Flashing Lights and Floaters
Understanding Floaters and Flashing Lights
Floaters look like small dots, threads, or cobweb shapes that drift through your vision. When you try to look directly at them, they seem to float away. You notice them most easily against plain backgrounds like white walls or clear blue skies.
These shapes can be dark or partly see-through. They come in different sizes, from tiny specks to larger strands. Some people say they look like tiny bugs or flies moving through their field of view.
Flashing lights typically appear as quick streaks or arcs of light in your side vision. They may look like lightning bolts or camera flashes. Unlike floaters, these flashes usually last only one or two seconds before disappearing.
These flashes often stand out more in dim lighting or when you move your eyes quickly. Some appear as small sparkles while others look like larger bright streaks across your vision.
Your eye contains a clear gel called the vitreous that fills most of the space inside. As you age, this gel naturally becomes more liquid and begins to pull away from the back of your eye. When the vitreous shrinks or shifts, it casts shadows on your retina that you see as floaters.
Flashing lights occur when the vitreous tugs on your retina as it pulls away. This tugging triggers your retina, making you see brief flashes even though no real light enters your eye. Our multispecialty team at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton uses advanced diagnostic technology to determine whether these changes pose any risk to your vision.
Most floaters are harmless and result from natural aging changes. These normal floaters develop gradually over time and remain steady without worsening. While they may be annoying, they do not threaten your eyesight.
Dangerous floaters appear suddenly in large numbers or come with flashing lights. Serious symptoms may include a curtain or shadow blocking part of your vision. New floaters with vision loss need immediate evaluation by our ophthalmologists.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Typical floaters that do not signal an emergency appear as one or two small spots that you have noticed for months or years. They move smoothly when your eyes move and do not change much from day to day. Many people learn to ignore these harmless floaters as their brain filters them out.
You may notice these everyday floaters more when you are tired, in bright light, or using a computer. They should not affect your ability to see clearly or do daily tasks.
Occasional flashes in your side vision can happen as part of normal vitreous changes, especially as you age. These flashes often appear as brief arcs that last a second or less. They may happen a few times and then stop, or you might notice them off and on for several weeks.
These flashes usually stand out most in low light and typically occur in only one eye. While brief flashes can be normal, any new flashing lights should be checked with a dilated eye exam at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton to rule out retinal tears.
Certain signs mean you need to contact our ophthalmologists right away. A sudden shower of many new floaters appearing all at once is a serious warning sign. When numerous floaters appear within hours or a single day, especially with flashing lights, we need to examine your eyes promptly.
- A sudden increase in the number of floaters
- Flashing lights that continue or happen more often
- A dark shadow or curtain moving across your vision
- Sudden blurry vision or vision loss
- Loss of side vision in one eye
- New floaters or flashes after a head or eye injury
- New symptoms after eye surgery like cataract removal
- Eye pain, redness, or sensitivity to light with new floaters
A torn or detached retina is an emergency that can cause permanent vision loss without quick treatment. Symptoms often include a sudden burst of floaters that look like a swarm of bugs or a dark cloud. You may also see ongoing flashing lights in your peripheral vision.
Many patients describe a gray curtain or veil that seems to pull down across their vision. Some notice a shadow that starts at the side and gradually spreads. Contact ReFocus Eye Health Marlton immediately if you experience these symptoms.
You can figure out whether your symptoms affect one eye or both by covering each eye separately. Cover your right eye and look around with only your left eye, then switch. Symptoms that show up in only one eye at a time usually relate to the retina or vitreous of that eye.
Symptoms that appear the same in both eyes may suggest a different cause. Either way, new visual symptoms need prompt evaluation by our ophthalmologists.
Risk Factors
Natural aging is the most common cause of floaters and flashing lights. As people reach their 50s and 60s, the vitreous gel begins to turn more liquid and shrink. This process happens to most people eventually and is a normal part of getting older.
While anyone can develop floaters, they become much more common after age 50. By age 80, most people have experienced some vitreous changes and may notice at least a few floaters.
People with nearsightedness face a higher risk of both floaters and serious problems like retinal tears. Nearsighted eyes are typically longer than average, which stretches the retina and makes it thinner. The vitreous gel may also pull away earlier in nearsighted people.
If you have moderate to severe nearsightedness, stay alert for new floaters or flashes. Your risk increases further with high myopia, usually defined as a prescription stronger than minus 6 diopters.
Any surgery or trauma to your eye can increase your chance of vitreous changes. Cataract surgery is particularly linked with a higher chance of vitreous detachment in the months or years after the procedure. Even successful surgery with no complications can trigger these changes.
