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March Health Tip by Dr. Barrow

Q.  I’m 30 years old and very healthy.  I eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.  Lately, however, I have noticed clear objects in my line of sight.  They look like spider webs or “ripples” in water, if that makes sense to you.  I usually see them if I’m looking up at the sky or looking at something white, but I don’t see them all of the time.  Is this serious?  What is it?

A.  You provide a classic description of vitreous floaters, which have been reported for centuries.  Vitreous floaters appear to drift in the line of sight and may be accompanied by brief flashes of light similar to a photographer’s flashbulb.  Vitreous floaters are not generally considered serious.  In fact, they are often noticed by patients in their 20s or younger, and seen with increased frequency in older patients.

The eye is filled with a thick, jelly-like substance known as the vitreous humor.  The vitreous humor is attached to the retina, which is the tissue in the back of the eye that perceives light images and transmits the information to the brain.  As patients get older, the vitreous humor begins to withdraw from the retina, causing a subtle distortion of light as it passes through the vitreous humor and strikes the retina.  This distorted light image is perceived as a shadow on the retina, which can look like a brief flash of light, or the “spider web” or “ripples” you describe.  The shadows are more noticeable when looking at a light background, which also explains why you are more cognizant of the floaters when you are looking at the sky.

In contrast, patients experiencing black spots, areas of blindness, persistent light flashes, eye pain, blurred or double vision, or dark floaters resembling “black snow” should seek prompt medical attention.  Patients with high blood pressure or diabetes who experience floaters should also be promptly evaluated since they are at increased risk of hemorrhage into the eye.

Although vitreous floaters are generally considered benign, all patients with these symptoms should undergo a thorough eye examination by an ophthalmologist to rule out other potentially serious conditions involving the retina or vitreous humor.  If the doctor examines you and attributes your symptoms to vitreous floaters, further treatment is not necessary.

Questions?  Please call your health care team at Fairview Clinic!  

For more information:
MU Health Sciences Library