“A gnat in front of your eyes that won’t disappear no matter how you wave your hand” ... What if it isn’t an eye floater? [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Many people worry first that it might be a serious illness when they see spots floating before their eyes. But most eye floaters result from age-related changes in the vitreous, and what matters is not the number of spots but how quickly they change.
Eye floaters are a symptom that makes it seem as though something is floating in front of your eyes; in English, they are called “floaters.” They may appear as small black dots, thin threads or hairs, cobwebs, or gnats, so people describe them in different ways. They are especially noticeable against bright, plain backgrounds, such as a clear sky or a white wall.
The most common cause is age-related changes and shrinkage of the vitreous inside the eye. During this process, posterior vitreous detachment can occur, in which the vitreous separates from the back surface of the retina. This is different from retinal detachment, in which the retina itself separates. However, as the vitreous separates, it can tug on the retina and cause a retinal tear, or break; in some cases, this can lead to retinal detachment.
Other factors, including myopia, cataract surgery, inflammation or bleeding inside the eye, and trauma, may also be associated with eye floaters, so it is difficult to determine the cause based on symptoms alone.
During an examination, important information includes when the symptoms began, whether they suddenly increased, and whether there have been other changes in vision. A common test, the dilated fundus examination, widens the pupil so the doctor can examine the vitreous and peripheral retina and check for a retinal tear or detachment.
If the examination finds no retinal abnormalities and the symptoms do not significantly interfere with daily life, doctors monitor the condition; in many cases, it becomes less noticeable over time. If a retinal tear or detachment is the cause, however, treating that condition takes priority.
Professor Lee Su-yeon, an ophthalmologist at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, said, “Eye floaters can commonly occur as people age, but it is difficult to tell from the spots alone whether they are simply due to changes in the vitreous or are related to a retinal problem,” and stressed, “If floaters suddenly increase or are accompanied by flashes of light or changes that obscure your vision, don’t wait—see a specialist right away to have your retina checked.”
[email protected] Jung Myeong-jin, Medical Correspondent Reporter