- Cataract surgery may speed up vitreous changes
- Eye injuries can cause immediate or delayed floaters
- Previous retinal procedures may lead to new floaters
- Laser treatments after cataract surgery slightly increase risk
Certain health problems can increase your likelihood of developing floaters or related eye issues. Diabetes can cause bleeding inside your eye if blood sugar levels damage tiny retinal vessels. This bleeding may appear as a sudden cloud of dark floaters.
Other conditions that raise risk include eye inflammation, bleeding disorders, and abnormal blood vessel growth. People with a family history of retinal detachment should also watch carefully for new symptoms. Our ophthalmologists at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton provide specialized diabetic eye care and comprehensive evaluations for patients with these risk factors.
Diagnosis at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton
When you visit us with floaters or flashing lights, we start by asking detailed questions about your symptoms. We want to know when they started, how many floaters you see, and whether you have noticed any vision changes. Your answers help us determine urgency and guide our examination.
Our ophthalmologists will test your vision and check your eye pressure. We also examine the front of your eye to rule out other causes. This initial assessment helps us decide whether you need immediate treatment or a more detailed evaluation.
The most important test for floaters and flashing lights is a dilated eye exam. We place special drops in your eyes that widen your pupils, allowing us to see all the way to your retina. This gives us a clear view of your vitreous and the connection between structures.
During the exam, we use bright lights and special lenses to carefully inspect every part of your retina. We look for tears, holes, or areas where the retina may be pulling away. We often perform a detailed examination of the far edges of your retina to find small tears that could otherwise be missed. The dilation makes your vision blurry and your eyes light-sensitive for several hours, so arrange for someone to drive you home.
Sometimes we recommend additional imaging tests to get a better look inside your eye. Optical coherence tomography, or OCT, uses light waves to create detailed pictures of your retina layers. This technology helps us see subtle changes that might not be visible during a regular exam. ReFocus Eye Health Marlton uses advanced diagnostic equipment to ensure accurate diagnoses for patients throughout Marlton and the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.
- OCT scanning shows detailed images of retinal layers
- Ultrasound helps when we cannot see through dense cataracts or blood
- Retinal photography documents your current condition for comparison
- Wide-field imaging captures a broader view of peripheral areas
Our main goal during examination is to determine whether your retina has been damaged. We carefully search for tears, which appear as horseshoe-shaped or round breaks in retinal tissue. We also look for areas where the retina has lifted off.
If we find a tear or detachment, we classify its severity and location to determine the best treatment. Even small tears can lead to detachment without treatment, so early detection protects your vision. When we diagnose a vitreous detachment without a tear, we typically schedule repeat exams within one to two weeks and again at four to six weeks, since some tears develop later.
Treatment Options
Most floaters do not require treatment and can be safely watched over time. If our exam shows your retina is healthy and the floaters come from normal vitreous changes, we typically recommend observation. Your brain often learns to ignore these floaters after a few weeks or months.
We will schedule follow-up exams to ensure your condition stays stable. Contact us immediately if you notice new floaters, an increase in flashing lights, or any vision changes.
When we find a retinal tear, we often recommend laser treatment to prevent it from progressing to detachment. The procedure uses a focused beam of light to create small burns around the tear. These burns form scar tissue that seals the tear edges and bonds your retina to underlying tissue.
Our ophthalmologists perform laser treatment in our office, and it takes only a few minutes. You may see flashes during the procedure, but most patients feel only minimal discomfort. The treatment effectively reduces the risk of detachment when done promptly. Even after successful laser treatment, new tears can occur and require urgent evaluation.
A detached retina requires surgical repair to restore it to its proper position and prevent permanent vision loss. Timing is critical. If your central vision area is still attached, we perform repair promptly to preserve it. Our ophthalmologists may recommend several surgical approaches depending on your specific detachment.
- Gas bubble injection pushes the retina back into place
- Scleral buckle surgery places a band around your eye to relieve pulling
- Vitrectomy removes the vitreous gel and replaces it with gas or oil
- Combined approaches may be used for complex detachments
In rare cases where floaters severely interfere with daily life and vision quality, we may consider surgical removal of the vitreous gel. This procedure, called vitrectomy, involves removing the cloudy vitreous and replacing it with clear fluid. Vitrectomy carries risks including infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, and cataract formation.
Because of these potential problems, we reserve this option for patients with very dense floaters that significantly impair vision. The decision requires careful discussion of risks and benefits for your specific situation. Modern techniques have made vitrectomy safer, but cataract development remains common in younger patients within one to two years after surgery.
