You may already know that your eyes are filled with a jelly-like substance called the vitreous humour. As we get older, it’s common for the vitreous humour to accumulate pieces of debris, which, while relatively harmless, can cast shadows in our vision.
These shadows often appear as little dots or strands that seem to escape your view when you try to look at them. These are called floaters, and in most cases are no cause for alarm.
Floaters are most common in people who are short-sighted, or over the age of fifty.
However, if floaters impair your vision significantly, or if you notice them in conjunction with flashing light, it’s recommended that you get in touch with your doctor right away – as these symptoms could indicate a retinal tear, and could require surgery. And of course, it’s always possible that floaters could be a symptom of other, less common conditions – so if you’re worried for any reason, get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help.
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