Have you ever looked out into the distance and seen specs of something floating in the line of your vision? They kind of look like dust particles when they float around the eye but, these floaters, as they are known, will stand out if you start staring at a light or brightly colored object - like a white wall. You may also notice it when you come into or out of the sun. So, where do these floaters come from and what do they do to your eye? We will explore their role in your eye and how they come about!
Ever heard of a vitreous humour? Unless you hold a PhD or MD, chances are its all Greek to you, right? Well, they lie within each eye and they are a jelly-like substance that works to keep the shape of the eyeball. This clear substance acts as a shock absorber when your eye is pushed out of shape. Its also made up of more than 98 percent water. On occasion, it happens that substances, like dust, float in the vitreous humour.
Usually, floaters will go unnoticed. Yet, sometimes they bother people, which forces people to rub their eyes a big optical no-no. People often mistake these floaters for dust or tiny insects then they start to rub their eyes, only to realize that the floaters are still there. Why does this happen? Its simple: The floaters are within the eye and not really on the surface. If you get annoyed by the floaters, do this exercise: look up and down, then from side-to-side. It will swish the vitreous humour and move the floater out of the way. If you try to look directly at them, they also may seem to disappear.
The floaters you see come in different shapes and sizes. These include dots, threads, clumps, squiggles, flecks, bubbles, webs and so on; and they are also known to increase with age. Basically, as you age the vitreous humour begins to dissolve and liquefy, which creates a watery center. Some of the un-dissolved gel will float around in the liquefied center of the vitreous. Oddly enough, what you are seeing isnt actually the object floating in your eye its actually the shadow and the floaters never stay dormant or still.
Usually, the floaters are harmless because they are really just tiny clumps that have formed in the eyeball and are suspended within the vitreous humour so they move wherever your eye goes. Yet, there are times when too many eye floaters could mean your eye is damaged or youre developing an eye disease. Seeing flashing lights in conjunction with the floaters could indicate a migraine it could also mean you got up too quickly or that your blood pressure is high. Flashing lights is never a good thing, so go see your doctor.
Now, ask yourself this: when was the last time you had your vision checked? People who wear
prescription glasses tend to get their eyes checked every one to two years but those who do not wear any type of
eyeglasses frames often wait up to four years for an eye exam. To be on the safe side, make sure your eyes are checked at least once every two years and get an updated eyeglasses prescription if you need to. Making sure your eyes are in tip-top shape will help ensure that the floaters you see are actually harmless.
