Should You Worry If You Keep Seeing Flashes And Floaters?

Sometimes the appearance of flashes or floaters serves as an unwanted reminder; it can remind an adult that each of us keeps getting older. Lasik Chicago knows that a floater is something that can form naturally in an older eye. It can cause the eye to send yet another reminder of the way that aging affects the body.

The science behind natural formation of floaters

Inside of each eyeball nature has placed a jelly-like region called the vitreous. Sections of that jelly-like region can exhibit the characteristics of a liquid. Other sections behave more like a gelatin.

In an older person, there may be times when parts of the gelatin breaks off and starts floating in the inner region of the eyeball. At some point, any of the floating clumps might pass in front of the retina. During its passage over the retina, the floating clump can create the impression of a shadow. That shadowy impression then seems to float in the field of vision of the older adult. It is best to consult with a Lasik expert in Chicago.

The science behind natural formation of flashes

Some of the gelatin-like substance inside of the eyeball gets attached to the retina. Sometimes a part of the gel breaks off and pulls on the retina's collection of nerve cells. The pulling motion on a nerve cell can trigger the sending of a message to the brain. When the brain receives that sort of message, it interprets it as a sign that a light has flashed before the eyes, the ones that sent a message to the proper section of the brain.

Times when appearance of a flash or floater should trigger the making of a call to an ophthalmologist

Lasik expert in Chicago says that if an older adult starts seeing an increased number of floaters, or if several of the floating clumps take on a strange and different shape, then that could be a sign of an eye-related problem. Any adult that has observed the sign of an eye-related problem ought to get in touch with an ophthalmologist.

Similarly, any sudden onset of repeated flashes of light should not be ignored. Like an unexpected floater, an unanticipated flash might serve as the symptom that is linked to a serious condition. Such visual sensations need to be mentioned to an ophthalmologist.

The ophthalmologist's special tool

The Lasikexpert in Chicagohas a special tool, one that helps the same physician look inside each patient's eye. That tool lets the doctor see the nerves within the eye. If some condition has altered those nerves or has put pressure on them, then that fact can be seen by the doctor that conducts an ophthalmologic examination. For more information visit here: Kraff Eye Institute