What Do Eye Floaters Look Like?

Eye floaters are the result of changes to the vitreous fluid in the eye, often occurring as it becomes more liquid-like with age. They are composed of accumulated microscopic fibers, and although a nuisance, are generally not a serious problem.

Causes

• The most common cause of eye floaters is age, while trauma, surgery and inflammation can increase the risk of them developing. In some cases, a retinal tear can cause large numbers of eye floaters.

Appearance

• Eye floaters looks like small specks or strings floating in the field of vision. They can be transparent or dark in appearance, and they seem to move quickly out of the way when you try to look directly at them. Over time they will eventually settle to the bottom of your field of vision.

Frequency

• Eye floaters are more prominent when you look at anything bright, such as the sky. According to allaboutvision.com, this is because the light from a bright source, such as a computer screen or the sky, passes through your eye and casts shadows on the retina.

Associations

• Eye floaters may often be accompanied by bright flashes of light that can be seen out of the corner of your eyes. This is a sign of a tear in the retina or retinal detachment, and requires immediate medical assistance.

Treatment

• Eye floaters, though their appearance at times is a nuisance, typically require no treatment. Although rare, in some cases where the floaters interfere with your vision, surgery to remove the vitreous fluid and replace it with saline may be recommended.