Eye floaters
Key points
- The floating specks you sometimes see in front of your eyes are not on the surface of your eyes, but inside them.
- These floaters are bits of cellular debris that come and go without treatment.
- Most of the time they are nothing to worry about, but sometimes they can be a symptom of a retinal tear.
- If you notice a sudden increase in floaters or if you see floaters along with flashes of light, call your eye doctor.
Alternative names
Specks in the eye
Information
The floating specks you sometimes see in front of your eyes are not on the surface of your eyes, but inside them. These floaters are bits of cellular debris that come and go without treatment. To some people these "floaters" look like spots. To others, they look like tiny threads.
Most of the time they are nothing to worry about, but sometimes they can be a symptom of a retinal tear. If you notice a sudden increase in floaters or if you see floaters along with flashes of light, call your eye doctor. If you have other vision disturbances, see the article vision abnormalities.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.