Eye floaters are small dots caused by lumps in the vitreous gel inside the eye, which can be a symptom of serious conditions such as diabetes, retinal detachment, or carotid artery disease. Migraine sufferers may also see flashes of light with floaters. Seek medical attention if accompanied by loss of peripheral vision.
Eye floaters can appear as small dots in front or on the sides of the eyes that are seen only by the person experiencing them. They are often momentary and can be more noticeable when looking at a blank wall. They are caused by small lumps that form in the vitreous, the gel inside the eye.
The lumps that cause floaters can be made up of proteins or cells from the vitreous. As we age, the gel that forms that makes up the vitreous can aggregate more easily, producing them with greater regularity.
People with migraines often see flying flies, which may be accompanied by flashes of light, just before they get a migraine. For migraine sufferers, they indicate that one should promptly take the prescribed migraine medications. Taking migraine medications at the onset of a migraine tends to be more effective.
Eye floaters can also be a symptom that occurs after cataracts or laser surgery, or if the eye is inflamed from infections such as conjunctivitis. They can also be caused by an eye injury or inflammation due to a foreign body outside the eye.
While occasionally it is quite common to see eye floaters, it is not common for them to be accompanied by flashes of light, unless you have migraine. If you don’t have migraines and floaters plus flashes of light, that requires investigation by a doctor. This is especially true if you notice a loss of peripheral vision.
These symptoms taken together can indicate some very serious conditions that cause floaters. For example, eye disease caused by diabetes is often initially indicated by seeing a lot of floaters. Also, they may indicate the onset of retinal detachment or a rupture of the retina. They can also indicate problems with veins or carotid artery disease in some cases. When these conditions are not addressed, eye damage can occur, or in the case of carotid artery or vascular disease, eye floaters can indicate the likelihood of stroke or heart attack.
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