Eye Floaters: What They Are & When to Worry

What Are Eye Floaters?

Over half of us have noticed them—small specks, lines, or circles drifting across our vision when the light is bright. They seem to float lazily in front of your eyes, then dart away when you try to focus on them.

These are vitreous floaters (or klaaskeha hõljumid in Estonian), and in most cases, they're completely normal. Your eye is simply doing what eyes do. But when should you actually be concerned?

How to Recognise a Floater

Floaters appear as:

• Tiny dots or specks
• Curved lines or threads
• Ring shapes
• Shadowy fibres or wisps
• Tangled webs of lines

They're easiest to spot against a bright, uniform background—fresh snow, a clear sky, or a white wall. Try to focus on one, and it will seem to drift further away. When you move your eyes, they move with you. When your eyes are still, they tend to drift downward.

The tricky part: you can't actually focus on them. The harder you look, the more they seem to escape your direct line of sight.

Why Do Floaters Appear?

Your eye is mostly filled with a clear gel called the vitreous. It makes up about 80% of your eye's internal volume and sits right in front of your retina—the tissue responsible for your vision.

Over time (starting as early as age two, though more noticeable later), this gel begins to liquefy. As it does, tiny fibres and clumps of protein—mainly collagen—that were once suspended evenly throughout start to clump together. These clumps cast shadows onto your retina, and that's what you see as a floater.

It's a natural part of ageing. Most people notice them more frequently between ages 50 and 70, though they can appear at any stage of life.

Who's more likely to develop floaters?

• People with myopia (short-sightedness)
• Those who've had cataract surgery
• Anyone with a history of eye trauma
• People with diabetic retinopathy
• Those with chronic eye inflammation

Should You Worry?

In short: usually not.

If your floaters have stayed the same number, or have only increased very gradually over months or years, they're harmless. Annoying, perhaps—but not dangerous, and they don't require treatment.

Your brain is remarkably adaptable. Over time, you'll stop noticing them. They'll fade into the background of your daily vision until something bright brings them back into focus.

The key reassurance: If floaters are stable and not multiplying suddenly, medical intervention is rarely needed.

When to See a Doctor

You should contact an eye care professional if:

• You suddenly notice a large number of new floaters appearing within days or weeks
• Floaters are accompanied by flashes of light
• You notice a shadow or dark curtain at the edge of your vision
• Floaters follow an eye injury or sudden eye pain

These can be signs of retinal detachment or other serious conditions that do require urgent attention.

It's worth noting that floaters can sometimes be mistaken for the visual aura that precedes a migraine. Unlike floaters, migraine aura comes with flickering or shimmering patterns and typically lasts only minutes before fading completely alongside other migraine symptoms.

The Bottom Line

Floaters are a normal part of eye health. They're usually harmless, even if they're irritating. Your eye adapts, and you'll naturally learn to ignore them.

If you're concerned about sudden changes in your vision, or if floaters appear alongside other symptoms, a professional eye examination is always the right call. At KSA Silmakeskus in Tallinn, we can assess your eye health thoroughly and rule out any underlying issues.

Have questions about your vision? Book a quick eye test to get peace of mind.