| Have you ever had black spots in your vision & | | | | begins to break down & liquefy, it eventually |
| wondered what they were or if you should be | | | | collapses in on itself & pulls away from it's |
| concerned? Essentially, there are only a handful of | | | | attachment to the tissues within the eye; namely, |
| things that can cause black spots in your vision. | | | | the optic nerve head, macula, and peripheral retina. |
| The main are "floaters", an intermittent and | | | | A problem arises, when the vitreous pulls so hard |
| temporary lack of adequate blood supply to the | | | | that when it detaches, it results in a hole, break, |
| eye, and a retinal break. We will talk briefly about | | | | or tear developing in the retina of the eye. This is |
| each and help you to better understand them. | | | | an eye emergency as liquid can seep underneath |
| Floaters. We've all had them at some point. For | | | | the retina, leading to a retinal detachment. Usually |
| those lucky few, who perhaps haven't yet, count | | | | a retinal break is accompanied with similar, but |
| your blessings! It is only a matter of time | | | | very different symptoms. The most common is |
| however until you too develop floaters. So what | | | | an acute (or sudden) onset of black spots in one |
| exactly are they? Floaters are a layman term for | | | | eye, a curtain, veil, or part of your vision missing |
| vitreal degeneration or a posterior vitreal | | | | or distorted, or photopsia (lightening bolts or |
| detachment. They are the result of a natural | | | | streaks of light that are persistent in one area; |
| breakdown of the vitreous gel within the posterior | | | | many patients describe this as analogous to an |
| vitreous of our your eye. Imagine a ball of jelly | | | | electrical storm). If you experience any of these |
| that begins to liquefy over time. As it breaks | | | | symptoms, you should see your eye doctor |
| apart, clumps or pieces of it float within the | | | | (optometrist or ophthalmologist) IMMEDIATELY. |
| aqueous portion of the vitreous, casting a shadow | | | | Do not eat or drink anything, just drive in to the |
| upon the retina as it floats in front of it. They are | | | | nearest eye doctor. If you have had a retinal |
| typically translucent or partially opaque, but can be | | | | detachment, there is a window of time in which it |
| seen through. Most, though not all, move with | | | | can be successfully repaired and time is of the |
| your eye movements as they float freely in the | | | | essence to ensure the best outcome. |
| liquid vitreous. Some may partially block your view | | | | Black spots can also be caused by a temporary |
| as you look straight ahead. Typically, they are | | | | and inadequate blood supply to the eye. If you |
| more noticeable under fluorescent lighting, when | | | | suffer from low blood pressure and have ever |
| surrounded by a white or lightly colored room, or | | | | risen quickly from a chair, you know the |
| while reading. The good news, is that typically | | | | lightheaded feeling and black spots that often |
| they subside with time and your brain learns to | | | | result. Similarly, if you suffer from ocular |
| ignore them. | | | | migraines, you may experience black spots or |
| Breakdown of the vitreous is a normal part of | | | | parts of your vision that are missing and then |
| aging and floaters are usually a benign (or | | | | come back and blotchy patterns. If you |
| non-worrisome) finding. If however, you notice a | | | | experience these symptoms you should see your |
| new floater all of a sudden in one eye, this can | | | | eye doctor and primary care physician to rule out |
| carry a higher risk for a problem with the retina. | | | | serious underlying pathology. |
| If we make the analogy of the eye to a camera, | | | | In closing, there are several things that can cause |
| your retina is analogous to the film in the camera; | | | | you to see black spots in your vision. Each of |
| without it functioning correctly, you will not have | | | | these, warrant a discussion and thorough |
| the necessary components to create a clear | | | | examination by an eye care professional. They |
| picture. When someone notices a sudden, new | | | | should not be taken lightly. After all, the eyes you |
| floater, it is called an acute posterior vitreal | | | | were born with are the only two you will ever |
| detachment. This carries a higher risk for a | | | | have! Over seventy percent of your external |
| problem with your retina and you should see an | | | | stimuli comes from your vision. Your eyes are a |
| eye doctor for a thorough, dilated fundus (or | | | | valuable commodity you should not easily take |
| retinal) exam as soon as possible. As the vitreous | | | | lightly. |