What Are Floaties in Eyecare?

More appropriately called "floaters," these are relatively harmless phenomena that happen as people age. They look like gray or black flecks or strings in your vision.

Inside Your Eye

• Your eye stays round because of a gel-like substance that fills your eyeball called "vitreous." According to the Mayo Clinic, when this gel begins to break down with age, floaters are common.

In the Vitreous

• There are millions of small fibers that are suspended in the gel in your eye. They are attached to the retina, which is at the back of your eye and can bunch up in the eye.

Vision Changes

• Generally, floaters are most prominent when you are looking at a white page, as with reading a book or typing into a word document on the computer. They move and shift as you move your eyes, which can be quite frustrating.

Light and Shadow

• Because the floaters are actually in your eyeball, rather than in front of the lens, you aren't really seeing them. You are seeing shadows as light passes through your eye that are cast on your retina.

When Floaters are Dangerous

• If you notice a sudden increase in the floaters in your eye, or if you start seeing haze around things, it is very important to contact your doctor immediately. These can be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which can cause permanent loss of vision.