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Floaters and flashes (black dots)

What are floaters and flashes, why do we get them, and how to know if they're a sign of something serious.

Seeing black blobs in your vision?

These tiny, semi‑transparent shapes are called floaters. They happen when little clumps of protein or tissue float around the gel inside your eye and cast shadows on your retina. Sounds alarming, but the truth is floaters are usually harmless. You might notice them more in the morning, when looking at plain surfaces, or after reading or rubbing your eyes.

What about flashes of light?

Sometimes, floaters come with bright flickers or flashes – like little sparks in your vision. These flashes happen when the vitreous gel tugs on the retina. That’s often nothing serious, but it can sometimes be a sign of a bigger issue, like a tear or detachment in the retina. If you notice flashes you should get them checked.

Learn more about eye anatomy

Floaters and flashes explained

Floaters seem surface‑level, but they’re inside your eye.

  1. 1 of 4

    Retina

    A thin layer of light‑sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It receives images and sends them to the brain through the optic nerve.

  2. 2 of 4

    Vitreous humour

    The clear, jelly‑like substance that fills the space between the lens and retina. It helps the eye hold its shape and cushions the retina.

  3. 3 of 4

    Debris in the vitreous

    Tiny bits of natural material floating in the vitreous humour. These cast shadows on the retina and show up in your vision as floaters.

  4. 4 of 4

    Vitreous pulling on the retina

    As the vitreous changes with age, it can shrink slightly and tug on the retina. This pulling can trigger short bursts of light, called flashes.

Symptoms of floaters

These show up as dark shapes moving across your field of vision. They might look like small dots or specks, thin threads or squiggly lines, or floating blobs and cobwebs. You’ll probably notice them more when you’re looking at something plain and bright, like a clear sky or a white wall. They usually move when your eyes move and drift slowly when your eyes stop.

Symptoms of flashes

These usually show up as brief flashes or flickers of light, mostly at the edges of your vision. They can look like small streaks, quick bursts (like a camera flash), or flickering in the side of your eye. You might notice them more when it's dark or if you move your eyes quickly. It can also present as a dark veil or curtain creeping in from the edges of you vision towards the centre. This indicates a more serious issue and is a medical emergency.

If your symptoms get worse

If either symptom gets worse, or you notice a sudden increase in floaters or flashes, it’s important to get your eyes checked on the same day. It could be a sign of a more serious issue, like a retinal tear or detachment.

Book an eye test

Causes of floaters and flashes

Floaters and flashes are often harmless, but sometimes can indicate a more serious condition, such as a torn detached retina and therefore need to be examined by an optometrist.

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)

This is the most common cause of floaters and flashes. It happens naturally as we get older – the gel inside the eye (vitreous humour) starts to shrink and pull away from the retina. You might notice floaters that look like threads, dots, or cobwebs drifting across your vision, sometimes with flashes at the edges. It usually settles over time and doesn’t need treatment.

Learn more about posterior vitreous detachment

Retinal tear or detachment

In some cases, the shrinking vitreous gel can tug too hard on the retina and cause a tear – which can lead to detachment if left untreated. Watch out for: a sudden shower of floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow in your peripheral vision or a grey curtain in part of your vision. This is an eye emergency and needs treatment urgently to prevent permanent vision loss. Retinal tears can often be sealed with laser treatment. If the retina has detached, surgery is needed.

Learn more about detached retinas

Ocular migraine

Flashes or zig‑zag patterns in your vision – sometimes with blurry patches or temporary loss of sight – could be a sign of an ocular migraine. These often pass on their own but can feel unsettling if you’ve never had one before. If you experience this for the first time, or have not been diagnosed with migraines, get it checked by your optometrist.

Learn more about ocular migraines

Other causes

Floaters and flashes can also be linked to other eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy or inflammation in the eye. These are less common, but they may need treatment with eye drops, injections, laser or surgery, depending on what’s causing them.

Learn more about diabetic retinopathy

How are floaters and flashes tested and diagnosed?

If you're worried about sudden flashes or black dots in your eyesight, an eye test with one of our experts can help.

Wondering whether an optometrist can see floaters? The answer is yes. During your eye test, we'll use eye drops to widen (dilate) your pupil. This will allow us to see the back of your eye and the vitreous humour more clearly.

We'll then make note of any clumps in your vitreous humor that might be causing black marks in your vision. This means we can monitor them and register any increases at your next eye test.

