Eye Floaters: Causes, Warning Signs and When to Seek Urgent Care

Author: Dr Val Phua
Estimated reading time: 11–13 minutes

What Are the Spots, Threads and Cobwebs Moving Across My Vision?

Eye floaters are small shapes that appear to drift through the field of vision.

They may look like:

Black or grey dots
Threads or strings
Cobwebs
Curved lines
Rings
Translucent clouds
Small insects moving across the vision

Floaters are particularly noticeable when looking at a bright, plain background, such as a white wall, computer screen or clear sky.

Most longstanding floaters are caused by natural changes in the vitreous gel inside the eye and are not dangerous. However, a sudden onset or marked increase in floaters may indicate a posterior vitreous detachment, retinal tear, vitreous haemorrhage or retinal detachment.

Seek prompt dilated retinal examination if new floaters are accompanied by:

Flashes of light
A shower of black dots
Blurred or reduced vision
A dark curtain or shadow
Recent eye trauma

Retinal tears and detachments are usually painless, so the absence of discomfort does not make sudden floaters safe to ignore.

What Causes a Floater to Appear?

The inside of the eye is filled with a transparent gel called the vitreous humour.

When we are young, the vitreous is relatively uniform and firmly attached to the retina. With age, it gradually becomes more liquefied and develops microscopic fibres or condensations.

These structures cast shadows onto the retina. The brain perceives the shadows as floaters.

The floater is therefore not normally located on the front surface of the eye. It lies within the vitreous cavity and moves when the eye moves.

Because the vitreous continues moving briefly after the eye stops, floaters may seem to drift away when you try to look directly at them.

Why Are Floaters Easier to See Against a Bright Background?

A uniform bright background creates strong contrast between the incoming light and the shadow cast by the vitreous opacity.

Floaters may therefore appear more obvious when looking at:

A bright sky
A white wall
A blank document
A computer screen
A brightly lit room

They may be less noticeable in dim lighting or against a visually complex background.

This does not necessarily mean that the number of floaters is changing throughout the day.

What Do Ordinary Floaters Look Like?

Common age-related floaters may appear as:

Small Dots

These may be grey, black or translucent and move with the eye.

Threads or Cobwebs

Fine vitreous fibres may create curved or branching shadows.

Rings

A relatively large circular floater may appear after the vitreous separates from the optic nerve.

This is often called a Weiss ring and commonly occurs during posterior vitreous detachment.

Clouds or Haze

A cluster of vitreous opacities may create a translucent patch that moves across the vision.

A new dark or reddish cloud is more concerning because it may represent blood inside the eye.

What Is Posterior Vitreous Detachment?

Posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD, occurs when the vitreous gel separates from the retina.

This is a common age-related event and usually happens after the vitreous has become increasingly liquefied.

Typical symptoms include:

Sudden new floaters
A larger ring-shaped floater
Flashes in the side vision
Temporary visual haze

Most PVDs do not cause permanent visual damage. The American Society of Retina Specialists reports that approximately 85% of patients with PVD do not develop a significant complication, and the flashes and floaters often become less noticeable over the following months.

However, PVD can occasionally pull hard enough to tear the retina. For this reason, sudden floaters cannot be safely diagnosed as an uncomplicated PVD based on symptoms alone.

How Can a PVD Cause a Retinal Tear?

The vitreous is more firmly attached to certain areas of the retina.

As it separates, persistent traction may:

Pull on the peripheral retina.
Create a retinal tear.
Rupture a small retinal blood vessel.
Allow fluid to pass beneath the retina.
Lead to a retinal detachment.

A large prospective community study found a retinal tear or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in approximately 9.9% of patients presenting with symptomatic PVD. A further 3% developed a retinal tear during the following two months. Some tears were detected only through careful indirect examination with scleral depression.

These findings explain why an initial dilated examination—and follow-up in selected patients—remains important.

What Symptoms Suggest a Retinal Tear?

Warning symptoms include:

A sudden onset of numerous floaters
A dramatic increase in existing floaters
A shower of pepper-like black dots
New flashes of light
A dark cloud or haze
Reduced or blurred vision

The pepper-like dots may represent pigment cells or blood released when the retina tears.

A retinal tear can frequently be treated with laser or cryotherapy before it progresses to a detachment.

