Eye Floaters and Posterior Vitreous Detachment: How It Works, Explained Simply

Video Transcript

Floaters are the small specks, threads, or cobwebs that drift across your vision, especially against a bright plain background. Most of the eye is filled with a clear jelly called the vitreous. In young eyes it is firm and evenly clear. With age, this jelly becomes more watery and small clumps of fibres form inside it. What you see is not the clump itself, but its shadow falling on the retina. That is why floaters drift when your eye moves and seem to dart away when you look at them. Eventually the shrinking jelly can peel away from the back of the eye. This is called a posterior vitreous detachment, and it is a normal part of aging. It often causes a sudden increase in floaters, and sometimes brief flashes as the gel tugs on the retina. In most people it settles without harm. Occasionally, though, that pulling tears the retina, which can lead to a retinal detachment. So a shower of new floaters, repeated flashes, or a shadow across your side vision should be examined promptly, even though most floaters turn out to be harmless. This video is for general education only. It is not medical advice. Ask your eye doctor what's right for you.