If you have noticed small spots or cobweb-like shapes drifting across your vision, or brief flashes of light in the corner of your eye, you are not alone. Floaters and flashes are common, especially as we get older, but a sudden change can signal a problem at the back of the eye that needs prompt care. This guide explains what they are, what causes them, and the warning signs that mean you should get checked the same day in Edmonton.
What Are Floaters?
Floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous, the clear gel that fills your eye. As the vitreous changes with age, these clumps cast shadows on the retina, which you see as spots, dots, rings, or strands that drift when you move your eyes. They are often easier to see against a plain, bright background, such as a white wall or a clear Alberta sky. Long-standing floaters that have not changed are often harmless, but new floaters should always be checked.
What Are Flashes of Light?
Flashes look like brief streaks, arcs, or flickers of light, often at the edge of your vision. They can happen when the vitreous gel tugs on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. You might notice them more in dim light, and they may come and go over days or weeks. Occasional flashes can occur with normal age-related changes, but flashes that start suddenly, happen often, or come with new floaters need a same-day assessment.
Common Causes of Floaters and Flashes
Age-related change in the vitreous is the most common cause. As the gel shrinks and pulls away from the retina, a process called posterior vitreous detachment, floaters and flashes can appear. Other causes can include inflammation, bleeding from small blood vessels, or a tear or detachment of the retina. Retinal tears and detachments are less common, but they are serious because early treatment can help protect vision. Only a dilated eye exam can show what is happening at the back of the eye.
Warning Signs: Get Checked the Same Day
Call for an eye exam the same day if you notice a sudden shower of new floaters, flashes that are new or increasing, a dark curtain or shadow over part of your vision, a sudden drop or distortion in vision, or floaters and flashes after an eye injury or surgery. Also seek prompt care if you have high myopia, diabetes, or a family history of retinal detachment and notice a sudden change. Do not wait to see if these signs go away.
What Happens at an Urgent Eye Exam in Mill Woods
At Infinite Eyecare in Mill Woods, your optometrist will ask when symptoms started and whether they are changing. Your vision may be checked, and drops are often used to dilate your pupils so the retina can be examined carefully. Imaging may also be used to look at the back of the eye. If a retinal tear or detachment is suspected, you may be referred urgently to a specialist. Our clinic is at 4275 23 Ave NW, Mill Woods, Edmonton, and we offer direct billing to most major insurers. Eye exams for children under 19 and seniors are covered by Alberta Health Care.
Book Care for New Floaters or Flashes in Edmonton
If you have new or changing floaters or flashes, call Infinite Eyecare at 780-425-0003 to ask about an eye exam in Mill Woods. If you notice a curtain over your vision or sudden vision loss and cannot reach us, seek urgent care the same day.
