What floaters are
The vitreous is a clear gel of water and fine collagen fibers. Over the years the gel liquefies and the fibers clump, and the clumps cast shadows on the retina that the patient sees as floaters, most visible against a bright, plain background such as the sky or a white screen. Because they float in the gel, they drift when the eye moves and lag behind when it stops. Nearsighted eyes and eyes that have had cataract surgery develop them earlier.
Posterior vitreous detachment
At some point, usually between 50 and 70, the shrunken gel separates from the retina. This posterior vitreous detachment produces a sudden new floater, often a large ring or cobweb, sometimes with flashes as the gel tugs on the retina during separation. It is a normal event, but in about one in ten cases the tug tears the retina, and a tear can lead to detachment. The two cannot be told apart by symptoms, which is why a new onset of floaters is examined promptly.
When to be seen the same day
- A sudden shower of many new floaters, or a sudden large new floater
- Flashes of light, particularly in the peripheral vision or in the dark
- A shadow, curtain or gray veil in any part of the vision
- Floaters after an eye injury or after eye surgery
- Any reduction in vision alongside floaters
Call us at (855) 456-2253 and say you have new floaters; if we cannot see you promptly, go to an urgent eye clinic or emergency department. The examination dilates the pupil and inspects the entire peripheral retina for tears, and is usually repeated a few weeks later.
Living with floaters
Once a tear has been excluded, most floaters need no treatment. They settle lower in the eye over weeks to months and the brain learns to ignore them, though they remain visible against bright backgrounds. For the rare patient whose large central floaters persistently interfere with vision, a retina specialist can discuss vitrectomy, which removes the gel, carries risks and is reserved for genuinely disabling cases. Laser vitreolysis, which aims to break up selected floaters, also exists, but its benefit is debated and it is not commonly recommended.
Is this right for your eyes?
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. Whether this is what is affecting your vision is decided by a full examination at one of our 4 offices: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills.
About this content: This page was written with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO. It is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an eye examination. Individual results vary. Read our medical disclaimer.
