Summary
Those little threads that slide away whenever you try to look at them are usually harmless shadows, though a sudden change in them is a reason to act fast.
Eye floaters are small specks, dots, threads, rings or cobweb shapes that drift across your field of vision and dart away when you try to look straight at them. They are shadows cast on the retina by tiny clumps in the clear gel that fills the eye. Floaters are very common, become more frequent with age and are usually harmless. A sudden burst of new floaters, flashes of light, or a dark shadow or curtain moving across your sight is different: it needs an eye examination the same day.
Why floaters appear
The inside of the eye is filled with a jelly-like substance called the vitreous. In early life it is firm and clear. Over the years it gradually becomes more liquid, and fine fibres within it can bunch together. Light passing through the eye catches these clumps, and you see their shadows.
At some point, often in middle age or later, the vitreous can shrink and peel away from the back of the eye. This is called a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a normal ageing change, but it can bring on new floaters and brief flashes, and occasionally it tugs on the retina hard enough to tear it. That is why new symptoms always deserve a check.
Floaters are also more common in people who are short-sighted, after cataract surgery or an eye injury, and with some types of inflammation inside the eye.
What people describe
- Grey or dark dots that drift slowly
- Squiggly threads or strings
- Translucent rings or circles
- A faint cobweb or a hazy cloud
Floaters usually lag behind as the eye moves, then settle slowly when the eye is still. They stand out most against bright, plain backgrounds such as a blue sky, a white wall or a brightly lit screen.
Harmless or urgent?
| What you notice | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A few floaters you have had for a long time, unchanged | Common, age-related change in the gel | Mention it at your next routine eye exam |
| One or two new floaters appearing gradually | Often harmless, but worth confirming | Book an appointment with an optometrist soon |
| A sudden shower of new floaters, or floaters with flashes of light | Possible retinal tear | Same-day eye examination |
| A shadow, curtain or veil spreading across part of your vision | Possible retinal detachment | Seek urgent help straight away |
| Floaters with eye pain, redness or blurred vision | Possible inflammation or another eye problem | Same-day advice |
For urgent symptoms, contact an optometrist who offers emergency appointments, an eye casualty service or your local emergency department, depending on what is available where you live. A retinal tear found early can often be treated before it becomes a detachment.
What an eye examination involves
To look for tears, the optometrist or eye doctor usually puts drops in your eyes to widen the pupils and then examines the retina with a bright light and lens. Your vision may be blurry and sensitive to light for a few hours afterwards, so arrange not to drive. Our guide on what happens at a routine eye exam describes the other tests you may meet.
Living with long-standing floaters
- Shift them. Moving your eyes up and down, rather than side to side, can stir the gel and move a floater out of the line of sight for a while.
- Soften bright backgrounds. Lower screen brightness, try a darker display theme and wear sunglasses outdoors on bright days.
- Give it time. Many people find floaters fade or become less noticeable over months as the brain learns to ignore them.
- Look after tired eyes. Floaters are not caused by screens, but long sessions can make them more noticeable. See our tips on reducing eye strain from screens.
Is there any treatment?
Most floaters need no treatment. When they are dense enough to interfere seriously with daily life, an eye specialist may discuss surgery to remove the vitreous gel, or in some cases a laser procedure. Both carry their own risks, so they are usually reserved for a small number of people after careful assessment.
Common questions
Can eye drops dissolve floaters?
There is no good evidence that eye drops get rid of floaters. Be cautious of products that promise to clear them.
Will floaters go away on their own?
They often settle lower in the eye or become less noticeable, though some stay for years. A change in their number or pattern is the thing to watch.
Do floaters mean my prescription has changed?
No. Floaters sit inside the eye and are not corrected by glasses. If your vision also seems blurry, though, it may be time for a new test; our guide to reading your eye prescription explains what the results mean.
Small adjustments
Changes that cost a minute or less
Easy wins that are simple to keep up.
Mark the cuff
A dot of tape on the cuff shows where it sat last time, so the next reading starts the same way.
Tilt the monitor
Lowering the screen slightly lets your eyelids cover more of the eye.
Two cloths, not one
Keep a spare microfibre cloth so a clean one is always ready.
Check your bite
Lips together, teeth apart: a quick reset whenever you notice clenching.
Background reading only; your GP, pharmacist, dentist or optician can speak to your own circumstances.
