Floaters and Flashes (Retinal Detachment Symptoms) · Points to Remember (Symptoms of Retinal...

Information for patients

For more information about our Trust and the services we provide please visit our website: www.nlg.nhs.uk

Floaters and Flashes (Retinal Detachment Symptoms)

Name: ________________________________

Who to contact and how: ________________________________

Notes: ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________

Scunthorpe General Hospital Cliff Gardens Scunthorpe DN15 7BH

03033 306999 www.nlg.nhs.uk

Goole & District Hospital Woodland Avenue Goole DN14 6RX


Diana, Princess of Wales Scartho Road Grimsby DN33 2BA




Introduction This leaflet is to provide you or your carer with information about floaters and flashes in your vision.

It aims to answer any questions you or your carers may have and to reinforce the information provided by the Doctor in the eye clinic.

What are floaters and flashes? Floaters are shapes that drift across your vision. The form of these is variable, they may for example be small dots or irregular shaped strands.

Flashes are quick, sudden flashes of light that can happen when the eyes are open or closed.

What causes floaters and flashes? The main body of the eye known as the vitreous separates from the retina at the back of the eye, remaining attached at the front of the eye.

As it comes away from the retina, the retina is stimulated mechanically and produces the sensation of flashes.

Similarly the vitreous separation causes the fine fibrils of the vitreous to come together, and those clumps cause shadows (floaters) which you can see.

In addition, the nearer the floater is to the retina the denser the shadow which is cast, so floaters tend to be most troublesome at the beginning.

As the vitreous separates from the retina the floaters move away from the retina and the symptoms decrease.

The cause of vitreous shrinkage is unknown, although it’s more likely to happen in myopic (short sighted) people and the elderly population.

Risks Involved With Floaters and Flashes Generally you should not be concerned about seeing one or two floaters in your vision; almost everyone sees some type of floaters at some point in their lives.

Occasionally the symptoms can indicate more than a simple shrinkage of the vitreous.

It is possible for the vitreous to be abnormally, strongly attached to the retina, so as the vitreous shrinks; a tear develops in the retina.

Sometimes this can lead to retinal detachment. It is therefore important to have the eyes examined to confirm the cause of the floaters is due to vitreous shrinkage.



Treatment Most symptoms (floaters) settle down on their own, or the person learns to ignore them, with no need for treatment.

Alternatives A few people do have vitreous surgery for the symptoms, but only if the vision is severely affected.

If a retinal tear is found with examination, they are usually treated by laser treatment in the outpatient department.

In effect the laser "spot welds" the retina surrounding the hole preventing fluid from passing through, holding the retina in place.

Vitreous surgery does carry risks and so is only offered when the vision is substantially reduced by the vitreous opacities.

Points to Remember (Symptoms of Retinal Detachment) Most people with floaters and flashes need no treatment at all. Seek immediate medical advice if you have any of the following:

• A sudden increase in the number of floaters.

• White flashing lights

• The appearance of a shadow, like a curtain coming over the vision

• A cobweb effect appearing in the vision

• Loss of vision

Reference Section NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/conditions/floaters-and-flashes-in-the-e yes/



RNIB understanding posterior vitreous detachment www.rnib.org.uk tel 0303 123 9999

Contact Details for Further Information For further information please discuss with the person providing your care.

Any Comments, Compliments, Concerns or Complaints If you have any other concerns please talk to your nurse, therapist or doctor. Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) are available on 03033 306518 (Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole). You can also contact [email protected]

As a Trust we value equality of access to our information and services, therefore alternative formats available on request at [email protected]

Date of Issue: January, 2019

Review Period: January, 2022

Author: CNS Ophthalmology

IFP-0378 v2.2

© NLGFT 2019

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