Flashes and Floaters

Many people complain of seeing flashes or floaters. Most of the time they are harmless and require no treatment.

These particles were formed when we were born, and are usually not noticed until later in life when the consistency of the vitreous (gel-like material that fills the eye) becomes more watery, allowing the particles to move around inside the eye.

However, during a doctor’s exam, the doctor may uncover a more serious problem as a retinal tear or retinal hole, which could manifest itself as a flasher or floater.

Unfortunately, there is no simple way to eliminate flashes and floaters, but the patient will notice an improvement over the years as the brain develops a way to ignore them. Retinal holes and retinal tears can be repaired with surgery.