Floaters are a common eye condition. The eye inside is filled with an egg-white-like material called the vitreous. It is mostly water but has invisible strands that run from front to back to give some supporting structure, much like a jellyfish has a skeleton. As time passes, the vitreous tends to dehydrate, like a peanut drying in its shell. As the vitreous shrinks, enough of these little supporting strands may come together so that you can see them as floating objects in your vision.

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Vitreous gel can also pull away and detach from the back wall of the eye. The pulling away can tug on the retina and result in a retinal tear that could lead to a retinal detachment.  This tends to occur in patients who:

• Are nearsighted

• Have had a significant injury or blow to the head

• Have had cataract surgery

• Are over 40 years old

• Have had inflammation inside the eye

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If you notice multiple floaters, have any flashes in your vision or have loss in your peripheral vision like a curtain over part of your eye, contact us immediately so we can determine if your retina has been torn, and to find treatment for eye floaters in Newport Beach. If you are experiencing floaters, it is best to schedule an eye exam to ensure there are no problems with your vision.