| Floaters are translucent dots and squiggles that | | | | forwards from the retina it will then cast a larger |
| waft to and fro within vision and in front of what | | | | more fuzzy shadow; making it look as if the |
| is being looked at. They are very common. They | | | | floater is bigger. |
| may be of any shape and can be difficult to | | | | Over time the fluid pockets trapped within the |
| describe. Terms like "a spider" or "a fly" or "a | | | | vitreous grow larger. This fluid may eventually |
| cobweb" or "frog spawn" are often used and | | | | break through to the outer surface of the gel. |
| they may appear so real that the affected | | | | This may happen suddenly and can cause a |
| individual may reach out to try and catch them. | | | | "flashes and floaters" disturbance to vision. Free |
| The fancy medical name for them is "Muscae | | | | fluid now surrounds the jelly part of the vitreous |
| Volitantes" which means flies that flit about. What | | | | which shrinks inwards and becomes much more |
| are they? | | | | mobile. As this slops around within the eye it may |
| The main internal cavity of the eye is filled with a | | | | bump the retina. This causes an electrical signal to |
| jelly like material called "the vitreous". This is | | | | pass to the brain and the individual "sees" a |
| mostly made up of water which is chemically | | | | momentary lightening like phantom flash of light, |
| linked to fine molecular stands. This arrangement | | | | usually to the outer side of vision. These flashes |
| gives the vitreous some structure. When we are | | | | are usually perceived after dark. They tend not to |
| children the vitreous is usually like a set, but | | | | be noticed during the day when other light drowns |
| wobbly, jelly. As we get older its structure | | | | them out. The flashes peter out over several |
| gradually changes. The fine strands tend to clump | | | | weeks because the gel shrinks even more and no |
| together more and some of the water forms | | | | longer bumps the retina. The floaters tend to |
| fluid pockets within the gel. Little by little the | | | | persist and there may be one very distinct and |
| vitreous becomes more sloshy. The strands within | | | | roughly circular floater that accompanies the |
| it can then move around more freely like a fine | | | | flashes. This is due to a ring like thread that used |
| net curtain in a gentle breeze. Floaters are more | | | | to be the bond between the vitreous and the |
| common in eyes that are short sighted. This is | | | | nerve of vision at the back of the eye but is now |
| because the vitreous is more fluid in this condition. | | | | free floating within the cavity of the eye. |
| The mobile strands within the vitreous are only | | | | This process where the vitreous becomes more |
| noticed if they happen to cross near the line of | | | | fluid and collapses is called "Posterior Vitreous |
| vision against a bright even background. This may | | | | Detachment (PVD)". Before a PVD happens the |
| be white paper, or a bright or evenly cloudy sky, | | | | outer surface of the vitreous is in contact with |
| or something similarly illuminated. If the person is | | | | the retina at the back of the eye. As the vitreous |
| looking at a complex mixed scene then the | | | | separates from the retina and shrinks inwards it |
| floaters tend to be lost amongst the details of | | | | should do so without disturbing the retina. |
| the scene. What is actually seen is the shadow | | | | However occasionally it can pull on the retina and |
| cast by the strand (floater) upon the retina. The | | | | tear it. This can then lead to a retinal detachment. |
| retina is the vital "seeing" layer that lines the back | | | | This is why the state of the retina should be |
| of the eye. Although the actual dimensions of a | | | | checked by an eye specialist if someone notices |
| floater within the vitreous may not change its | | | | the sudden appearance of new floaters. |
| appearance can. This may happen, for example, if | | | | As well as the normal strands within the vitreous, |
| its distance from the retina varies. If the floater is | | | | floaters can be caused by bleeding or |
| just in front of the retina it will cast a relatively | | | | inflammation within the eye. |
| small but sharp shadow. If it drifts further | | | | |