> For the patient, this condition first manifests as pops of light or dark spots, known as floaters, which dance across their vision like fireflies
Flashing light/dark spots are a sign of retinal detachment. Floaters are something different [0].
Flashing light/dark spots are a sign of retinal detachment. Floaters are something different [0].
I was able to catch a retinal tear that had a very high chance of proceeding to a retinal detachment (horsehoe tear with sub-retinal fluid) by getting some new floaters checked out.
Floaters are commonly caused by a (mostly) benign aging phenomenon called posterior vitreous detachment, where the vitriol gel liquefies as a person ages.
Sometimes it worries me, but the condition is "stable".
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_field_entoptic_phenomen...
They do indeed “float”. If I move my eyes they move with them, then have momentum when I stop moving my eyes. They’re way more visible against static, bright backgrounds (like blue sky) but I can see them in indoor lighting, too.
I’ve had them since I was very young. The white flashes you’re referring to I’ve only noticed recently, and are very different things. They do require a bright blue sky for me to see them.
They do look a whole lot like things we saw in biology class under microscope.
In response to top of thread, retinal detachment does usually start with new floaters.
My first floater came with an unusually timed cluster headache ( like a migraine but usually with predictable timing ) so I had accompanying visual auras. Because I didn’t recognize it as a cluster I described it to the on call eye doc as new floaters and sparkles. That got me an emergency trip to optical ER and a slightly disappointed surgeon.
I thought I had them when I was young, but I learned they were just a form of phosphenes.
And, the longer your eye is (the higher your myopia is), the earlier this happens.
Retinal detachment is rare though, even with tons of floaters and high myopia.
That might not be the case, given what the others have already mentioned about lifestyle --- I imagine most rural people will be outside a lot more and looking farther than city people.
I've had floaters since I was 18. A couple of years ago at 59 all of the sudden I had a huge increase in floaters accompanied by flashes in the left eye. I was sure I was having a retinal detachment. Got into an eye doc right away and she said told me it was the vitreous detachment and is something that happens normally at my age. It went on for several months with the flashing and floaters. The right eye followed suit about 6 months later. I had no idea that this was something that happens to pretty much everyone around age 60. Apparently, though, a lot of people don't notice it happening.
After the ophthalmologist checked my eye, she said what I'm seeing is called "mouches volantes" and it's something that happens when people get older. I'm "only" 37 and don't have any problems with my eyesight, which makes me wonder what caused these floaters in my case.
Anyway, it's something I have to get used to. It only really is annoying on sunny days because then I can see them clearly floating around.