Nulifespan

Floaters are so common that many people simply get used to them. Specks and strands drifting across the eye are, in most cases, a harmless result of the gel inside the eye changing with age. That familiarity has a downside, though. Because floaters are usually nothing to worry about, people sometimes ignore the rare situations when they are a sign of something serious. This article focuses on those situations. Knowing the difference between ordinary floaters and warning signs is the single most useful thing to know about eye floaters, far more important than any question about diet or supplements. Why Most Floaters Are Harmless The vitreous is the clear gel that fills the back of the eye. As we age, it slowly liquefies, and small collagen fibers inside it clump together. These clumps cast shadows on the retina, which we see as floaters. Eventually, the gel often separates from the retina entirely, a normal event called posterior vitreous detachment. For most people, this happens quietl...