FLOATERS

Many people report seeing ‘something’ floating in their line of vision, and as they move their eyes it drifts across their vision. They are often described as spots or dark strands that are more apparent against a light background such as a wall or a window. They are usually harmless. Most people have floaters in their eyes but only a few are big enough or central enough to be perceived. As we get older, they become more prevalent as the jelly in the eye becomes more fluid and things move about more, so we tend to see them more often.

On very rare occasions they can be associated with other more persistent symptoms such as flashes of light, ocular discomfort, or a drop in vision. These would certainly indicate that a visit to see the Optometrist would be strongly recommended.