Eye Floaters: Those Spots and Threads Drifting in Your Vision
Little dots, threads, or cobwebs that drift across your vision — especially against a bright background — are usually harmless. But a sudden change can be an emergency. A clear guide to floaters and the warning signs.
You look at a bright wall or the sky and notice tiny dots, squiggly threads, or cobweb-like shapes drifting across your vision — and darting away when you try to look straight at them. These are floaters, and they are extremely common, especially as we get older. Most are completely harmless. But a sudden change in floaters can, occasionally, be a sign of an eye emergency — so this is one "why does this happen" topic where knowing the warning signs really matters. Here is a clear, plain-language guide.
What Are Floaters?
The inside of your eye is filled with a clear jelly (the vitreous). Over time, tiny strands form within it, and they cast small shadows on the retina at the back of your eye — those shadows are what you see as floaters. They drift as your eye moves and are most noticeable against bright, plain backgrounds. Becoming more aware of a few floaters, especially with age, is usually a normal part of the eye ageing.
Usually Harmless
- A few floaters you have had for a long time, that don't change
- More noticeable floaters with age (very common from mid-life onward)
- More common in people who are short-sighted or after eye surgery
- They often become less bothersome as your brain learns to ignore them
Warning Signs — Seek Urgent Eye Care
Living with Ordinary Floaters
For the common, harmless kind, there is usually no treatment needed and none recommended — they tend to settle and become less noticeable over time as your brain tunes them out. Good general eye care helps: regular eye check-ups (especially with age, short-sightedness, or diabetes), protecting your eyes, and managing conditions like diabetes and blood pressure that affect eye health. If floaters ever bother you a lot, mention it at an eye check.
When to See a Doctor
For a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow across your vision, treat it as urgent and see an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) or eye casualty the same day — this is the one situation where speed protects your sight. For long-standing, stable floaters, mention them at your routine eye check; they rarely need action. If you have diabetes, keep up regular eye screening, as it affects the retina. An online consultation can help you judge how urgently your symptoms need in-person eye care. (See our guides on eye care habits and eye problems/vision care.)