Do I Have Eye Floaters?

Are you between the ages of 50 and 75?

Do you have small shapes in your field of vision that appear as dark spots, squiggly lines, transparent strands, cobwebs or rings that are

Do you see dark spots moving as you move your eyes?

Do you see dark spots that are constantly hovering in front of your eyes when your eyes stop moving?

Do you see spots that are most noticeable when you look at a plain bright background, such as a blue sky or a white wall?

Do the dark spots you see in front of your eyes disappear when you are in a dark room or when you close your eyes?

Do you see small specks or strings in front of your eyes that eventually settle down and drift out of the line of vision?

Are you very nearsighted?

Do you have diabetes or have had surgery to treat cataracts?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have eye floaters. Eye floaters are an eye disorder characterized by small spots that appear in your field of vision. They may seem to you like dark speck or a cobweb that sways when you move your eyes. These specks will recede when you try to look at them directly. Eye floaters are usually related to the age-related changes in your eyes. The vitreous is a gelatinous substance that fills your eye. As you age, the protein fibers that make up the vitreous shrink and cast shadows on your retina. You see these shadows as eye floaters.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have eye floaters. Eye floaters represent an eye condition that is usually the result of a normal aging process. Eye floaters are small specks or transparent strings that float in front of your eyes. Eye floaters are actually shadows of shrunken protein fibers in the part of your eye called the vitreous (the jelly-like substance inside your eye). Eye floaters are more common in people between the ages of 50 and 75, in those who are nearsighted or have had cataract surgery. A diagnosis is based on your symptoms and a detailed eye examination.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have eye floaters. Eye floaters are a condition that describes seeing black or gray specks that appear to be floating in front of your eyes. Eye floaters are the result of protein deposits in the part of the eye called the vitreous. Eye floaters are more obvious when you look at the bright sky and you cannot see them in the dark or with your eyes closed. They can be a normal part of aging, but also the result of inflammation or bleeding in the eye. Treatment depends on the cause of eye floaters.