They appear when you least expect it. Tiny threads or specks float across your field of vision, especially against a bright sky or a white wall.
When you try to focus on them, they glide away again. For many, this can feel unsettling, but the explanation is usually harmless.
In an interview with the Norwegian media outlet Forskning.no, Professor Rigmor Baraas from the University of South-Eastern Norway explains that the phenomenon is known as muscae volitantes.
What is muscae volitantes?
According to Rigmor Baraas, the moving shadows are caused by small structures inside the vitreous body of the eye, the gel-like substance behind the lens. These may be clusters of cells or fine protein strands.
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When light reaches the retina, these structures cast shadows. Those shadows are what we perceive as floating spots or threads.
The phenomenon becomes more common with age. The vitreous body gradually changes and becomes more fluid, making the shadows more noticeable.
For this reason, floaters are seen more frequently in people over the age of 50, although younger individuals may also experience them.
When should you seek help?
In the vast majority of cases, floaters are harmless and require no treatment.
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However, if their number suddenly increases significantly, or if you experience flashes of light or a dark shadow in your field of vision at the same time, you should contact an optician or ophthalmologist for an assessment.
For most people, the drifting specks are simply a natural part of the eye’s aging process.
Sources: Forskning.no.
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