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Floaters and Flashes Cincinnati

Dr. David Howard, physician for Floaters and Flashes located in Cincinnati Ohio, provides individual attention to your eye care and uses the most advanced Floaters and Flashes treatment technology. Contact Anderson Hills EyeCare & Optical today to schedule a Floaters and Flashes consultation.

FLOATERS - FLASHES

What are Floaters ?

You may sometimes see small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision. They are called floaters. You can often see them when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky.

Floaters are actually tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous, the clear jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye.

Although the floaters appear to be in front of the eye,
they are actually floating in the vitreous fluid inside the eye.

While these objects look like they are in front of your eye, they are actually floating inside. What you see are the shadows they cast on the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and allows you to see.

Floaters can have different shapes: little dots, circles, lines, clouds or cobwebs.

What Causes Floaters ?
When people reach middle age, the vitreous gel may start to thicken or shrink, forming clumps or strands inside the eye. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment. It is a common cause of floaters:

Posterior vitreous detachment is more common for people who

are nearsighted
have undergone cataract operations
have had YAG laser surgery of the eye
have had inflammation inside the eye

The appearance of floaters may be alarming, especially if they develop suddenly. You should see an opthalmologist right away if you suddenly develop new floaters, especially if you are over 45 years of age.

Are Floaters Ever Serious ?

The retina can tear if the shrinking vitreous gel pulls away from the wall of the eye. This sometimes causes a small amount of bleeding in the eye that may appear as new floaters.

A torn retina is always a serious problem, since it can lead to a retinal detachment. You should see your opthalmologist as soon as possible if:

even one new floater appears suddenly
you see sudden flashes of light

If you notice other symptoms, like the loss of side vision, you should see your opthalmologist.

What can be done about floaters ?

Because you need to know if your retina is torn, call your opthalmologist if a new floater appears suddenly.

Floaters can get in the way of clear vision, which may be quite annoying, especially if you are trying to read. You can try moving your eyes, looking up and then down to move the floaters out of the way.

While some floaters may remain in your vision, many of them will fade over time and become less bothersome. Even if you have had some floaters for years, you should have an eye examination immediately if you notice new ones.

What causes flashing lights?

When the vitreous gel rubs or pulls on the retina, you may see what look like flashing lights or lightning streaks. You may have experienced this same sensation if you have ever been hit in the eye and seen "stars."

When the vitreous rubs or pulls on the retina,
it creates a sensation of flashing lights.

The flashes of light can appear off and on for several weeks or months. As we grow older, it is more common to experience flashes. If you notice the sudden appearance of light flashes, you should visit your opthalmologist immediately to see if the retina has been torn.

You can use the tears as often as necessary-once or twice a day or as often as several times an hour.

Other more advanced treatments may be necessary for severe dry eyes.

Physician Dr. David Howard, located in Cincinnati, is dedicated to providing his patients with outstanding, compassionate care while continuing a long tradition of surgical excellence.