Are Floaters Or Flashing Lights In My Eyes Serious?

LOUGHBOROUGH, U.K. - Aug. 20, 2015 - PRLog -- Floaters, spots, flashes or ‘cobwebs’ are small specks or strands that move through your field of vision.

They are often most visible when looking at a lighter background such as a lightly coloured or white wall, piece of white paper, a bright sky or a white computer/tablet screen.

Floaters are small clumps of gel or cells that move around in the vitreous, the thick gel that fills the middle of the eye.Floaters can be caused by many things:

·    As we age, the vitreous gel in the eye may thicken and shrink or at times become more watery in parts – these changes can cause little clumps to form.

·    If the vitreous gel pulls away from its attachments to the retina, this called a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD), it can clump up and make a larger circular floater.

·    Sometimes tears or breaks in your retina can occur, releasing cells into the middle of the eye that appear as many small floaters and can be associated with flashing lights.

·    Flashes (photopsia) also may occur after a blow to the head, often called “seeing stars.”

·   Inflammation in the eye can also cause floaters to appear in the vision. In rare instances a tumour in the retina could also cause the same effect.

·    Some people experience flashes of light that appear as jagged lines or “heat waves” in both eyes, often lasting 10- 40 minutes. These types of flashes are usually caused by a spasm of blood vessels in the brain which is often described as a migraine. A classic migraine is often associated with a headache or feeling light-headed thereafter.

Treatment for Floaters, spots & dots

Most eye floaters and spots are harmless and merely annoying. Many will fade over time and become less bothersome. They are more common in short-sighted people and as we get older.

Sometimes people are interested in surgery to remove floaters, but eye specialists are normally only willing to perform such surgery in instances when vision is seriously hampered – this operation is known as a vitrectomy.

How Visual Answers Optometrists can help you with Flashes and Floaters

While annoying, ordinary eye floaters and spots are very common and usually aren’t cause for alarm.

However, in about 10% of cases with a PVD a tear in the retina is discovered, showing the need for regular examinations.

If you notice a sudden appearance of increased floaters and/or flashing lights in your eyes, you should arrange to see us as soon as possible for an emergency diagnostic appointment. We will try and accommodate you in our dairy & perform a detailed examination of your retina after inserting dilating drops and other tests that would take about 1 hour. You will not be able to drive for at least a few hours after the examination. As your pupil(s) will be dilated it may appear quite bright outside, so on a sunny day it would be wise to bring sunglasses with you. This examination would normally also include an ultra-wide field Optomap Scan to look for signs of retinal tears or detachments and an OCT scan that would look for any signs of a Posterior Vitreous Detachment. An emergency examination including all scans and tests required to ensure there is no indication of a retinal tear, a retinal detachment, or another eye problem that could be a sight-threatening condition costs £105 – but this level of care is FREE for our growing number of Vision Club members and is also FREE when formally referred from your GP as part of the NHS Eye Emergency (PEARS) referral scheme that our practices and practitioners are accredited for with every GP in Loughborough and NW Leicestershire.

If after examination Visual Answers still feel that it is necessary, they will arrange for you to be seen in the Eye Department LRI for further examination or treatment. Alternatively they may arrange a further follow-up appointment to monitor things.

Should you require any further information about Flashes or Floaters or about Vision Club or the PEARS GP Referral Scheme then do not hesitate to contact them on (01509) 416800 or email:info@VisualAnswers.co.uk

www.VisualAnswers.co.uk