What Symptoms Suggest Retinal Detachment?

Seek emergency eye care if you notice:

A dark curtain or veil
A shadow entering from one side
A missing section of peripheral vision
A rapidly enlarging area of blur
Sudden central visual loss
New floaters and flashes followed by a visual-field defect

A retinal detachment occurs when fluid passes through a retinal tear and lifts the retina away from the back wall of the eye.

The condition is generally painless but can cause permanent visual loss if treatment is delayed.

When Should New Floaters Be Examined?

Arrange a prompt, preferably same-day, dilated retinal examination if you develop:

Sudden new floaters
A marked increase in longstanding floaters
Flashes of light
Numerous black dots
A dark cloud
Blurred or reduced vision
A curtain or shadow
Symptoms after eye trauma
New symptoms after cataract or other eye surgery

Do not wait for the symptoms to disappear before seeking care.

A retinal tear may remain present even if flashes settle or floaters temporarily become less noticeable.

Are Longstanding Stable Floaters Dangerous?

Longstanding floaters that have remained unchanged for months or years are generally less concerning than sudden new symptoms.

However, arrange a routine examination if:

The floaters have never been assessed.
They interfere substantially with reading or driving.
One eye is significantly more affected.
Vision is persistently hazy.
You have high myopia.
You have undergone retinal or cataract surgery.
You have diabetes or another retinal condition.

A new change from your usual baseline should always be treated as a fresh symptom.

What Else Can Cause Floaters?

Age-Related Vitreous Degeneration

The most common cause is gradual degeneration and liquefaction of the vitreous with age.

These floaters commonly develop slowly and become more noticeable over time.

High Myopia

A highly myopic eye is usually longer than average.

The stretched eye tends to undergo vitreous liquefaction and PVD earlier. High myopia is also associated with:

Lattice degeneration
Peripheral retinal thinning
Retinal tears
Retinal detachment
Myopic macular degeneration

Patients who previously had LASIK, SMILE, PRK or ICL surgery remain at increased retinal risk if their original myopia was high. Vision-correction surgery changes the focusing power of the eye but does not shorten its axial length.

Vitreous Haemorrhage

Blood inside the vitreous may cause:

Numerous dark floaters
Red or brown clouds
Cobweb-like shadows
Smoky vision
Marked visual reduction

Possible causes include:

A retinal tear
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Retinal vein occlusion
Eye trauma
Abnormal retinal blood vessels

Vitreous haemorrhage requires prompt examination because the blood may conceal a retinal tear or detachment.

Eye Inflammation

Inflammatory cells within the vitreous may be perceived as floaters.

Possible associated symptoms include:

Eye pain
Redness
Light sensitivity
Blurred vision

Inflammation inside the eye, or uveitis, requires treatment directed at the underlying cause.

Retinal Tears and Detachment

A retinal tear may release blood or pigment into the vitreous, creating sudden floaters.

A retinal detachment may subsequently cause a curtain or missing visual field.

Diabetes

Advanced diabetic retinopathy can produce fragile abnormal blood vessels that bleed into the vitreous.

A person with diabetes who develops sudden dark floaters or hazy vision should not wait for their next routine diabetic screening appointment.

Retinal Vein Occlusion

Poor retinal circulation may stimulate abnormal blood vessels that later bleed into the vitreous.

Floaters may therefore arise weeks or months after the original vein occlusion.

Eye Trauma

Blunt or penetrating trauma can cause:

Vitreous haemorrhage
Retinal tears
Retinal dialysis
Retinal detachment
Inflammation
Lens or corneal damage

An injured eye should be examined even if central vision initially appears good.

Previous Eye Surgery

Floaters may become noticeable after cataract surgery because:

The clearer artificial lens makes existing vitreous opacities more visible.
A PVD may develop around the time of surgery.
Pre-existing high myopia increases retinal risk.
Rarely, a retinal tear, inflammation or bleeding has developed.

New flashes, floaters or a curtain after eye surgery require prompt retinal assessment.

Can Children Have Floaters?

Children may occasionally describe spots or shapes in their vision.

Possible causes include:

Benign vitreous opacities
Migraine-related visual phenomena
Inflammation
Trauma
Retinal disease
High myopia

Persistent, one-sided or sudden symptoms in a child should be examined, particularly when accompanied by reduced vision, flashes, pain or redness.