While your pupils are dilated, we can also check your retina for any tears or detachment. If we spot something that concerns us, we can then have a chat with you about treatment plans and next steps.

Book an eye test

How to treat floaters and flashes

In most cases, floaters are harmless and don’t need treatment. They’re often caused by age‑related changes in the eye and tend to become less noticeable over time.

But if you’ve started seeing more floaters than usual, or if they’re affecting your vision, it’s a good idea to book an eye test. Your optometrist can check your eyes and keep track of any changes. If there’s been a noticeable increase since your last appointment, they might refer you to an ophthalmologist for a closer look.

When to seek help

Floaters and flashes can sometimes be a sign of a more serious issue, like a retinal tear or detachment. If they come on suddenly – especially if you also notice flashing lights, blurred vision, or a dark shadow in your sight – get urgent medical help. These symptoms need to be checked on the same day.

Treatments for flashes and floaters

Floaters are usually nothing to worry about and often settle on their own without treatment. In some cases, laser treatment (called vitreolysis) can be used to break them up and make them less visible, though it’s not suitable for everyone. For more severe cases, surgery (a vitrectomy) might be considered. This involves removing the gel inside the eye and replacing it with a clear solution.

If there’s damage to the retina, laser therapy or other types of surgery may be needed. If you notice any sudden changes or your vision is affected, don’t ignore it. Get your eyes checked as soon as you can. Regular eye tests are the best way to keep on top of things.

How to reduce floaters and flashes naturally

Some black blobs in your vision can be a normal part of getting older and, unfortunately, can’t be completely prevented. But there are a few simple things you can do to help lower the chances of them cropping up or becoming more noticeable:

1. Eat well

A balanced diet with plenty of leafy greens, fruit, and omega‑3 fatty acids can go a long way in supporting healthy eyes.

2. Stay on top of your eye tests

Regular check‑ups with your optometrist help catch any early changes in your vision and make sure your eyes are in good health.

3. Give your eyes a break from screens

Too much blue light from phones, tablets or computers can lead to eye strain, which may make floaters feel more irritating.

4. Keep your eyes protected

Whether you’re playing sport or doing DIY, wearing proper eye protection can prevent injury. And when you’re out and about, don’t forget your sunglasses. UV rays can damage your eyes just like they do your skin.

Who's at risk of floaters and flashes?

It’s common to start seeing floaters in vision as you get older and your eyes age. However, some health conditions and everyday factors can lead to more floaters developing, or make them feel more distracting than usual. These include:

Short‑sightedness

Short‑sightedness, also known as myopia, is a common vision condition in which far away objects are difficult to see, but close‑up objects appear clearly. Being short‑sighted means that the eyeball is longer than typical and the retina is stretched over a larger distance, making it more at risk of conditions like retinal detachment.

Learn more about myopia

Diabetes

Diabetes can affect your eyesight through a condition called diabetic retinopathy. This happens when the small blood vessels in your eyes get blocked, cutting off blood supply to the retina. If left untreated, it can damage the retina and cause long‑term vision issues.

Find out more about diabetic retinopathy

Recent cataract surgery

Cataract surgery replaces the natural lens in your eye if you're experiencing cloudy vision, which can stir things up a bit, causing some inflammation or changes in the vitreous humour. This might make floaters seem more noticeable at first. In most cases, they’ll disappear over time as your eye recovers.

Learn more about cataracts

Eye inflammation (uveitis)

Uveitis can cause tiny bits of debris to leak into the vitreous humour. These bits can show up as floaters in your vision, causing irritation and eye pain.

Floaters & Flashes FAQs

Did you know?

AA Members are entitled to a free eye test (valued at $60), once every two years. Remember to present your AA Membership card in‑store.

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Written with care and checked for accuracy

https://images.ctfassets.net/uuaxywrybmpn/1tjzyvgoy4dCY3KaZK9NLK/777666df62926b2880f310690ea22fee/Bhavishna_Narsey.jpg

Bhavishna Narsey

BOptom(Hons) TPA

Bhavishna is a highly accomplished optometrist with a Bachelor of Optometry from The University of Auckland. With extensive global experience in private clinics, ophthalmology centres, hospital clinics and corporate optometry across the UK, Australia and New Zealand, she brings a wealth of expertise to her field.

In her current role as Clinical Performance Consultant in NSW & ACT, Bhavishna plays a pivotal role in supporting partners and optometrists in delivering expert clinical care. Her focus on creating exceptional customer journeys ensures that patients receive personalised and top‑notch eye care services.

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