Floaters

Floaters, in a medical context, are small, often semi-transparent or opaque, specks or strands that drift across the field of vision. These perceived shadows occur within the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance filling the eye, casting shadows on the retina. While usually harmless, an increase in floaters, especially accompanied by flashes of light or vision loss, can indicate a more serious condition. They may vary in size, shape, and movement, appearing as dots, lines, cobwebs, or rings. The perception can worsen in bright light and become more pronounced with age. The condition is also called eye floaters or vitreous floaters.

Floaters meaning with examples

• After staring at the computer screen all day, Sarah noticed an increase in floaters. Initially, she wasn't worried, but they persisted, causing a slight distraction. She mentioned the issue to her eye doctor during her routine check-up, where he found no underlying problems but did advise her to blink often, to see if this will help with reducing the perception of the floaters.
• The elderly gentleman had struggled with floaters for years, often describing them as tiny insects darting around in his vision. He found that looking at a bright, plain background made them more noticeable. His doctor reassured him that they were a natural consequence of aging but recommended regular eye exams to monitor for any changes or associated conditions such as retinal detachment.
• As the sun shone directly on the ocean, the swimmer experienced a temporary increase in the appearance of floaters in their vision. Although the floaters are harmless, it can be difficult when their perception increases. The distraction made him a little uneasy, especially when he was on a boat. Luckily they faded quickly when he went indoors.
• Following a sudden bout of severe migraines, Emily started seeing a significant increase in floaters accompanied by flashes of light. Concerned, she immediately contacted her ophthalmologist who examined her eyes and found no signs of immediate danger. She was reassured that her floaters would likely fade over time, but she was encouraged to return if their nature changed.