What Causes Eye Floaters: Understanding the Spots in Your Vision
Eye floaters are a problem that can affect anyone.
Some people may be alarmed about seeing eye floaters for the first time.
However, you should know that eye floaters are common and treatable.
According to EverydayHealth, 7 out of 10 people will experience Eye floaters at some point in their life.
There are many causes of eye floaters popping up.
The most common causes of eye floaters are age-related changes, retinal detachment, eye injuries or eye conditions, and bleeding in the eyes.
Occasional eye floaters do not harm your eyes.
However, in a study by the Journal of Ophthalmology, eye floaters cause psychological distress in the people with them.
In 90% of the patients, eye floaters are caused due to aging.
Some of the other reasons for eye floaters are given below.
What exactly are eye floaters
Eye floaters are made up of vitreous, a gel-like fluid that makes up the middle of the eye.
With time, the vitreous in the eye’s middle shrinks and forms strands and clumps.
Floaters are seen when these clumps or strands pass in front of the retina.
As they pass through the front of the retina, images are formed and sent to the brain.
Their shape and size depend on how close or far it is from the retina.
Symptoms of eye floaters
Symptoms of eye floaters are:
You may see strings of knobbly material or transparent floating material. They are generally small shapes that eventually drift away from the line of sight.
It is more noticeable when you look at a bright, homogenous surface, such as a bright blue sky or white paper.
You cannot look at the floaters directly because they seem to move.
When you stop moving your eyes, these floaters will drift across your eyes.
What causes eye floaters
According to Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of eye floaters include aging.
Though there may be other causes of eye floaters.
Most of the time, these floaters will disappear naturally.
To ensure your eye floaters are mild and treatable, learn about their causes.
Aging
As you age, the vitreous inside the eye liquefies and contracts.
The collagen fibers within the eyes thus form strings and clumps, blocking the light passing through the eyes.
This may cause a shadow on the retina, which you may see as floaters.
Eye infections
These are the eye infections that may cause floaters due to inflammation of the ocular tissue and minor trauma:
- Conjunctivitis (Pink eye)
It is the swelling of conjunctival blood vessels which is infectious
- Endophthalmitis
It is the infection of the inner eye coat
- Keratitis
It is an infection in the cornea.
Eye injuries
An eye injury such as a retinal tear can happen when your vitreous contracts and pulls on the retina so hard that it tears.
It may even lead to retinal detachment if not treated as soon as possible.
If the fluid leaks behind the tear, the retina may be separated from the back of the eyes.
This can even result in permanent vision loss.
Bleeding in the eyes
Retinal tears, diabetes, high blood pressure, and blocked blood vessels may be the cause of bleeding in the eyes.
You may even see blood cells as floaters, according to the Mayo Clinic, as mentioned above.
Tumors and vomiting may cause eye bleeding, excessive wearing of contact lenses, coughing, sneezing, or conjunctivitis.
Eye medications or surgeries
Some of the eye medications injected into the vitreous may result in the formation of air bubbles. These may be seen as shadows until your eye finally absorbs the bubbles.
In some surgeries, silicone eye bubbles are added in the retina or vitreous, also seen as floaters.
Also Read: Do you know how eye floaters are treated? Read “Eye Floaters Treatment Options: A Complete Guide” to know all the effective treatment options.
Medications for other ailments
Medications for other ailments may also cause floaters.
These medications include:
- Xanax
It is also called Alprazolam. Xanax belongs to a class of medications called Benzodiazepines. It treats panic attacks and anxiety.
- Benadryl
Diphenhydramine relieves people of allergies and allergic symptoms such as itchy, watery, red eyes, common cold, or runny nose.
- Cardizem
It is also called Diltiazem and is used to prevent chest pain or angina.
- Elavil
Elavil is used to treat mental and mood disorders, such as depression. It relieves anxiety and tension, helps you sleep better, and increases the energy level in your body.
The floaters caused by these medications are not always a source of alarm.Â
Also Read: Eye floaters usually easily go away with the help of natural remedies. To learn about them, read our informative article, “Reducing Eye Floaters Naturally: Tips and Tricks“.
Uveitis or Eye Inflammation
Uveitis or eye inflammation may also result in floaters. Posterior uveitis affects the back of the eyes, including the retina and choroid.
This is because symptoms of uveitis include eye floaters.
In contrast, uveitis is inflammation in the middle tissue layer in the eye wall or uvea.
Infection, inflammatory diseases, or autoimmune disorders may cause posterior uveitis.
Retinal detachment
When the vitreous jelly shrinks, it may detach from the back of the eye or tear the retina.
You may see a lot of floaters across your vision if there is a partial or total retina detachment.
Blood vessels leaking into the vitreous may also cause blurring.
It may also occur as a result of nearsightedness in adults or due to trauma.
Also Read: Does your water intake have any relation with eye floaters? Read “Can Dehydration Cause Eye Floaters?” to find out.
Takeaway
There are many reasons why eye floaters may occur.
However, not all reasons are indicative of eye disease.
Still, you should be careful if you suddenly start seeing too many eye floaters or anything out of the ordinary, such as flashes of lights.
Frequently asked questions
Can lack of sleep cause eye floaters?
Lack of sleep may cause eye floaters, as it stresses your eyes. Putting unnecessary stress and strain on your eyes may also result in eye floaters, although the reason why is currently unknown.
Can dehydration cause eye floaters?
Dehydration may also result in eye floaters, as 98% of vitreous humor is made up of water. If there is not enough water to keep it hydrated, it may lose shape and cause floaters to appear.
Can eye floaters cause blindness?
Eye floaters may indicate an underlying condition that may cause blindness, such as retinal tears or detachment.
Are eye floaters dangerous?
Although eye floaters are harmless, it may be a vision emergency if you start seeing many floaters and flashes of lights.
Can anxiety cause eye floaters?
Anxiety itself does not cause eye floaters, but the stress from the anxiety may increase in some people’s eye floaters.
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