Eye Test for Floaters & Flashes


Despite the tendency over time to ignore them, flashes and floaters can be a good indicator that something may be going wrong in the eye. A sudden increase in the number of floaters should raise concern and requires prompt attention.  Sudden or frequent flashes of light or cloudy vision, requires quick attention by an ophthalmologist or an eye specialist. These symptoms may be due to a retinal tear or retinal detachment or just a symptom of migraine.

An examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, will ensure that there is not a serious eye problem. Usually, to examine the eye, the eye specialist puts drops that dilate or widen the pupil into the eye so that the retina and vitreous can be observed. After the examination, the pupil usually stays dilated for a few hours due to the eye drops. The sensitivity of the eye to bright light is also increased and vision of close objects becomes blurred. This effect will usually reduce and clear after an hour or so.

In the eye exam, the eye care professional, will measure visual acuity using an eye chart.  Eye pressure may also be tested as well as an examination of your peripheral vision and eye muscles.  If your flashes and floaters are benign and related to a posterior vitreous detachment, no treatment is normally required.  If they are particularly large and are affecting vision, they can be removed.  If they are related to a retinal tear, you may require laser surgery to help a retinal tear scar down and to prevent retinal detachment.  If they have been caused by retinal detachment, surgery will most definitely be required.

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