Floaters (“flying flies”, filaments, cobwebs) are condensations of the vitreous, the gel that fills the eye. Very common with age and in myopes, they are usually benign, particularly during posterior vitreous detachment, a natural ageing phenomenon.
Warning signs
The sudden appearance of many floaters (“soot rain”), repeated flashes of light (photopsia), a dark curtain or loss of part of the visual field: these signs may reveal a retinal tear or detachment and require an urgent dilated fundus examination.
Treatment
A retinal tear detected in time is treated with laser in the office, preventing progression to retinal detachment, which requires surgery.
Frequently asked questions
Do floaters go away?
They generally become less bothersome with time: the brain learns to ignore them and they drift out of the visual axis. No treatment is needed in the vast majority of cases.
Book an appointment
Consultations in Boulogne-Billancourt (Ophtalife) and Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (Beaurepaire).