Eye doctor reveals what to do if you start seeing ‘floaters’

We’re definitely not getting any younger, which means yesterday was the best time to begin prioritising your eye health.

The good news though is that it isn’t too late to start looking after your peepers.

By introducing regular eye examinations, eating a well-balanced diet and popping supplements that will help prevent and mitigate some eye conditions, you’ll be on your way to a healthier set of optics in no time.

And earlier this month, an apparent expert was working tirelessly to dispel myths and address concerns regarding eye health.

An eye doctor has revealed what you should fo if you start seeking pesky floaters in your vision (Getty stock image)

Taking to Reddit, the user wrote: “I am an eye doctor AMA [ask me anything].”

In the thread, social media users flocked to debate the best ways to deal with astigmatism - an imperfection in the curvature of the eye - and whether or not they need to fork out for a pair of specs.

Another Redditor took to the thread and wrote: “What causes eye floaties (those dark floating specs in your vision) I was told not to be concerned, but not what causes them

“They are annoying,” they continued. “But should I be concerned?”

In response, the doctor typed: “Eye floaters are common, they are basically wads of connective tissue floating around the vitreous (jelly part of the eye that gives it the structure and shape).

“If they are longstanding it is fine. If you wake up one morning with new ones and start seeing flashing lights you should see an eye doc ASAP!”

So what exactly are eye floaters?

Web MD experts categorise eye floaters as being small spots of collagen drifting through your field of vision.

They may appear more prominent when you look at bright things like white printer paper or a clear, blue sky.

The NHS claim lots of people, especially senior citizens, get floaters and flashes - so it’s a pretty common phenomenon.

These peculiar shapes may appear to some as black or grey dots, while others have previously complained of seeing wavy lines or cobwebs.

Eye floaters can appear in a variety of shapes, such as squiggles (Getty stock image)

How are eye floaters formed?

The NHS states that eye floaters are usually caused by a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eyes changes.

“As you age, the protein fibres that make up the vitreous shrink into little shreds that clump together,” writes a Web MD specialist. “The shadows they cast on your retina are floaters.”

It’s understood that if you see flashes in your vision then this is because the vitreous has pulled away from the retina.

You may also experience eye floaters and/or flashes if you are nearsighted or have had cataract surgery in the past.

Should you be worried about eye floaters?

If you’ve had these floaters or flashes for a long time and they are not affecting your vision, then practitioners consider these squiggly lines or small dark dots harmless.

However, if you’re suffering from floaters or flashers for the first time, the number dramatically increases or you have blurred vision, then you should contact a medical expert to seek out advice.

Looking at blue skies can worsen eye floaters (Getty stock image)

How to get rid of eye floaters naturally?

If eye floaters annoy you, then experts suggest you try to get them out of your field of vision by shifting the fluid around in your eyes.

To do this, simply continue to look up and down, rather than side to side.

Another method is to take specific supplements for eye health - these include Vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc.

If you are a smoker, practitioners suggest cutting the habit could have a positive impact on the number of eye floaters affecting your vision while eating a well-balanced diet could help too.