In some people, the age-related detachment of the vitreous humour from the surface of the retina may cause tears. Tiny droplets of blood may appear as a fresh crop of floaters. Short-sighted people and those who have undergone surgery for cataracts are at increased risk of tears to the retina. Untreated retinal tears can lead to retinal detachment. In this condition, the retina comes away from the back of the eyeball. This can be caused by events including:. Floaters are usually harmless.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a sudden increase in floaters particularly if they occur as flashing lights auras , or a new big floater. This is especially important if you are short-sighted.
Eye care professionals use specialised equipment to examine the vitreous humour and the retina to determine whether there has been any tearing or detachment of the retina. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.
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All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Some eye problems develop slowly, so it may take a while for you to notice any changes.
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Medically reviewed by Ann Marie Griff, O. Flashes and floaters as symptoms. Risk factors for seeing stars in your vision. What to expect when visiting your doctor. The takeaway. Read this next. Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment.
Page last reviewed: 16 July Next review due: 16 July Floaters and flashes in the eyes. Floaters and flashes are usually harmless If you sometimes see: floaters — such as small dark dots, squiggly lines, rings or cobwebs flashes of light in your vision, it's not usually a sign of anything serious, especially if: you've had them for a long time they're not getting worse your vision is not affected Flashes may eventually stop, and floaters often become less noticeable as you get used to them.
Floaters are tiny clumps of cells inside the vitreous a jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of the eye. They form as the vitreous gel degenerates, which is part of the normal ageing process.
As these cells float in the vitreous gel, they cast shadows on the retina, causing us to see floaters. More rarely, these floaters are caused by blood or inflammatory cells. This is more common in people with diabetes or who already have an inflammatory condition of the eye.
With each eye movement, the vitreous gel moves and pulls on the retina, setting off an impulse seen as a flash.
However, they usually become less obvious with time. Floaters and flashes are very common. Luckily, they are usually harmless, but you may find them a bit irritating. Floaters and flashes are only a matter of concern if the vitreous pulls on the retina and tears it.
If left untreated, a retinal tear can cause the retina to fully detach from the eye, which may lead to blindness. If you experience a sudden appearance or increase of floaters in the eyes, consult an eye doctor immediately to rule out a tear, or to get timely laser surgery to repair it.
In rare cases, eye floaters may cause vision impairment. If this happens, you can discuss treatment options with your ophthalmologist. A possible option is to undergo a YAG laser vitreolysis which uses a specialised laser to break up the floaters in the vitreous jelly into smaller less noticeable ones.
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