{"id":1827,"date":"2026-10-20T08:52:30","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T08:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/eye-glossary\/floaters\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T12:56:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:56:49","slug":"floaters","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laseristanbulclinic.com\/en\/eye-glossary\/floaters\/","title":{"rendered":"Floaters in the Eye: What They Are, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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  1. Home<\/a><\/li>
  2. Knowledge centre<\/a><\/li>
  3. Eye glossary A\u2013Z<\/a><\/li>
  4. Floaters in the Eye: What They Are, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t

    Floaters in the Eye: What They Are, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Medically reviewed by {{surgeon}}<\/span><\/strong>, {{surgeon’s title and specialty}}<\/span>, on {{review date}}<\/span>. Last updated {{date}}<\/span>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \"Illustration<\/figure><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n\t\t<\/svg>Definition<\/span>\n\t\t\t

    Floaters<\/strong> (noun; also called eye floaters, vitreous floaters or, in French, mouches volantes, “flying flies”)<\/em>: small specks, dots, threads, rings or cobwebs that drift across your vision. They are not objects on the surface of the eye but shadows cast on the retina by tiny clumps or strands in the vitreous, the clear gel that fills the back of the eye. Floaters are common and usually harmless, but a sudden shower of new floaters, especially with flashes of light or a dark shadow, needs an eye examination the same day.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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    Are my floaters an emergency? What to do first<\/h2>\n\t\t\t

    Most floaters are a normal part of ageing. A new floater is different: it should be checked, because it can be the first sign of a tear or detachment of the retina. Use this table before you read on.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

    What you notice<\/th>What it can mean<\/th>What to do<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    A floater you have had for months or years, unchanged<\/th>Usually long-standing vitreous change<\/td>Mention it at your next routine eye test<\/td><\/tr>
    One or a few new floaters, no other symptoms<\/th>Often a harmless vitreous change, but it needs checking<\/td>Get examined promptly. The NHS advises an urgent optician appointment or NHS 111 for first-time floaters<\/td><\/tr>
    A sudden increase in floaters, or many new ones at once<\/th>Possible retinal tear or detachment<\/td>Same-day examination by an eye doctor or eye emergency service<\/td><\/tr>
    Floaters with flashes of light<\/th>The vitreous pulling on the retina<\/td>Same-day examination<\/td><\/tr>
    A dark shadow, grey curtain or blurred area in your vision<\/th>Possible retinal detachment<\/td>Emergency: same-day care<\/td><\/tr>
    New floaters after eye surgery or an eye injury, or with eye pain or blurred vision<\/th>Inflammation, bleeding or a retinal problem<\/td>Prompt examination<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>

    If you are travelling, or planning treatment abroad, do not wait for a consultation with us. Seek care where you are now; we can review your report afterwards.<\/p><\/div>\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

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    Floaters: key facts<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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    <\/svg>What they are<\/span><\/dt>
    Shadows of clumps or strands in the vitreous gel, cast onto the retina<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>What they look like<\/span><\/dt>
    Dots, squiggly lines, threads, rings or cobwebs; they move when the eye moves and drift away when you try to look straight at them<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Most noticeable<\/span><\/dt>
    Against a plain, bright background such as a clear sky, a white wall or a computer screen<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Most common cause<\/span><\/dt>
    Age-related change in the vitreous, often ending in posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Who is more likely to get them<\/span><\/dt>
    Older adults, people who are short-sighted (myopic), people who have had cataract surgery, and people with inflammation inside the eye<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Usual course<\/span><\/dt>
    They tend to fade and become less noticeable over time<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Main danger<\/span><\/dt>
    A retinal tear or detachment, which can cause permanent sight loss if not treated quickly<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Diagnosis<\/span><\/dt>
    Dilated eye examination<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
    <\/svg>Specialist<\/span><\/dt>
    Ophthalmologist, ideally a retina specialist; at Laser Istanbul Clinic, Do\u00e7. Dr. Muhammet Derda \u00d6zer (Associate Professor; retina, medical and surgical)<\/dd><\/dl><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
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    What causes floaters?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t

    The vitreous is a clear gel, mostly water, held together by a fine mesh of collagen fibres and hyaluronan. When you are young it is smooth and fills the eye evenly. Over time the gel liquefies, and its collagen fibres clump into strands and fibres that scatter light. Those clumps cast the shadows you see as floaters, which is why floaters are especially common in short-sighted eyes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)<\/h3>

    Ageing also weakens the attachment between the vitreous and the retina. Eventually the gel can peel away from the back of the eye. This is called posterior vitreous detachment, and it is the most common cause of floaters that bother people. According to EyeWiki, the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s clinical wiki, PVD affects most eyes by the eighth decade of life, typically starting in the sixth or seventh decade. It begins earlier in short-sighted eyes and after cataract surgery.<\/p>\n

    The NHS describes PVD as a harmless process in most people. The catch is that, as the vitreous pulls away, it can sometimes tug on the retina hard enough to tear it. That is why a new floater needs checking even though most turn out to be harmless.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    Other causes<\/h3>

    Floaters can also come from problems that need treating in their own right:<\/p>\n