Flashes & Floaters
Inside the eyeball between the Lens and the Retina is a jelly substance called the Vitreous. At birth the vitreous is quite thick and is attached to the retina, as the eye ages the vitreous becomes more liquid and can separate from the retina. If this occurs the separating vitreous casts a shadow onto the retina, this then may give the appearance of floaters. Patients often describe the floaters as a fly or tadpole in their vision. This is called Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)

As the separation from the retina occurs it can cause a pulling on the retina, which can cause a flashing light in the vision. There are other causes of flashes in the vision some are more serious than others.

The most serious is Retinal Detachment or Retinal Tears; other less serious causes can include Migraine Headaches.

Vitreous detachments can be diagnosed during a routine eye examination and can be differentiated from the more serious Retinal Detachment.

Treatment for Vitreous detachment is usually not necessary unless the Floaters are causing a serious disruption of the vision. In time the symptoms usually reduce when the floaters fall below the line of vision.

Astigmatism
Cataracts
Diabetes & Diabetic Retinopathy
Flashes & Floaters
Glaucoma
Hypermetropia (Long Sightedness)
Macula Degeneration
Myopia (Short Sightedness)
Presbyopia
Retinal Detachments & Retinal Tears