Eye floaters may cause loss of vision

Lead author of the study, Dr. Sanjay Sharma, a professor of Ophthalmology and Epidemiology at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario stated, "Any new onset of floaters or flashing lights, particularly in aging adults, needs to be taken seriously.”

According to researchers, only very sophisticated equipment and a meticulous retinal examination can detect retinal tears as they are extremely difficult to see.

Dr Sharma stated, "If we detect a tear and laser it, we can save people from potentially going blind. But if fluid gets in under the retina and causes it to detach, it may be too late.

“Because retinal tears can be extremely difficult to see, high-tech equipment and a thorough peripheral retinal examination are required to detect them.

Meta-analysis of 17 articles
For the study, researchers examined around 200 articles published in the peer-reviewed medical journals. They then carried out a meta-analysis of 17 articles.

The investigators noted a retinal tear subsequently occurred in 14 percent of the people who reported the start of floaters linked with age-related visual problems.

Dr Sharma said, "If new floaters are associated with visual loss, a defect in the visual field, or the presence of blood or 'tobacco dust' in the eye jelly, the risk of retinal tear is significantly higher.

"Since retinal tear can lead to detachment in up to 50 percent of cases, new floaters and flashes is a medical condition that needs urgent assessment."

A word of advice
Sharma advises people with the sudden symptoms of floaters or light flashes to undergo a thorough examination and seek medical intervention at the earliest.

He added, “While we all may have a few floaters, if you ever develop a brand new one, a shower of many floaters, you may have to take that seriously.”

Or else, he stated, one could be left in the dark.

The research, partially funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, was published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

About eye floaters
Floaters are tiny dark specks that appear in the field of vision while staring at a blue sky or a white surface.

They become more prolific with age because the clear jelly-like substance (the 'vitreous humor') inside the eyeball degenerates with advancing years and pulls slightly away from the retina.

A complication of untreated retinal tears without timely medical intervention can cause permanent loss of vision.