What Is Floaters & Flashes?
Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous — the clear, jelly-like substance filling the back of the eye. They cast shadows on the retina that appear as spots, threads, cobwebs, or squiggly lines drifting through your field of vision. Flashes are brief streaks of light caused by the vitreous tugging on the retina. Both are very common and usually benign, but can occasionally signal a serious problem.
When to seek care
A sudden increase in floaters, new flashes of light, or any loss of peripheral vision — even if it seems minor — requires an urgent dilated eye exam the same day. These can be early signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which is a medical emergency. Existing stable floaters that do not change do not require emergency evaluation.
