Senior Spectrum
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Dec 2007
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Vision - Ophthalmology
By the time we reach our mid-thirties, the jelly-like protein substance that fills the eyeball (vitreous) begins to deteriorate and shrink. As a result, clumps and strands of vitreous are formed that are visible to us as “floaters.” These shadowy blobs or threads that occasionally glide across the field of vision may either be a normal part of aging or, less commonly, an important signal that something is terribly wrong within the eye.
Occasionally, the vitreous may shrink enough to pull completely away from the back of the eye and tug on a piece of the retina. Such a tear could allow fluid to seep behind the retina to create the serious condition known as retinal detachment.
Note - The sudden appearance of one or more new floaters in one eye, especially if accompanied by flashes of light in your peripheral vision, could be the first sign of an impending detachment - a true emergeny.