Eye Flashes & Floaters: When to See Your Phoenix AZ Ophthalmologist

Most adults will start to a few eye floaters in their visual field from time to time. This is especially true when outside looking at something bright or when staring at a computer screen for a long period of time. Eye floaters happen and they can happen to people that have healthy eyes overall as well as people who have eye conditions like astigmatism. 

That said, there are times in which eye floaters can be a sign of something more; something that should be looked at by your eye doctor when possible. For example, when eye flashes accompany eye floaters, then an evaluation by an eye doctor should be done. The following is a look at a few more important things to know about eye floaters and when to seek out your Phoenix ophthalmologist.

Eye Flashes & Floaters: When to See Your Phoenix AZ Ophthalmologist

Eye floaters are called such because they appear as tiny floating blobs that drift across your vision -- but really, they are floating across your inner eye. These blobs are caused when the vitreous inside the eye becomes more liquid with age and thereby allows tiny, tiny fibers and debris to clump together and cast shadows on your retina. 

Again, usually, there is no need to worry if you see the occasional eye floater drifting across your eye. However, there are some cases in which you should, if not worry, at least schedule an appointment with your Phoenix, AZ ophthalmologist. Those cases include:

• When you are having a big increase in the number of floaters you are experiencing
• When you experience brief flashes of light or streaks that appear as lighting when blinking or open your eyes upon waking up. These quick flashes can mean that the vitreous gel is rubbing and pulling on the retina and may put you at risk for a retinal tear.
• When you have bleeding in the eye or if you are at risk for eye bleeding due to diabetes, blocked blood vessels, or high blood pressure.
• Retinal tearing from some other situation or the feeling of the jelly-like vitreous bleeding out or becoming detached.

Contact Our Team to Learn More

Any one of these conditions alone should warrant a visit to your local ophthalmologist's office, but it is especially important to visit your eye doctor if they are happening in tandem with eye floaters. The more eye floaters you have, the more it means that your vitreous is becoming liquified and that can have permanent impacts on your vision. Left uncorrected, you may risk some vision loss or even full vision loss. Contact us today to get your eyes examined by a trained professional.