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Your eyes can do some funny things. You might think you see movement out of the corner of your eye or see a face when it is nothing but a bush. These are interpretation errors that happen regularly. Two more phenomena created by the physiology of your eyeball are flashes and floaters.
Your optic nerve is responsible for sending electrical impulses from the eye to the brain. Every so often, your retina mistranslates a bump or a change in velocity and sends that information to the brain which translates it as a flash of light.
Flashes should be irregular and have some sort of explanation. If you are experiencing flashes for no reason or a sudden onset of frequent flashes, it is time to urgently visit Willoughby Doctors of Optometry. These flashes may be signalling a retinal tear or detachment.
As we age, the vitreous gel that makes up the inner contents of your eyeball becomes more fluid. The change in consistency can cause collagen fibers to float through your line of sight. They may look like strings or specks in front of you that you just cannot quite focus on. In fact, you are seeing the shadows of these particles cast on your retina.
Some floaters are ok. But many floaters that appear all at once or new floaters could be a sign that something is wrong. It could the symptoms of a torn retina. If you notice new floaters or your floaters are in combination with flashes or a curtain or veil over your vision, please call our office immediately.
We would love to meet you in person.
Drop by our office and say hello. We require 24 hrs notice for cancelled appointments or a reasonable $50 no show fee will apply.
| Monday | 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM |
| Sundays | Closed |
