Do you see spots, strings, cobwebs, or squiggly shapes drifting through your vision?

Those are called eye floaters, and they are extremely common. Most are harmless—but a sudden onset of new floaters, especially when accompanied by flashing lights, can sometimes signal a retinal tear or retinal detachment.

In this Eye-Q Podcast Quick Take, I explain:

• what floaters actually are
• why they become more common with age
• what a posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD, means
• why you may see flashes along with floaters
• the warning signs of a retinal tear or detachment
• who is at higher risk
• whether floaters ever really go away
• how floaters differ from migraine aura
• when you should see an eye doctor immediately

I also share my own experience with floaters, which she has noticed since childhood.

The most important takeaway: a few longstanding, stable floaters are very different from a sudden shower of new floaters, new flashing lights, or a curtain or shadow across your vision.

If something suddenly changes, get your eyes checked promptly.

I’m Dr. Rani Banik, neuro-ophthalmologist, and this is an Eye-Q Quick Take—one eye question explained in under 10 minutes.

Have you ever noticed floaters? What do yours look like—dots, strings, cobwebs, or something else? Let me know in the comments.

#EyeFloaters #RetinalDetachment #EyeHealth #Ophthalmology #Vision