Floaters

Floaters are small pieces of debris that ‘float’ in the vitreous humour of the eye. They occur behind the lens (the transparent window through which light enters the eye), and in front of the retina (the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye).

Vitreous humour is a clear, jelly-like substance that fills the space in the middle of the eyeball. It is 99% water and 1% substances that help to maintain the shape of the vitreous.

What do floaters look like?

Floaters appear in the front of the eye, and can occur in a number of different shapes and sizes. For example, they may appear as:

• tiny black dots,
• small shadowy dots,
• larger ‘cloud-like’ spots, or
• long, narrow strands.

Floaters occur in the vitreous jelly of the eye, which is usually clear. Floaters cast shadows on to the retina and it is the shadows that someone who has floaters is able to see.

Floaters most commonly develop as your eyes get older, as part of the natural ageing process.

Will floaters affect my vision?

Floaters are harmless and will not usually interfere with your vision. Sometimes, you may have floaters without noticing them. This is because your brain constantly adapts to changes in your vision, and learns to ignore floaters so that they do not affect your vision.