Sometimes patients complain that they see black spots in their field of vision that move around as they move their eyes. Some people describe this sensation as being like a fly (muscae), dot, cobweb, or thread in their field of vision which they cannot grab.

The inside of the eye is filled with a gel called the vitreous. Whenever there are particles floating around in the vitreous, patients may perceive them as floaters. The particles may be composed of small protein particles, crystal-like deposits that form in the vitreous over time, or other debris in the vitreous of the eye. Depending on the shape of the floater, the patient will perceive the moving object as a thread, dot, or cobweb.

Patients complain that these floaters seem to be in front of their eyes, but in reality, the floaters are inside the patient’s eye creating shadows which the patient can see.

Oftentimes, these floaters become more noticeable with age. Little can be done for treatment of these floaters, and in most cases the condition is not serious. The best way to deal with floaters is to move one’s eye around which causes the vitreous (gel) inside the eye to shift and move the floater out of the way.

If the patient starts to notice a sudden increase in the number of floaters in his/her eye, he/she should see his/her ophthalmologist immediately because a more serious and dangerous condition may exist. The patient should always see an ophthalmologist right away if the floaters are associated with flashes of light and/or the sensation of a shade coming down over the eye.

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