Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Reason why you get 'floaters' in your eyes as expert explains what you should do if you start seeing them

Home> News> Health

Updated 13:40 4 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 13:35 4 Nov 2024 GMT

Reason why you get 'floaters' in your eyes as expert explains what you should do if you start seeing them

An expert said it's 'so important' to see an optician when you first get floaters

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

It's a particularly odd phenomenon, but we've all had it where we're looking at something, and some odd squiggly lines float across your eyesight.

But in reality, there's nothing there - these little smudges are called 'floaters', a rare occurrence that the NHS has even provided advice on in the past.

They can be annoying but they are quite common, so it's worth knowing why it might happen, if it's a health concern, or if you should try your best to ignore them when they whizz across your vision.

When do floaters become a serious issue? (Getty Stock Photo)
When do floaters become a serious issue? (Getty Stock Photo)

What exactly are 'floaters'?

According to the NHS, they are caused by a process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), a harmless process where the gel in your eyes changes, though this can also be caused by retinal detachment in more serious situations.

Advert

If not treated, it can lead to vision loss, though floaters and 'flashes' can also happen for no real reason.

When to see an expert

You may see them in your eyes from time to time, but the time to see an optician is when new ones show up.

Dr Daniel Polya from Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists’ highlighted that it's ‘so important to see an optician when a floater first appears’.

The eye expert said that though we can learn to ignore them, we should start paying a bit more attention, adding: “Laser surgery can also be performed to break up big, problematic floaters, but it has risks associated.”

Why do floaters appear in my eyes in the first place?

Dr Polya explained the science behind it to Daily Mail Australia, saying that they are a result of vitreous fibres (which make up about 80 percent of the eye) clogging together.

Advert

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, he said: “It's the condensation of the collagen fibres. Large molecules of collagen clog together and cast shadows on your retina which you perceive as eye floaters.”

It turns out that these clogs then create the shapes of blobs or squiggly lines that pop up when we look at plain walls or lights.

You've probably seen these lines before (Getty Stock Photo)
You've probably seen these lines before (Getty Stock Photo)

What do floaters really mean?

They can be a huge problem according to the doctor, who explained: “What's really disappointing is when someone will come in with retinal detachment from a posterior vitreous detachment that hasn’t been examined earlier.”

Advert

As explained preciously, PVD is a harmless process, but what are the exact chances that it's a cause for concern?

Dr Polya said: “For those that get PVD, there's a five percent chance it's developing a tear in the retina, and if a tear does occur, there's a 50 percent chance of retinal detachment.”

Though laser surgery can treat a retinal tear, it is crucial to catch on to the issue early on to prevent further damage.

“PVD is common and not that disappointing to see, whereas retinal detachment is disappointing to see in a patient who could have had an earlier exam when they first got floaters,” he added.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photos

Topics: Health, Science, NHS

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

X

@joshnair10

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Jurors reach partial verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex-trafficking trial

    The jury reached a partial verdict after more than 12 hours of deliberations, following weeks of disturbing testimony.

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Archaeologists make 90 metre long Ancient Roman discovery buried on the ocean floor

    Divers excavated something in Italy that could reveal Roman-era secrets

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    'Worst shark attack ever' saw desperate crew feed dead to sharks as they circled in bloodbath

    If you've seen Jaws, then you'll know about this

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    'Infuriated' swingers speak out on the impact Diddy's 'freak-off' parties had on community

    Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers caused an outcry in the swinging community

    News
  • Expert explains what you should do if you start seeing these 'floaters' in your eyes
  • The weight you need to be to get Mounjaro from your GP revealed
  • Doctors explain how they can tell if you have cancer and diabetes just by your eyes
  • Relationship expert reveals what you should never say to a potential partner if you want them to like you