Are Floaters the Same as Visual Migraine?

No.

Floaters are usually small shapes that move with the eye and remain within the same eye.

Migraine-related visual symptoms are more likely to involve:

Shimmering zigzag lines
Expanding geometric patterns
Flickering lights
A temporary blurred or missing area
Symptoms affecting the same side of vision in both eyes
Gradual development over several minutes
Resolution within approximately an hour

New visual symptoms should still be assessed when the diagnosis is uncertain, especially if they are confined to one eye or associated with persistent visual loss.

How Are Floaters Examined?

Medical and Symptom History

Your ophthalmologist may ask:

When the floaters began
Whether they appeared suddenly or gradually
Whether flashes are present
Whether there is a curtain or shadow
Whether vision has changed
Whether there was recent trauma or surgery
Whether you have high myopia, diabetes or previous retinal disease

The timing and pattern help determine urgency but do not replace retinal examination.

Visual-Acuity Testing

Vision is checked in each eye.

Good central vision does not exclude a peripheral retinal tear.

Pupil Examination

The pupil responses are assessed for evidence of significant retinal or optic-nerve dysfunction.

Slit-Lamp Examination

The front of the eye and the anterior vitreous are examined.

The presence of:

Blood
Pigment cells
Inflammatory cells
Abnormal iris vessels

may provide clues to the underlying diagnosis.

Dilated Retinal Examination

Dilating drops enlarge the pupil so that the vitreous and retina can be examined.

The ophthalmologist looks for:

Posterior vitreous detachment
Retinal tears
Retinal holes
Lattice degeneration
Retinal detachment
Vitreous haemorrhage
Diabetic or vascular retinal disease

A thorough peripheral retinal examination is the most important assessment for sudden floaters.

Scleral Depression

Scleral depression involves applying gentle pressure through the eyelid or onto the outer eye while examining the retina.

This brings the far peripheral retina into view and may reveal tears that are difficult to see with ordinary examination alone.

The examination can feel unusual or briefly uncomfortable, but it is valuable when an acute tear is suspected. The prospective PVD study found that some retinal tears were visible only with indirect ophthalmoscopy and scleral depression.

Widefield Retinal Photography

Widefield imaging may document a large area of retina and is helpful for:

Recording retinal findings
Locating a visible tear
Comparing future examinations
Patient education

However, a camera may not capture the entire extreme peripheral retina. Widefield imaging should not automatically replace a careful dilated examination with scleral depression when a tear is suspected.

Ocular Ultrasound

Ultrasound may be required when the retina cannot be seen clearly because of:

Dense vitreous haemorrhage
Cataract
Corneal opacity
Severe inflammation

It may detect a retinal detachment or other large abnormalities.

A small retinal tear may remain difficult to identify, so repeat examinations may be required as the view improves.

Optical Coherence Tomography

OCT produces detailed cross-sectional images of the macula.

It can identify:

Vitreomacular traction
Epiretinal membrane
Macular hole
Macular swelling
Other central retinal conditions

A normal macular OCT does not exclude a tear in the far peripheral retina.

Do Floaters Go Away?

Floaters may become less noticeable with time.

This can happen because:

The vitreous opacity moves away from the visual axis.
The floater settles lower in the eye.
The brain gradually learns to ignore the shadow.
Blood or inflammatory material clears.
Flashes subside as vitreous separation completes.

The floater may still remain physically present even when the patient notices it less often.

PVD-related flashes and floaters commonly become less intrusive over several weeks or months, although some floaters remain visible indefinitely.

Can Looking Up and Down Move a Floater?

Moving the eye may temporarily shift a floater away from the centre of vision.

However, the vitreous continues moving after the eye stops, so the opacity may drift back.

Eye movements do not remove or dissolve the floater.

Can Eye Drops Remove Floaters?

No ordinary eye drop has been proven to dissolve age-related vitreous floaters.

Drops applied to the eye’s surface do not reach the vitreous in a concentration that removes collagen condensations.

Drops may treat associated dry eye or inflammation but do not eliminate ordinary vitreous opacities.

Do Vitamins or Supplements Help?

No vitamin, herbal preparation or nutritional supplement has been proven to dissolve common vitreous floaters.

