Floaters & Flashes

Floaters appear as small spots, strands, or cobweb-like shapes drifting across your vision. Flashes look like brief streaks or arcs of light, often in peripheral vision. These symptoms are extremely common and usually caused by normal age-related changes in the vitreous gel. However, a sudden increase in floaters — especially if accompanied by flashes of light or a shadow in your peripheral vision — can be a warning sign of a retinal tear or detachment, which is a medical emergency. Any sudden onset of new floaters or flashes should be evaluated by a retina specialist within 24 to 48 hours. Early detection and treatment of retinal tears can prevent vision-threatening complications.