Floaters typically result when gel-like fibers known as the vitreous detach from your retina. After being detached, these fibers condense into strands. When the strands are large enough, they can cast shadows on your retina resulting in a visual floater. While typically harmless, floaters can be an underlying sign of more serious eye diseases, such as a retinal tear or retinal detachment, which require immediate treatment to prevent permanent vision loss.

Symptoms

• Floating spot(s), often hair-like or circular, moving around in vision
• Light flashes
• Painless

Treatment

• Observe (usually gets less noticeable over time)
• Laser
• Surgery