Products claiming to remove floaters should be approached cautiously, particularly when they encourage patients to delay retinal examination after sudden symptoms.

Can Screen Use Cause Floaters?

Computer and smartphone use do not generally create vitreous floaters.

Screens may make existing floaters easier to notice because of:

Bright uniform backgrounds
Prolonged visual concentration
Increased awareness
Eye strain or dry-eye-related blur

Screen breaks may improve comfort but do not remove vitreous opacities.

How Are Floaters Treated?

Observation

Observation is appropriate for most ordinary floaters once a retinal tear, haemorrhage, inflammation and other significant disease have been excluded.

Patients are advised to:

Monitor for new symptoms
Attend recommended follow-up
Return urgently for more floaters, flashes or a curtain
Allow time for neuroadaptation

No specific treatment is normally required for an uncomplicated PVD.

Laser Treatment for a Retinal Tear

Laser does not treat the floater itself.

If examination reveals a high-risk retinal tear, laser photocoagulation may be placed around the tear to create a protective adhesion and reduce the risk of retinal detachment.

The floaters may remain after successful laser because the vitreous opacity or blood has not been removed.

Vitrectomy for Severe Floaters

Vitrectomy is an operation in which small instruments are inserted through the white part of the eye to remove the vitreous gel and its opacities.

Because most of the vitreous is removed, vitrectomy can provide substantial relief from visually disabling floaters.

It may be considered when:

Floaters have persisted for a substantial period.
Retinal disease has been excluded or treated.
Symptoms significantly impair reading, driving or work.
The patient understands the surgical risks.
Observation and adaptation have been unsuccessful.

Risks include:

Cataract progression
Retinal tear
Retinal detachment
Macular swelling
Epiretinal membrane
Infection
Bleeding
Raised or reduced eye pressure
Loss of vision

Vitrectomy is therefore not recommended simply because a few floaters are annoying. The severity of symptoms must justify the risks of intraocular surgery.

YAG Laser Vitreolysis

YAG vitreolysis uses laser energy to disrupt or fragment selected vitreous opacities.

It is most commonly considered for a discrete, well-defined floater located safely away from the retina and natural lens, such as a prominent Weiss ring.

A small randomised clinical trial of 52 patients with symptomatic Weiss-ring floaters found greater self-reported improvement after YAG vitreolysis than after sham treatment at six months. However, the trial was small and was not designed to detect uncommon complications.

Important limitations include:

Not every floater is suitable.
Diffuse clouds or numerous fine opacities may respond poorly.
Several sessions may be needed.
Symptoms may improve without disappearing.
Long-term comparative safety evidence remains limited.
Potential complications include retinal injury, retinal tear, pressure elevation, inflammation and lens damage.

Current AAO summary guidance states that there is no consensus on floater treatment and that evidence remains insufficient to guide management universally.

Patients considering vitreolysis should first undergo a complete retinal examination and discuss the uncertainties, alternatives and potential risks with an appropriately trained ophthalmologist.

Is Vitrectomy Better Than Laser Vitreolysis?

The procedures are very different.

Vitrectomy

Physically removes most vitreous opacities
More predictable for diffuse or numerous floaters
Involves intraocular surgery
Carries cataract, retinal-detachment and infection risks

YAG Vitreolysis

Attempts to fragment or displace selected opacities
Avoids surgical entry into the eye
Best suited to carefully selected floaters
May provide partial rather than complete improvement
Has less extensive long-term safety evidence

There is no single best option for every patient.

For most people, observation remains the safest approach.

Why Are Floaters Sometimes Distressing Despite Good Eye-Chart Vision?

Floaters may affect visual quality without substantially reducing high-contrast visual acuity.

Patients may experience difficulty with:

Reading against a white page
Using spreadsheets
Viewing computer screens
Driving in bright light
Tracking moving objects
Maintaining concentration
Working in visually demanding occupations

The symptoms are genuine even when the patient can read the smallest eye-chart letters.

Treatment decisions should consider functional impairment while remaining proportionate to the risks of intervention.

What Follow-Up Is Needed After an Acute PVD?

The follow-up plan depends on:

Retinal findings
Presence of vitreous haemorrhage
High myopia
Lattice degeneration
Previous retinal tear or detachment
Previous eye surgery
Severity of symptoms
Whether a complete peripheral examination was possible

One or more follow-up examinations may be recommended during the first several weeks or months after symptomatic PVD because delayed tears can occur.

