Eye Floaters

Common concerns many people have are eye floaters. Eye floaters are tiny spots in your vision that may look like gray or black specks, cobwebs or strings that drift about in your field of vision. Ordinary floaters are very common and usually not a serious problem. Floaters typically appear when tiny pieces of the vitreous break loose within the inner back portion of the eye. Throughout our youth the vitreous is a gel-like consistency. As we age the vitreous begins to dissolve and create a watery center. Some gel particles sometimes will float around in the more liquid center of the vitreous becoming what is referred to as "floaters". If you notice a sudden increase in the number of eye floaters, sometimes described as a "shower
of floaters and spots," contact your eye specialist immediately-especially if you also see flashes of light or lose your peripheral vision. These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.