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Eye floaters

• Overview

Alternative Names:

Specks in the eye

Information:

The floating specks you sometimes see in front of your eyes are not on the surface of your eyes, but inside them. These floaters are bits of cellular debris that come and go without treatment. To some people these "floaters" look like spots. To others, they look like tiny threads.

Most of the time they are nothing to worry about, but sometimes they can be a symptom of a retinal tear. If you notice a sudden increase in floaters or if you see floaters along with flashes of light, this may be a symptom of retinal detachment. Call your eye doctor. If you have other vision disturbances, see the article vision abnormalities .

• Review Date: 11/14/2005
• Reviewed By: Edward B. Feinberg, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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