The first time you’re gazing at something and notice a speck that shouldn’t be there, it can be extremely disorienting. Weird, even.
They are called “floaters.” Tiny dots or squiggles that drift through your field of vision, they are quite common. About three out of every four adults will see them.
For years, doctors didn’t worry too much about them.
But a new study from the Netherlands could help change how primary care doctors evaluate the visual nuisance. Researchers found that floaters are a harbinger for retinal detachment, a serious condition that can cause permanent blindness.
That signal is strongest when a patient suddenly sees many floaters in one burst. Of those patients, about 1 in 5 were later diagnosed with a retinal detachment or tear. And when that burst of floaters was accompanied by a flash of light, the risk was even higher.
In the study, the researchers reviewed data from 1,181 patient visits to primary care doctors, where they reported floaters, flashes of light in their vision, or both.
In 77 cases, patients were diagnosed with a retinal detachment or tear. A tear is a break in tissue at the back of the eye. Detachment is when the tissue pulls away from its normal position.
A few things to know: Floaters are shadows cast by clumps of collagen in the gel-like substance between your eye’s lens and retina. They are most common in those over age 50 and those who are nearsighted.
And fortunately, most times, they really are harmless. But if you experience a spate of floaters, a flash of light or a dark area that clouds your vision, there’s no time to waste. Get to your doctor.