Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety What Causes Eye Floaters? By Luana Ferreira Luana Ferreira is a journalist with an international background and over a decade of experience covering the most different areas, including science and health Learn about our editorial process Luana Ferreira Published on January 12, 2021 Print Eye floaters, the small dark shapes that appear in the eye, are generally caused by age-related changes in the eyes. They can appear as spots, lines, and webs. Eye floaters are often harmless and don't require treatment. In some cases, however, eye floaters can be caused by a serious condition such as retinal detachment that may require surgery. All About Spots and Floaters in Your Vision Celeste Muñoz / EyeEm/ Getty Images Anatomy The retina is filled with a jelly substance called the vitreous, a hydrated extracellular matrix made primarily of water, collagen, and hyaluronan organized into a homogeneously transparent gel. Also called the vitreous humor, this jelly substance is crucial for vision since it helps the eye maintain its round shape and transmits light into the retina. However, the vitreous doesn’t remain the same throughout life. When a person ages, the vitreous becomes more liquid and small collagen fibers clump together, casting shadows on the retina and creating the floaters people see. This common happens in people who are 50 years old or older. Anatomy of the Eye Symptoms Eye floaters are often harmless. If they don’t cause discomfort or are not accompanied by other symptoms, there is no need to worry. However, they can also be a sign of a serious diseases if they occur along with the following symptoms: The number of floaters increases suddenlyPain in the eyeFloaters are combined with flashesPeripheral vision lossBlurred vision Causes Eye floaters are often a normal part of aging. However, they can also be linked to other conditions, including: Vitreous detachment: The most common symptom of vitreous detachment is a sudden increase in the number of floaters. People who have this condition can also see flashes. A person's risk of vitreous detachment increases as they age, so it is most common in people over 80. The fibers of the vitreous begins to pull away from the retina as someone gets older, resulting in this condition. In severe cases, it can lead to problems such as retinal detachment and macular holeRetinal detachment: This happens when the retina is pulled away from its normal position in the eye. A sudden increase in the number of eye floaters, flashes of light in one or both eyes, a shadow over vision are symptoms of this conditionUveitis: This is a group of inflammatory diseases that causes swelling and destroys eye tissues. These diseases can slightly reduce vision or lead to severe vision loss. Early symptoms include floaters, eye pain, blurry vision, and sensitivity to lightVitreous hemorrhage: This is bleeding in the vitreous. This can be a result of abnormal vessels that are prone to bleeding, normal vessels that rupture under stress, or extension of blood from an adjacent source. It is rare and occurs in seven cases per 100,000 population. This condition is related to diseases like diabetic retinopathy. Blunt or perforating trauma is the most common cause of vitreous hemorrhage in people under 40Eye tumor: They can be malignant or benign, and it is not rare that eye tumors don't have symptoms. Depending on the part of the eye it grows or its stage, people with eye tumors may have floaters, visual field loss, blurry vision, and changes in the way the eye moves within the socket When to See a Doctor Eye floaters are usually not a reason for concern, but when there is a significant increase in the number of eye floaters, flashes, or other changes to your vision, see a doctor as soon as possible Diagnosis An eye care professional can diagnose the underlying condition causing eye floaters after performing an eye exam. The ophthalmologist or optometrist will dilate the patient’s pupil so they can see inside the eye and examine your floaters. They may also press on your eyes to check for signs of a retinal detachment or tear. How Long Do Pupils Remain Dilated After an Eye Exam? Treatment Treatment for eye floaters depend on the cause. If eye floaters are not signs of any other problem, they don't need to be treated. People often stop noticing them after a while and will learn to live with the eye floaters. When the eye floaters are seriously impacting vision, surgery may be recommended. Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing the vitreous from your eye and replacing it with a solution that mimics the vitreous. However, several risks are involved in this process. The patient can develop a retinal tear or cataracts. There is also no guarantee the surgery will remove all the floaters. It is also possible to have a laser surgery that will break up groupings of floaters. Some people who have this treatment report improved vision; others notice little or no difference. The laser can potentially damage the retina. How To Get Rid of Eye Floaters A Word From Verywell Eye floaters are not a cause for concern in most cases. They are a normal part of aging. It is natural that the eye system becomes weaker with age, just like other parts of the body. Whether you are experiencing floaters or not, it is essential to schedule an appointment with an eye care specialist every two years and more frequently for those over 60 and have a family history of glaucoma. It is the best way to make sure that your vision is healthy. For people with floaters, this can help catch and treat any conditions causing eye floaters early. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Milston R, Madigan MC, Sebag J. Vitreous floaters: Etiology, diagnostics, and management. Surv Ophthalmol. 2016;61(2):211-227. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2015.11.008. National Eye Institute. Vitreous Detachment. Updated September 8, 2020. National Eye Institute. Uveitis. Updated July 11, 2019 Spraul CW, Grossniklaus HE. Vitreous hemorrhage. Surv Ophthalmol. 1997;42(1):3-39. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6257(97)84041-6. Cleaveland Clinic. Eye Floaters & Flashes. Updated August 20, 2020 Additional Reading Milston R, Madigan MC, Sebag J. Vitreous floaters: Etiology, diagnostics, and management. Surv Ophthalmol. 2016;61(2):211-227. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2015.11.008.National Eye Institute. Vitreous Detachment. Updated September 8, 2020.National Eye Institute. Uveitis. Updated July 11, 2019Spraul CW, Grossniklaus HE. Vitreous hemorrhage. Surv Ophthalmol. 1997;42(1):3-39. doi:10.1016/s0039-6257(97)84041-6.Cleaveland Clinic. Eye Floaters & Flashes. Updated August 20, 2020Mayo Clinic. Eye Floaters. Updated August 28, 2020American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Eye Cancer. Updated November 30, 2018