Flashes and Floaters in Your Eyes: When to See the Doctor 

Regardless of the issue, knowing when to see the eye doctor is essential to protecting your vision. That’s certainly the case with eye flashes and floaters. They could be a simple sign of aging versus a problem with the retina or other inner eye structures.

Our award-winning team at Marano Eye Care, a division of Ophthalmology New Jersey, can identify what’s causing those squiggly lines or flashes of light in your visual field. If necessary, we can develop a customized treatment strategy to help preserve your vision.

Check these facts from our team about floaters and flashes and why you shouldn’t ignore them.

Understanding floaters and flashes

Both floaters and flashes originate in the vitreous, a gel-like substance found in the inner eye between the lens and the light-sensitive tissue (retina) lining the back of the eye.

Almost everyone can expect to experience floaters drifting across their vision at some point. These squiggly web-like lines or dark specks are usually more apparent when looking at a plain background like a white wall or cloudless blue sky.

Flashes are brief bursts of light or lightning-like streaks that often appear in the peripheral visual field (the corners of your eyes). They occur when the vitreous pulls on the retina.

Causes of floaters and flashes

Both flashes and floaters are caused by changes in the vitreous, which shrinks and thickens as you age. This can lead to clumps or strands of protein within the vitreous that cast shadows on your retina, creating the appearance of floaters. 

Although permanent, floaters tend to fade over time, making them less noticeable. Because they’re drifting, they may also come in and out of focus as you move your eyes. Nearsightedness, previous cataract surgery, and eye inflammation can increase your risk of developing floaters. 

Flashes occur when the vitreous shrinks and pulls on the retina, triggering the neurological response of flashing lights, which can mimic spots, stars, or lightning. Flashes are more common as you age (50-75 years) and may occur intermittently for weeks to months.

Other causes include:

• Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)
• Eye inflammation
• Injury or trauma to the eye
• Retinal detachment or tear

A retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss. However, immediate medical care can save your eyesight.

When to see a doctor for flashes or floaters

Our specialty team at Marano Eye Care recommends routine eye exams for everyone. During these exams, we can spot a problem in its earliest stages.

Otherwise, we recommend you schedule a visit if you notice a sudden increase in floaters, especially if they’re accompanied by flashes. This could signal a retinal detachment or tear requiring immediate medical attention.

Also, schedule a visit if flashes occur frequently or persist for longer periods. A dark shadow or curtain-like effect over your vision could also indicate retinal detachment.

Sudden changes in visual clarity, such as blurring or distortion, also warrant an evaluation. An eye exam is crucial if you've experienced an eye or head injury and start noticing floaters or other visual disturbances.

Schedule a visit today by calling Marano Eye Care at one of our three New Jersey locations.