I worry about floaters?
Worry and get a same-day eye exam if floaters appear suddenly or increase sharply, especially with flashes of light, a shadow or curtain in your vision, or blurred vision. These can be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which needs prompt treatment to protect sight.
Are eye floaters normal?
Yes. Most people have a few floaters, and they become more common with age and nearsightedness. Long-standing floaters that have not changed are harmless. It is a sudden change in the number or type of floaters that needs checking.
Can floaters go away?
Floaters rarely disappear completely, but they often become less noticeable over weeks to months as they settle lower in the eye and the brain learns to ignore them. A large floater from a recent vitreous detachment often fades considerably.
Can stress or lack of sleep cause floaters?
Stress and tiredness do not create floaters, but you may notice existing ones more when you are tired, anxious or looking at screens. A sudden new shower of floaters should never be blamed on stress without an eye exam.
Why do I see black spots in my vision?
Black spots that drift are usually floaters from the vitreous gel. Many dark spots appearing suddenly can mean bleeding inside the eye or a retinal tear. Fixed spots that do not move with your eye may be a problem with the retina or optic nerve and need an eye exam.
Sources
This guide was written from current patient and clinical guidance, including:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology: What are floaters and flashes?
- National Eye Institute: Floaters
- NHS: Floaters and flashes in the eyes
- American Society of Retina Specialists: Floaters and flashes
- MedlinePlus: Floaters