# I got a floater in my eye? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044 "2003-03-09T06:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SonOfArizona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SonOfArizona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SonOfArizona)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/1 "2003-03-09T06:14:00Z")
There I was reading a book last night when I noticed a small little dark thing that seemed to be floating in my vision. Small, buglike, looked kinda like a hair, it would not go away. If I moved my eye the thing would move too. I tried to ignore it, thinking it would just go away. It has not gone away, and I can see it as I type this. I searched on google and discovered that this is fairly common in older people, and is known as a “floater”. I am only seventeen, and I can’t ignore this thing. It is so damn annoying. Does anyone know what I am talking about? What should I do? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/2 "2003-03-09T06:20:07Z")
Consult an opthamologist. Floaters are normally harmless, but can, in rare cases, be a sign of a more serious condition. On the whole, I wouldn’t worry about it, but seeing a doctor sure couldn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/3 "2003-03-09T06:23:04Z")
There’s been threads before, here. They may be of some help. [Bg black eye floater - what to do?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=152521) [Floaters](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=139269) [Cecil’s column.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_311.html) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/4 "2003-03-09T07:20:47Z")
A floater can often meaan high blood pressure - I would have it checked by both your eye doctor and your regular doctor. ---
**Author:** ![MrPeabody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@MrPeabody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrPeabody)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/5 "2003-03-09T08:12:45Z")
A new floter can be a sign of a torn retina please check with a Dr. ---
**Author:** ![Tal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@Tal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/6 "2003-03-09T12:42:56Z")
especially if they are dark colored or combined with flashes of light ---
**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/7 "2003-03-09T13:25:06Z")
SonOfArizona, In my case, floaters are an indicator of sarcoidosis. You really should consult an opthalmologist. Max. ---
**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/8 "2003-03-09T13:36:25Z")
When I was 12 or so & bored I used to play with my floater. I’d see how high I could get it, how much to the side…gee, I hope nobody saw me. They might have thought I was weird. ---
**Author:** ![olefin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/9 "2003-03-09T14:38:50Z")
I’ve had floaters for last 20 or so years. My eye doctor said no problem as long as they were not in both eyes at the same time.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/10 "2003-03-09T15:26:49Z")
I’m sixteen and have one. I always thought they were harmless until I read this thread…:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/11 "2003-03-09T16:32:24Z")
99.99% of floaters are completely benign. They can be caused by many disease states, as many posters have noted. Tipoffs that there _may_ be major problems include co-incident: flashes of light, wavy vision, large floaters which obscure the visual field, sudden loss of visual acuity, and certainly other which I’ve forgotten. QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/12 "2003-03-09T16:39:04Z")
I’ve had floaters my whole life. Since I was a kid. They used to freak me out a lot when I was a kid. _What’s this? Creepy oogy things in my eye? They must be bacteria. So how come I can see them close up and they’re totally in focus? 'Cause nothing else that close up is ever in focus. Let alone microscopic organisms visible with the naked eye. Something’s **weird** about those creepy things. Something just ain’t right._ I got so used to them I quit noticing them long ago. But I just checked, and yeah, they’re still there. ---
**Author:** ![olefin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/13 "2003-03-09T16:43:34Z")
Like I said I’ve had them for over 20 years but I **will never** get use to them for they effect my vision. I just don’t read while I’m having one. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/14 "2003-03-09T17:19:53Z")
As a victim of a detached retina, I’d suggest you watch for the flashes or distorted vision others have mentioned, or shadowy areas as well. If you’ve got any of those, see an ophthamologist NOW! With that in mind, also remember that most floaters are harmless. (I don’t intend to panic you, but I’m a little sensitive on the issue.) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/15 "2003-03-09T17:23:38Z")
I too have had them as long as I can remember. They tend to be more noticeable in bright light, and they’re usually harmless. But it’s also true that a sudden increase in the number of floaters is a possible indication of retinal detachment, so if that happens you need to get it checked out immediately. Retinal detachment is one of those things which benefit greatly from early detection and treatment, so don’t take chances. ---
**Author:** ![SonOfArizona](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SonOfArizona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SonOfArizona)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/16 "2003-03-09T19:18:06Z")
Well now that I am completely paranoid, I have some concerns. Can a retinal detachment just occur for no reason or does it take some kind of blow to the eye or something to cause it? As far as the symptoms, maybe I am just paranoid, but the vision in my left eye seems to be a little more blurry than normal… could all be in my head though. But I am not seeing any bright lights. But anyway, say I do have a retinal detachment. Its sunday and no eye doctors are open. Should I run off to the emergency room or can I just go tomorrow? And what can they do to fix such a problem? … and what can they do to fix the floater? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-floater-in-my-eye/160044/17 "2003-03-09T20:14:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SonOfArizona \* > \*\*Well now that I am completely paranoid, I have some concerns. Can a retinal detachment just occur for no reason or does it take some kind of blow to the eye or something to cause it? As far as the symptoms, maybe I am just paranoid, but the vision in my left eye seems to be a little more blurry than normal… could all be in my head though. But I am not seeing any bright lights. But anyway, say I do have a retinal detachment. Its sunday and no eye doctors are open. Should I run off to the emergency room or can I just go tomorrow? And what can they do to fix such a problem? … and what can they do to fix the floater? \*\* Retinal detachment can occur spontaneously and is generally associated with flashes of light, and a very wavery, curtain-effect wavy distortion sort of vision, generally along with distinct vision deficits. If one is not sure the vision is different in the eye, then it **probably** is not due to a significant detachment needing same day laser surgery. Most such complaints can wait until the ophthalmologist is back from their weekend skiing in the rockies or sunning in the caribbean, while the poor generalists slog to hold things together for the patients. Not that I’m bitter. Not at all. Don’t we have a damned opthalmologist or optometrist on this board?