Floaters/Flashes

Floaters/Flashes are symptoms that are caused by a change in the vitreous which is a viscous jelly located in the posterior portion of our eye. Patients often describe floaters as “spider webs”, “gnats”, “specks”, or “squigglies” in their vision. This is caused by condensation of proteins within the vitreous cavity that casts shadows on our retina. Flashers are often described as “lightning streaks” or “strobe lights”. The flashing is actually caused when the vitreous causes traction on the retina. In most cases, these symptoms are caused by the normal aging process and are not a serious problem; however, they can be signs of a more serious underlying problem such as a retinal detachment. For this reason it is recommended to have a comprehensive eye examination at the onset of these symptoms to ensure there are no serious underlying problems.