I am seeing floaters and/or flashes of light,what should I do ?

Any time you see flashes of light, or an increase in floaters or spots, you should be checked immediately. Although many people have floaters for many years, a sudden increase can be serious.

The most concerning problem related to flashes or floaters is retinal detachment. This is a sight threatening condition. Far more common is vitreal detachment. Although vitreal detachment is common and usually harmless, the only way to differentiate between the two is a retinal evaluation.

If you notice either flashes or sparks of light on the edge of your vision, or an increase in spots or floaters in your vision, contact us immediately. If you call during weekends or evenings, the answering service will give you the number of our on-call doctor. When in doubt, please call.