If there were any concerns, it would be appropriate to go in for a dilated examination to make sure there is no retinal tear or detachment. You can reach us at 50 or contact one of our 11 locations directly. If you develop new floaters or flashes, it is generally a good idea to contact your eye doctor’s office and discuss your symptoms. When the retina is torn, there can also be a release of blood or some other cells from the underside of the retina that enter into the vitreous and can look like a burst of very small floaters. Based on a description of the flashes, it is not possible to know whether a flash of light represents mild pulling on the retina that might resolve on its own or a retinal tear and needs urgent treatment. This is a particularly concerning situation - a retinal tear is at risk of developing into a retinal detachment, which is a potentially blinding condition and frequently requires urgent treatment. If the retina and vitreous are bound together abnormally tightly, there can be excessive traction on the retina as the vitreous tries to pull away. Also, because the cause of this flashing occurs independent from what they eye is actually seeing, they can occur even if the eye is closed. They can also be subtle at times, only being noticeable when the outside environment is dark. These generally occur in the peripheral vision, frequently when moving the eye from one side to another. For example, it is common to talk about seeing “stars” after getting hit in the eye – the impact can compress the eye, which causes the retina to release signals in a nonspecific way.Īs the vitreous changes and separates from the retina, there can be some temporary pulling on the retina, which can also manifest as a quick flash of light. However, physical stimulation on the retina can also cause it to send off signals that your brain also misinterprets as light.
The retina’s job is to sense and convert light into a signal that is then transmitted to the brain for interpretation. Some patients have also reported noticing them more in the morning, as the opacities can sometimes settle over the retina overnight and therefore appear front and center when first waking up. Floaters don’t actually dissolve, though, so don’t be surprised to see them if you are actively looking for them. Your brain will also tend to adapt to them and notice them less. As a result, the floaters tend to drift off center more and can become less of a nuisance. Over time, the vitreous consistency changes and within it, pockets can form that have a more water-like consistency. Still others can experience a dense spot or semicircular object that can interfere with reading, computer work, and other daily tasks. Some people may not notice anything at all, while others can have a prominent jelly-like spot that can move in and out of the central vision as the eye moves. Patients can have very different experiences as the PVD develops. Eventually, as the vitreous actually separates from the back of the eye, a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) can occur, which your ophthalmologist can see when looking inside your eye. The vitreous also begins to pull away from the retina.
Over time, the protein fibers in the gel coalesce, causing small floaters or strings in the vision. On the backside of the vitreous lies the retina, which is a thin layer of nerve tissue that lines the inside of the eye. The vitreous has a more viscous consistency than water and can be fairly sticky. It is composed mostly of water and proteins. The vitreous is found behind the iris, pupil, and lens. What is a floater?Ī gel-like substance called vitreous fills the majority of the eye’s volume.
The development of spots or “floaters” in one’s vision can be a common experience, but it is important to understand why they appear and situations where floaters may represent a threatening situation to your eye. Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in Retina on April 2, 2014 Home » Blog » Eye Floaters and Flashes: When should you be concerned? Eye Floaters and Flashes: When should you be concerned?