What does it mean when you see floaters in your eyes?

Seeing occasional floaters in your vision is usually a normal, harmless occurrence. Floaters are small, moving spots, lines, or cobwebs that appear in your field of vision. They are caused by tiny clumps of gel or cells in the vitreous humor, the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the inside of your eye.

As you get older, the vitreous humor can begin to shrink and liquefy, causing these clumps to form and become more noticeable. Floaters are usually more visible when you are looking at a bright background, such as a white wall or a clear sky. They typically move with your eye movements and can be distracting, but they usually do not cause any problems with your vision.

However, in some cases, floaters can be a sign of a more serious eye problem, such as:

- Retinal tear: A small tear in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye.

- Retinal detachment: The retina separates from the back of your eye.

- Bleeding in the eye: Caused by injury, inflammation, or other medical conditions.

- Infection in the eye: Such as uveitis, which causes inflammation of the uveal tract, the middle layer of the eye.

If you are experiencing a sudden increase in the number of floaters in your vision, or if you have other symptoms such as flashes of light, blurred vision, or pain in your eye, it's important to see an eye doctor right away to determine the cause and get the appropriate treatment.