""Floaters"" are small, solidified particles trapped in the vitreous (VIH-tree-us), which is the clear, jelly-like material that fills the inside of your eye behind the lens. Floaters can appear as spots, threads, or specks. Sometimes the vitreous jelly can shift and separate from the retina as a result of eye or head trauma, or simply from aging. Light entering the eye passes around these particles in the vitreous jelly and casts a shadow on the retinal photoreceptors, so you see a floating spot. They're generally not harmful, merely an annoyance that increases with aging, as the vitreous becomes somewhat liquefied. Floaters can also occur when protein fibers from the gel in your eye clump together. You may notice floaters more readily when you're looking at a bright area, such as a blank wall or the white pages of a book, or you may even see them when your eyes are closed. Floaters can go away fairly quickly, or they can last for months, or even years. Almost everyone experiences floaters at some point in life. They're harmless, and there's no practical treatment for them. They usually become less annoying and more tolerable over time. If the shift in the vitreous jelly is associated with traction or rubbing on the retina, you can also experience quick sparkles of light or flashes. However, if you see sudden and massive amounts of floaters, it could be a sign of something serious. In that case, you need to be evaluated by an eye doctor, so if there are any tears (TARES) in the retina, they can be repaired before they cause permanent damage. Some shifts of the vitreous can cause the retina to rip slightly, and such a tear can lead to a retinal detachment, which can lead to a permanent loss of vision.
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