Annoying Visual Floaters And Flashers
Floaters look like small black dots or strings in your peripheral vision and tend to appear more often after the age of 50. These shadowy figures result when the part of your eye called the vitreous contracts.
“The vitreous starts out like a semi-solid gel,” explains Pradeep Prasad, MD, ophthalmologist, UCLA Stein Eye Institute. “As we get older it liquefies and contracts. Around the age of 50, it starts to peel away from the retina and condensations form within the vitreous cavity, which we perceive as floaters.”
That same pulling away process can stimulate the retina and cause the perception of flashes.
Be aware of warning signs
Trouble signs are when floaters and flashers suddenly occur in abundance or have rapidly increased in number. Then, it’s time to visit your eye doctor. That is because floaters and flashers may be symptoms of more serious issues, such as retinal tears, detachment, and more rarely infection and inflammation (uveitis). While you don’t have to rush to the emergency department, it is recommended that you see your doctor within 24 hours. Waiting any longer puts you at risk for possible long-lasting eye damage.
“Earlier is always better,” emphasizes Dr. Prasad. “If we see the tear, we can fix it immediately in the clinic with a laser. It generally takes less than 10 minutes and it is a very low-risk procedure.”
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
➢ Floaters and flashers typically occur after age 50.
➢ A sudden increase in frequency signals a potential problem–see your doctor within 24 hours.
➢ Caught early, a simple tear can be repaired in the office.
➢ White women are at the highest risk for floaters and flashers.
It’s also a very effective procedure because it can prevent a tear from turning into a more serious detachment. Once that tear turns into a detachment, it usually requires surgery to fix.
A Detached Retina is Serious
The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual messages through the optic nerve to the brain. When it is pulled away from its normal position, or detached, it can cause permanent vision loss if not promptly treated.
If a retinal blood vessel is torn, blood will spread into the vitreous and block your vision. Any time vision is lost even partially, it’s an emergency. Seek medical attention immediately.
Regular Screenings Can Save Your Vision
The only way to know if your floaters or flashers are innocuous or something more is to have a comprehensive eye exam. You eye doctor will examine each eye for common vision problems as well as eye diseases—some of which do not have any early warning signs. That is why annual eye exams are generally recommended starting at age 60. It’s also especially important for people with diabetes to have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at last once a year. Screening exams generally include the following:
➥ Visual acuity test. The basic eye chart test, which gauges vision at various distances.
➥ Dilation. Eye drops widen the pupil and allow the doctor to see deep tissues, including the retina, macula, and optic nerve.
➥ Tonometry. Better known as the puff-of-air test used to assess eye pressure.
➥ Visual field test. This measures your peripheral vision; loss may be a sign of glaucoma or retinal tear.
The last of the baby boomers will hit 65 by 2029. The National Eye Institute (NEI) estimates that 16.4 million Americans will have difficulty with vision, much of which can be fixed with glasses, contacts or surgery.
“Early detection and intervention—possibly as simple as prescribing corrective lenses—could go a long way toward preventing a significant proportion of avoidable vision loss,” says NEI Director Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD.
Those Most Likely to Be Affected
Non-Hispanic whites, particularly women, are the largest group of people affected by visual impairment and blindness, according to the NEI. African-Americans hold second place for those most likely to be visually impaired. That statistic may shift to the Hispanic population as they increase in number and age. Also, Hispanics have higher rates of diabetes, which is associated with eye diseases, most of which are treatable.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to prevent floaters and flashers. But you can be wise about your eyes. Good eye health practices include wearing sunglasses especially when in exceptionally bright environments such as snow and water, eating a healthy diet and having your eyes examined every year.
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