Eye Floaters

About the Symptom

Floaters are tiny specks or dots that can be seen in the vision. These may affect either or both eyes and are most prominent when looking at light-colored areas. Floaters can sometimes be a sign of a retinal detachment and should be evaluated by an eye doctor.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Tiny dots or objects in vision

Possible Causes

Generally, Eye floaters can be related to:

• Sarcoidosis (Including Erythema Nodosum-Like Eruption)

  A disease where small lumps (called granulomas) form in the skin, lungs, eyes, and other organs. Since various organs are affected, there is a wide range of possible symptoms. The exact causes are not well understood.

• Diabetic Retinopathy

  Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes vision loss in patients with diabetes due to damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Your retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of your eyes and is responsible for turning the light signals your eyes receive into images in your brain. These damaged vessels in the retina result in blurred vision or even vision loss.

• Migraine

  A type of headache that typically presents as throbbing, pulsating pain on one side of the head, sometimes with associated nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Sometimes, sensory disturbances, such as vision changes (seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines), can occur before the headache. The pain may worsen on exposure to bright lights or loud noise. Triggers for migraine include stress, poor sleep, caffeine, and hormonal changes in women.

• Severe Myopia
• Uveitis
• Macular Edema
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Cataracts
• Pathologic Myopia

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Eye floaters may be related to these serious diseases:

• Retinal Detachment

  An eye condition causing holes in vision when looking at objects. It is due to the retina (sensing layer of the eye) peeling off, usually because of aging, eye injury, or diabetes.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you see floating shapes or dots in your vision (like insects)?
• How has the appearance of tiny shapes or dots in your vision changed since it started?
• How long have you had tiny shapes or dots floating around in your vision (sometimes appearing like insects)?
• How much do the floating shapes or dots in your vision affect your daily life?

Find Similar Symptoms

References

• Floaters in Vision- American Academy of Ophthalmology

  https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-floaters-flashes