# Dark spot in eye **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 22, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583 "2010-11-22T21:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/1 "2010-11-22T21:22:42Z")
I’ve had a dark spot ‘floater-like’ in my right for several months. It’s quite annoying as though I can’t see it all the time it’s most obvious when I’m looking at a computer screen or reading. I went to an optician a few weeks after it first appeared who said I had otherwise pretty much perfect eyesite and didn’t seem too concerned about it. She thought it was probably where the jelly had come away from the back of the eye. Should I be concerned that it’s still there? Will it ever go away? ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/2 "2010-11-22T21:36:48Z")
An [optician](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optician) is a technician who makes and dispenses eyeglasses and contacts based on a prescription made by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. An [optometrist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optometrist) is qualified to diagnose and treat eye diseases such as eye infections or glaucoma. An [ophthalmologist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optometrist) is a medical doctor who specializes in in medical and surgical eye problems. You want an optometrist or ophthalmologist to look at your eye, not an optician. If it were me, I’d get it looked at immediately, if not sooner. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/3 "2010-11-22T21:37:26Z")
an optician fits glasses, not a doctor. floaters are common and can last a lifetime. more easily seen in bright light and/or a white background. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/4 "2010-11-22T21:58:34Z")
> [@robby](#): > > An [optician](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optician) is a technician who makes and dispenses eyeglasses and contacts based on a prescription made by an optometrist or ophthalmologist. > > An [optometrist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optometrist) is qualified to diagnose and treat eye diseases such as eye infections or glaucoma. An [ophthalmologist](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optometrist) is a medical doctor who specializes in in medical and surgical eye problems. > > You want an optometrist or ophthalmologist to look at your eye, not an optician. If it were me, I’d get it looked at immediately, if not sooner. YMMV. You know what, having never had any problems that distinction was lost on me.I think I will ask my doctor about it. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/5 "2010-11-23T02:24:27Z")
A relevant [Straight Dope column](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/535/what-are-those-threads-that-float-in-your-field-of-vision). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/6 "2010-11-23T02:38:30Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > floaters are common and can last a lifetime. more easily seen in bright light and/or a white background. My floaters disappeared when I developed cataracts. I miss them. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/7 "2010-11-23T03:39:10Z")
I’m not a medical professional, but after getting poked in the eye playing basketball, delaying a visit to a specialist, a retina detaching and undergoing a retinal re-attachment and cataract surgery, I have learned a bit. W/regard to floaters, in the vast majority of cases, they do not portend anything serious. However, when associated with flashes of light and/or any blank spots in your vision, better go see a retinal specialist, and do so quickly. I was very fortunate to maintain usable vision in the eye with the detachment. Having lived for a while with the possibility of losing vision in one eye, I would consider it “cheap insurance” to visit a professional. He/she should look for a condition called “latticing.” In short it’s a deterioration of the membrane (?) that holds the retina to the back of the eye. This condition is more common in males than females. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/8 "2010-11-23T10:16:22Z")
I was told that floaters can be a sign of high blood pressure and that I should have my BP checked. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-spot-in-eye/561583/9 "2010-11-23T12:03:34Z")
Given our recent guidelines for asking medical/legal questions which specifically relate to the OP or one of his/her relatives, I’m moving this to IMHO from GQ. **samclem** MOderator, GQ