Floaters & Flashes

Eye Conditions

What are Floaters and Flashes?

Almost everyone occasionally experiences the sensation of black spots floating in their field of vision.  These spots usually come and go and are usually seen in the same eye.  Floaters develop when small flecks of protein become trapped in the vitreous duing the formation of the eye before birth.  These particals remain in a person's vitreous during their lifetime and are occasionally seen as spots or floaters.

Flashes are bright points of light (similar to a camera flash) that flash into the field of vision when the eyelid is closed.  Flashes come and go in an instant and normally occur in only one eye at a time. Flashes develop as one grows older and the center cavity of the eye begins to shrink.  This causes the vitreous to pull away from the retina.  The vitreous detachment process creates occasional bright bursts of light or flashes that are seen when the eyes are closed. Flashes are sympomatic of vitreous detachment or serious eye disorders.

Both floaters and flashes can be harmless symptoms of aging eyes; or they can be indicators of a serious eye disorder such as retinal tears or retinal detachments.

Treatment for Floaters, Flashes & Vitreous Detachment

There is no treatment for any of these conditions themselves but, there is treatment for the serious eye disorders including: retinal tears or retinal detachments of which, floaters and especially flashes may be indicators.  A retinal tear is treated by a laser that "tacks" the tear back in place.  This procedure is painless and takes a few minutes to perform in the office.  It is important that a retinal tear be repaired as soon as possible. If untreated it could develop into a retinal detachment that could lead to serious vision loss.  The treatment for a retinal detachment is similar to a retinal tear, but the process is much more demanding and the results less promising.