Do not wait for the scheduled appointment if you develop a sudden increase in floaters, new flashes, reduced vision or a curtain.

Warning Signs Requiring Urgent Assessment

Seek prompt eye care for:

A sudden onset of new floaters
A sudden increase in existing floaters
A shower of black or pepper-like dots
New flashes of light
A dark or reddish cloud
Sudden blurred or reduced vision
A curtain, shadow or missing visual field
Symptoms following eye injury
New symptoms after cataract or retinal surgery

A curtain or shadow should be treated as an emergency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are floaters normal?

A few stable floaters are common, particularly with increasing age or myopia.

Sudden new floaters are not automatically dangerous, but they require examination because a retinal tear cannot be excluded from symptoms alone.

Why do floaters move when I move my eyes?

The opacities are suspended within the vitreous gel. They move with the gel when the eye moves and may continue drifting briefly afterwards.

Why can I not look directly at a floater?

When you move your eye towards it, the vitreous opacity also shifts, causing the shadow to move away.

Will rubbing my eyes remove floaters?

No.

Rubbing does not remove vitreous opacities and may irritate or injure the eye.

Can dehydration cause floaters?

Ordinary dehydration has not been shown to create vitreous collagen floaters. Drinking more water does not dissolve them.

Are floaters caused by high blood pressure?

High blood pressure does not usually cause ordinary age-related floaters.

Severe hypertension or vascular disease may contribute to retinal bleeding, which can produce sudden dark floaters and requires assessment.

Can stress make floaters worse?

Stress does not normally create vitreous opacities, but anxiety and heightened visual attention may make existing floaters more noticeable.

Can cataract surgery remove floaters?

No.

Cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens, not the vitreous gel. Existing floaters may become more visible after surgery because the optical media are clearer.

Can floaters return after vitrectomy?

Most existing opacities are removed, but small residual vitreous, blood, inflammatory material or later retinal disease may produce new visual phenomena.

Is a ring-shaped floater dangerous?

A ring-shaped floater may represent a Weiss ring from PVD.

The ring itself is not necessarily dangerous, but the associated vitreous separation may have caused a retinal tear. A new ring should therefore be examined promptly.

Why do I still have floaters after retinal laser?

Laser seals the retinal tear but does not remove the vitreous opacity, pigment or blood that created the floater.

Can floaters affect both eyes?

Yes.

Age-related vitreous change commonly occurs in both eyes, although it may happen at different times and with different severity.

The Bottom Line

Eye floaters are shadows cast on the retina by opacities within the vitreous gel.

Most longstanding floaters are benign and gradually become less noticeable.

The important warning is a sudden change.

Seek prompt dilated retinal examination for:

New floaters
A marked increase in floaters
Flashes of light
A shower of black dots
Blurred vision
A dark cloud
A curtain or shadow

Most uncomplicated posterior vitreous detachments settle without treatment, but approximately one in ten patients presenting with symptomatic PVD may already have an associated retinal tear or detachment.

Treatment is directed at the cause:

Observation for uncomplicated floaters
Laser or cryotherapy for a retinal tear
Surgery for retinal detachment
Treatment of bleeding or inflammation
Vitrectomy in carefully selected patients with severely disabling floaters
YAG vitreolysis only after careful selection and discussion of the limited evidence

Longstanding stable floaters are usually harmless. Sudden new floaters are a warning symptom until the retina has been properly examined.

References

Kim SJ, et al. Posterior Vitreous Detachment, Retinal Breaks, and Lattice Degeneration Preferred Practice Pattern. Ophthalmology. 2025.
National Eye Institute. Vitreous Detachment. Updated December 2024.
National Eye Institute. Floaters.
National Eye Institute. Retinal Detachment. Updated November 2025.
American Society of Retina Specialists. Posterior Vitreous Detachment.
American Society of Retina Specialists. Retinal Tears.
Nixon TRW, et al. Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Retinal Tear: A Prospective Study of Community Referrals. Eye. 2024.
American Society of Retina Specialists. Vitrectomy for Floaters.
Shah CP, Heier JS. YAG Laser Vitreolysis Versus Sham YAG Vitreolysis for Symptomatic Vitreous Floaters: A Randomised Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2017.