Few visual disturbances are as distracting as tiny specks or sudden bursts of light in your field of vision. These drifting spots, thread-like shapes, or quick flickers often appear at the edges of your vision when looking at bright skies, a computer screen, or a plain wall. Eye floaters and flashes are common and usually a normal part of aging, but in some cases, they can signal more serious eye problems.

At The EyeDoctors Optometrists, our doctors help patients understand these visual phenomena, rule out urgent issues, and determine the appropriate next steps. Learn what causes floaters and flashes, when to seek care, and the treatment options we provide.

What Are Eye Flashes?

Eye flashes, or photopsias, are brief flashes of color or light that appear in your vision. Instead of the drifting spots or shapes you see with floaters, flashes look more like flickers, sparks, or lightning streaks off to the side of your vision. They may last only a moment, but they can be startling, especially if they appear suddenly or become more frequent.

Like eye floaters, flashes develop in the vitreous humor. As you age, the collagen in your body breaks down more quickly, causing the gel of the vitreous humor to shrink and pull away from the retina. This creates momentary flashes of light.

Eye floaters and flashes causes

Occasional floaters and flashes are normal occurrences, and they typically appear and subside quickly. They are sometimes more common early in the morning, while reading or after rubbing your eyes.

Frequent floaters and flashes can be a sign of a condition called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which is a natural change in the eye. While occasional flashes and floaters are symptoms of the collagen in the vitreous humor breaking down, PVD occurs when this layer of gel actually begins to detach from the retina. PVD isn't painful and doesn't usually cause vision loss, though it can potentially lead to complications that do.

While PVD and age are the most common causes of flashes and floaters, there are others, too. Some of the less serious causes of floaters and flashes can include:

• Eye injury

• Eye infections

• Eye inflammation

• Diabetes

• Migraine or headache

• Severe cough

More serious causes may include:

• Choroidal neovascular membranes

• Detached and torn retina

• Stickler syndrome

• Cytomegalovirus retinitis

• Histoplasmosis

• HIV/AIDS

• Vitreomacular traction

When caused by a more serious condition, floaters and flashes typically occur alongside other symptoms.

Risk factors for floaters and flashes

Anyone can develop eye floaters and flashes. Nearsightedness and aging are linked to both symptoms, but there are other conditions that could put you at a greater risk of developing them, too.

Some risk factors for developing floaters and flashes include:

• A family history of eye problems

• Eye injuries

• Cataract surgery

• Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser surgery after cataract surgery

When to Seek Treatment

In most cases, floaters and flashes are harmless and will go away with time. But it is important to always see your doctor with the onset of new flashes and floaters to rule out the more serious causes. As mentioned above, one of the primary causes of floaters and flashes is PVD, a benign condition that occurs with age. While PVD by itself generally doesn't cause problems, it can lead to more serious complications. One of the most common complications is damage to the retina in the form of detachment, tears or hemorrhaging. Retinal detachment and other retinal damage typically require treatment and surgery to avoid vision loss. If retinal damage occurs because of PVD, you may notice severe vision changes alongside floaters and flashes. However, this isn't always the case, so it's important to see your eye doctor on a regular basis. Your eye doctor at Nationwide Vision will diagnose PVD when it first occurs and know to look for signs of complications during your regular check-ups.

In addition, there are multiple other vision problems involving floaters and flashes that could signal a need to see your doctor. If vision loss occurs alongside floaters or flashes, that may indicate a more serious condition. If you experience sudden changes to your vision or multiple symptoms at once, visit your doctor as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that your floaters are caused by a more serious complication like a retinal tear or detachment, you may be a candidate for laser therapy or surgery.