Floaters and Flashes
Have you seen spots move throughout your vision? Maybe you noticed them while looking at a bright background like a white wall or blue sky? These are called vitreous floaters. In many cases they are not serious, however, in some patients they can be an early sign of a torn or detached retina. All patients experiencing new or increased floaters or flashes are recommended to see an ophthalmologist for a dilated retinal exam to check for a torn or detached retina. If a retinal tear is found, laser treatment is often performed to reduce the chance of it enlarging and progressing to a detached retina. Retinal detachments need urgent repair with a retina specialist.