FLOATERS AND FLASHES

Eye Care in Murray, UT

FLOATERS AND FLASHES

Floaters and Flashes | Eye Foundation of Utah | Service Page

Floaters and flashes often occur with changes in the vitreous, the clear gel inside the eye.


While these symptoms are often harmless, they can sometimes indicate a retinal tear or detachment, serious eye conditions.


Let Dr. Robert Wooldridge at the Eye Foundation of Utah serving Salt Lake City, UT, diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan.

FLOATERS VS. FLASHES

Eye Floater | Eye Foundation of Utah

FLOATERS

Floaters appear as small specks, dots, or cobwebs that float across your field of vision. When light hits tiny pieces of tissue inside the vitreous, it creates shadows on the retina, resulting in these floaters. Floaters are normal, but a sudden increase in floaters can indicate a problem.

Eye Flashes | Eye Foundation of Utah

FLASHES

Flashes are bright flashes of light that last for only a moment and don't come from an external light source. They often occur at the side of your field of vision but can appear in the central field of vision, as well. Flashes occur when the vitreous shrinks or changes and pulls on the retina.

Floaters and flashes can indicate a common condition called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and may not be cause for concern.

POSTERIOR VITREOUS DETACHMENT

While diabetic retinopathy might not cause symptoms in its earliest stages, patients with the condition can experience:


  • Floaters
  • Vision Loss
  • Blurred Vision
  • Difficulty Perceiving Colors
  • Dark Areas in the Field of Vision
  • Pain or Pressure in One or Both Eyes

WHEN TO CONTACT AN EYE DOCTOR

Experiencing floaters and flashes once in a while can be normal, but they can also indicate serious eye conditions. Contact our Murray ophthalmologist office serving all of Salt Lake City if:


  • You notice a lot of new floaters.
  • You notice a lot of flashes.
  • A shadow appears in your side vision.
  • You notice a gray curtain moving across your vision.


These symptoms can indicate a retinal detachment, a serious condition that requires immediate attention.

SOLUTIONS FOR FLOATERS AND FLASHES

LASER VITREOLYSIS

If floaters are affecting your daily life, such as making it difficult to focus when reading or driving, laser vitreolysis with our Murray practice serving Salt Lake City can remove them. This fast procedure uses light to break up and eliminate floaters by turning them into small gas bubbles that are absorbed into the vitreous.

VITRECTOMY

A vitrectomy removes the vitreous and replaces it with another substance. Over time, your natural eye fluid will take its place. The procedure is used to treat various problems with the retina and vitreous, like retinal detachment and bleeding inside the eye. It can also remove small pieces of a cataract left in the eye after cataract surgery.

RETINAL DETACHMENT REPAIR

A freeze treatment, laser surgery, or another kind of surgery can be used to reattach the retina to the back of your eye. Your options will depend on how much of your retina is detached and what type of retinal detachment you have. Dr. Wooldridge can review your options with you.