Floaters are very common and many people report noticing floaters in their vision. They are especially noticeable when looking at a solid or bright background, like a white wall or the sky. There are different kinds of floaters, some are more serious than others. Inside the eye, there is a gel called the vitreous. The vitreous is mostly made up of water, cells, and collagen. Scattered clumps of collagen fibers can form within the vitreous and cast a shadow that appears as a floater.

Any sudden onset of new floaters, many new floaters, flashing lights, a veil over your vision, or observation of cobweb like structures should be examined immediately.

New floaters are a warning sign to potential trouble. It is even more concerning when there is a sudden onset of hundreds of floaters. Other significant warning signs of trouble are blurry eyesight, loss of peripheral vision, observation of flashes or cobweb structures, having a very high eyeglasses or contact lens prescription, and family history of retinal problems.

Sometimes people experience flashes and floaters but do not necessarily experience peripheral vision loss. However, it is essential to have your eyes examined if any of the above symptoms are reported immediately.