FLASHES AND FLOATERS

Dots and lines (floaters) or flashes of light in your vision are common. They’re not usually serious.

Floaters and flashes are usually harmless

If you sometimes see:

• floaters – such as small dark dots, squiggly lines, rings or cobwebs
• flashes of light

in your vision, it’s not usually a sign of anything serious, especially if:

• you’ve had them for a long time
• they’re not getting worse
• your vision is not affected

Flashes may eventually stop, and floaters often become less noticeable as you get used to them.

Lots of people, particularly older people, get floaters and flashes. They’re usually caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eyes changes.

Sometimes they can be caused by retinal detachment. This is serious and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated.

Floaters and flashes can also happen for no obvious reason.

Your eyes will be checked to see if you might need to be seen by Misha for more tests or treatment.

You’ll usually only need treatment if you have a problem that could affect your vision.