Black spots and balls of thread floating before the eyes (Eye Floaters/Myodesopsias): Let's talk about this

Have you ever felt like there were tiny black spots or balls of thread floating in front of your eyes when you were looking at a white wall, a clear sky, or a white sheet of paper? They move with you when you move your eyes. They don't go away even when you blink or rub your eyes. If this experience sounds familiar to you, don't worry. Many people have this experience. Today we are talking about `(Myodesopsias)` or as we usually call it, Eye Floaters.

Simply put, what are these Eye Floaters?

Eye Floaters are tiny pieces of debris floating around inside your eye. Imagine, inside our eyes, in the middle, there is a jelly-like substance. We call this ``vitreous humor''. This jelly gives our eyes their shape. As we age, this jelly gradually shrinks, becomes more watery, and forms solid particles. These solid particles are the ones that float around inside that jelly.

When you look at a light, the shadows of these floating pieces fall on the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, the retina . Those shadows are what you see as black spots, like balls of thread. It's like a black spot in a photo when a speck of dust gets stuck in a camera lens.

Sometimes, floaters can be accompanied by flashes of light in front of the eyes. This is called ``photopsias''. Both can occur together or separately.

What shapes can these floating things look like?

This can vary from person to person. Some people see them as spiders or worms. Others see other shapes. You may also see things like this:

• Small black or dark spots
• Things like threads
• Shaped like a spider web
• Drawn lines
• Small shadows like clouds

So is this normal? Should I be worried?

Most of the time, eye floaters are a very common occurrence that occurs with aging. It is a normal process where the jelly inside your eye (the `vitreous`) shrinks. This is medically called ``posterior vitreous detachment``. This does not mean that your eyes are not healthy.

However, it is very important to have your eyes checked regularly. Especially if you are seeing these floaters frequently, it is wise to have your eyes checked by a doctor to make sure there is no other serious eye condition.

This condition can occur in just one eye or in both eyes. However, it usually does not occur in both eyes at the same time.

Why do these eye floaters occur and what are the risk factors?

The main reason is aging . This is common among people between the ages of 50 and 70. Although they may seem a bit annoying at first, over time our brains get used to them and start to ignore them. That doesn't mean they go away, but we notice them less.

But very rarely, these can be a symptom of a more serious condition.

Who is at higher risk for this?

• For those over 50 years old
• For those who are nearsighted
• If someone in your family has a history of retinal detachment
• If you have had previous eye surgery or an eye injury
• If you have had inflammatory conditions such as `uveitis`

How does the doctor check this?

When you see a doctor, he will ask you about this. ThenThe eye is examined with a special instrument that dilates the pupil and dilates the pupil. This is called a `dilated eye exam`. This allows the floaters and most importantly the retina to be clearly seen. The most important thing here is to determine whether the retina has been damaged or not.

Your doctor may ask you questions like these:

• When did these start appearing?
• What do they look like? How many do you see at once?
• How often do you see it?
• Do you see flashes of light like lightning?
• Does it feel like a curtain has fallen in front of your eyes?
• Do you see shadows on the sides of your vision?
• Do you have diabetes?

What are the treatments for this?

The good news is that most of the time, no treatment is needed. Although floaters are annoying, they are not harmful. Over time, they will move out of your field of vision and you will notice them less and less. This is the safest option.

However, very rarely, if these floaters severely interfere with vision, meaning they are so bothersome that you cannot even perform daily tasks, you may need to undergo surgery.

• Vitrectomy: This surgery involves removing the vitreous and any floaters in the eye. Over time, the eye will fill the space with its own fluid. However, this surgery is risky. It can cause complications such as retinal detachment and cataracts. Therefore, it is only done when absolutely necessary.

Warning signs that require immediate medical attention!

Floaters are not usually an emergency. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, it could be an emergency. This could mean that your retina is tearing or detaching. So see a doctor immediately. If necessary, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) .