After treatment for retinal problems, regular follow-up visits are essential to ensure proper healing. We typically see you within a day or two after laser treatment to check that the area is sealing well. For surgical procedures, your follow-up schedule may include visits at one day, one week, one month, and several months after surgery.
Even if you only have harmless floaters, we recommend periodic eye exams to watch for changes. An annual dilated exam is often appropriate for patients with a history of floaters. After a vitreous detachment without a tear, we typically recheck within four to six weeks, sooner if symptoms change.
Living with Floaters
Learning to live with harmless floaters can be challenging at first, but most people adapt over time. Your brain has a remarkable ability to tune out unchanging visual information, so floaters often become less noticeable after several weeks. Staying busy with activities that require visual focus helps take your attention away from them.
No proven drops or supplements dissolve floaters. Some people find that using tinted lenses or adjusting screen contrast reduces awareness of floaters.
If you undergo laser treatment or surgery for a retinal tear or detachment, we will provide specific instructions about activity limits. Many procedures require you to maintain certain head positions for several days or weeks to help your retina heal properly. You may need to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and activities that could jar your head.
- Follow all positioning instructions exactly as directed
- Avoid air travel if a gas bubble was placed in your eye
- Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds during initial recovery
- Keep your eye clean and use prescribed drops on schedule
- Wear protective shields as recommended during sleep
- Avoid high-altitude travel until your doctor confirms the gas bubble is gone
Staying alert to changes in your symptoms is crucial for protecting your vision long-term. Keep track of any increase in the number or size of floaters, new flashing lights, or changes in your visual field. Even if you have been told your floaters are harmless, new symptoms require prompt evaluation at ReFocus Eye Health Marlton.
Contact our ophthalmologists immediately if you notice a sudden shower of new floaters, a curtain or shadow in your vision, or decreased vision. These signs can indicate a new retinal tear or detachment that needs urgent treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
While floaters rarely disappear completely, they often become less noticeable over time as they settle below your line of sight or your brain learns to ignore them. In some cases, floaters may break into smaller pieces that are less bothersome, though this process can take months to years.
Floaters are generally considered normal if they develop gradually, stay stable in number and appearance, and do not interfere with your vision or daily activities. Most people over 50 have at least some floaters as a result of natural aging changes in the vitreous gel.
Computer use and eye strain do not cause floaters to form, though they may make you more aware of floaters that already exist. Staring at bright screens or white backgrounds can make existing floaters more visible, but these activities do not damage your vitreous or create new ones.
Flashes from your eye are usually brief arcs or streaks in one eye and often occur with eye movement. Migraine aura usually causes shimmering zigzag lines that expand over 15 to 30 minutes and appear in both eyes, even when each eye is covered separately. Our ophthalmologists can help determine the cause during your exam.
Contact ReFocus Eye Health Marlton within 24 hours if you notice new floaters, especially if they appear suddenly or in large numbers. If new floaters come with flashing lights, vision loss, or a shadow in your vision, seek care immediately rather than waiting for a scheduled appointment.
No drops or vitamins have been proven to dissolve floaters. Most floaters become less noticeable over time as your brain adapts. Procedures such as vitrectomy or laser treatment are options only for select cases after careful discussion of risks and benefits with our ophthalmologists.
It is common to develop additional floaters as you continue to age, since the vitreous gel undergoes ongoing changes throughout life. However, each new onset of floaters should be evaluated to ensure they are not associated with retinal problems, even if you have had harmless floaters before.
Getting Care for Floaters and Flashing Lights
If you experience new floaters or flashing lights, schedule an evaluation with ReFocus Eye Health Marlton promptly. Our multispecialty team serves patients throughout Marlton, Evesham, Voorhees, Mount Laurel, and the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area with advanced diagnostic technology and comprehensive eye care. Early detection of retinal problems makes treatment more effective and helps preserve your vision for years to come.
Great experience in an out friendly service. Dr. Andrew is great!
Ryan McCarthy
Dr. Heuer was very professional and easy to talk to. I enjoyed being in what appeared to be an all female office. I highly recommend allowing them to take care of your eye care needs.
Lasaunji Richardson
Dr. Lin is the best. She was patient, professional, and very helpful. She is very skilled and I highly recommend her for all of your speciality needs!
Amanda Otero
Dr. Grossman is brilliant and compassionate, I’ve been a patient for more than 30 years, and have sent him numerous family members who are also enamored of him. His staff are outstanding as well.
Claire Zelman
Dr Grossman is seriously the best!! Explains everything and takes time to answer all of your concerns. So professional and great bedside manner!!!!
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