| Eye floaters often appear as spots or flashes in | | | | see your eye doctor right away to rule out a |
| front of the eye when it fact there is nothing | | | | torn retina. |
| there. This is because the actual cause of the | | | | It's also important to see your eye doctor if you |
| floater lies inside the eye itself. Floaters happen | | | | notice any other symptoms such as loss of vision |
| naturally as a person gets older when the vitreous | | | | to the side or any vision loss in one eye. If a torn |
| gel inside the eye starts to shrink or thicken. This | | | | retina is not treated, it can lead to retina |
| can form clumps or strands in the eye which you | | | | becoming detached from the back of the eye. |
| see as floaters. | | | | Since floaters can be a symptom of this, it's |
| So how serious are these floaters and what can | | | | important to have them looked at right away. |
| be done about them? If the shrinking gel pulls | | | | Other floaters are harmless and will usually fade |
| away from the wall of the eye, it can cause the | | | | over time. While they may be slightly annoying |
| retina to tear which is a problem. Sometimes this | | | | and they can make you nervous if you don't |
| can cause a small amount of bleeding in the eye | | | | know what they are, they won't actually cause |
| which also presents itself as floaters. | | | | any harm. However, you should always have |
| A torn retina can lead to retinal detachment so it | | | | floaters checked out, even if you've had them for |
| is a condition that should always be taken | | | | years, to be sure they are harmless and not a |
| seriously. If you see sudden flashes of light or if | | | | symptom of a torn retina. |
| any mew floater appears suddenly, you should | | | | |