Those drifting specks or squiggly lines crossing your vision are known as eye floaters, and for most people they are a harmless side effect of aging. But certain warning signs can turn this everyday nuisance into a genuine medical emergency — and knowing the difference matters.
In brief
- —Floaters are caused by age-related changes inside the eye
- —Three symptoms signal a possible retinal emergency
- —Two surgical options exist for severe cases
Shadows on the retina: what floaters actually are
Eye floaters appear as spots, threads, or cobweb-like shapes that seem to drift across your field of vision. They are most visible when you look at a bright, uniform background — a clear sky or a white wall — and they tend to dart away the moment you try to focus on them.
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