Flashes and Floaters
Floaters are specks, spots, cobwebs, or cloud like images moving around in your field of vision. They are often more noticeable against a plain background, like a blue sky or a white wall. It is often times normal to gradually accumulate floaters as we get older. If you ever have a sudden or abrupt increase in floaters, even if they settle, you should make an appointment within a day or two of that episode to be examined for a possible retinal tear.
Flashes occur when the vitreous gel inside the eye pulls on the retina. This is more likely to occur with head or eye movement. If you have a sudden appearance of flashes, you should contact us for an exam within a day or two of onset in case the retina has been torn.