If you sometimes see squiggles, lines, dots, or other shapes floating in your vision or bright flashes in the air, you’re suffering from eye floaters or flashes. Although these symptoms are often harmless, in other cases they’re a warning sign of a serious issue like a torn retina. Visit highly-skilled retina specialist Katia Taba, MD, at Personalized Retina Care of Naples in Naples, Florida, to get a diagnosis and treatment all in one welcoming place. Book online or by phone now.
Floaters are those little irregularities in your field of vision. They look as if they're floating right in front of you, but they're actually inside your eye. Floaters can look like dots, lines, or irregular shapes. When you try to focus on them, you're not able to because they float away. Floaters are pretty common, so it's not unusual to subconsciously ignore them until they increase dramatically.
Flashes are bright flashes of light, which may appear as streaks or stars. Flashes may be less common than floaters.
Floaters are made of cellular material suspended in the vitreous, the gel-like material that supports eye structure. The floaters you see are shadows projected on your retina. Flashes happen when the vitreous gel in your eye tugs on your retina.
Both floaters and flashes can grow more common as you age due to your vitreous gel shrinking. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be concerned or you shouldn't get checked out. Floaters and flashes can be signs of retinal detachment, a major eye emergency.
Because retinal detachment is so serious, it's important to recognize the signs your floaters and flashes are something more pressing. These include:
If you notice these problems, don't delay in reaching out to Dr. Taba at Personalized Retina Care of Naples right away.
Treatment depends on the cause. Sometimes, floaters and flashes may simply need monitoring by Dr. Taba. In other cases, for example, if your floaters are actually obscuring your vision, you may need surgery to extract the extra material from your vitreous so you can see clearly again.
If you have a detached retina, Dr. Taba can often repair the damage in-office. Some options include laser retinopexy, exocryoretinopexy, and gas or oil injections. Dr. Taba considers which surgery is best for you, and uses the most-effective path to restoring and helping you maintain your vision.
Book now through the online tool, or call the Personalized Retina Care of Naples office today.
