New floaters or flashes? When to get your eyes checked

Know the warning signs first

Seek immediate eye care or go to an emergency department if you notice a sudden shower of floaters, flashes of light, or a dark curtain, shadow, or new blurred area across your vision. You do not need to have every symptom before seeking help.

These changes can signal a retinal tear or detachment. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye; a detachment means it has moved out of its normal position. Delaying treatment can threaten vision. Do not wait for a routine appointment or a reply to an online request. ¹.

What a floater actually is

Floaters can look like dots, fine threads, or wispy shapes that drift as you move your eyes. They may be easiest to notice against a bright, plain background. Often, they are shadows cast on the retina by small strands within the vitreous, the gel that fills the eye.

Long-standing, unchanged floaters are different from a sudden new pattern. Many floaters do not need treatment, but inflammation, bleeding, injury, or retinal problems can also cause them. Their appearance alone cannot tell you which explanation applies. ².

Why flashes and new floaters can appear together

With age, the vitreous can separate from the retina. This is called vitreous detachment, often described as posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD. It can cause new floaters and flashes toward the side of your vision.

PVD often does not cause a serious problem. Sometimes, however, the separating gel tears the retina. A vitreous detachment and a retinal detachment are different conditions, but the symptoms can overlap. A dilated examination is needed to look for complications; do not assume new flashes are simply normal aging. ³.

What to tell the eye-care team

When you call, lead with the new symptom rather than requesting a routine checkup. Useful details include:

• When the change began and whether it started suddenly.
• Whether it affects one eye or both, if you can tell.
• Whether the floaters are new, more numerous, or accompanied by flashes.
• Any shadow, missing area, or change in how clearly you see.
• Any recent eye injury or surgery, and any past retinal tear or detachment.

You do not need perfect answers before calling. If you cannot reach your eye doctor for emergency warning signs, go to an emergency department rather than waiting.

The examination guides the next step

Your eye doctor can use dilating drops to examine the vitreous and retina. If there is an uncomplicated vitreous detachment, treatment may not be needed. A retinal tear or another underlying problem calls for a different plan. ³.

Before leaving, ask: What did the examination show? When should I return? Which changes should make me call immediately? Keep those instructions accessible, and report new or worsening symptoms rather than assuming an earlier examination explains every later change.