Most eye floaters are harmless age‑related changes in the vitreous gel, and many people adapt over time. The priority is to rule out serious causes and then use practical strategies to minimise their impact.
Safety Checks
New or changed floaters should be assessed promptly.
- Seek urgent eye examination if floaters suddenly increase, are accompanied by flashes, or a shadow or curtain in your vision.
- Once the retina has been checked and confirmed healthy, ongoing observation is usually all that is needed.
- Follow any scheduled reviews if you have risk factors such as high myopia or previous retinal tears.
- Return quickly if symptoms change again, even after a normal check.
Adapting to Floaters
Simple techniques can make floaters less intrusive in daily life.
- Move your eyes gently up and down or side to side; this can shift floaters out of the line of sight temporarily.
- Use good, even lighting and avoid staring at plain bright backgrounds where floaters stand out the most.
- Most brains gradually learn to “tune out” stable floaters over weeks to months.
- In rare, very troublesome cases, specialist treatments such as laser vitreolysis or vitrectomy may be discussed after careful risk-benefit assessment.
